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Franklin Square

4.8 (10 reviews)
Open Open 24 hours

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Haitian soldiers who fought alongside Americans
Madame G.

This was a nice quaint place to visit. There's the historical monument commemorating the brave Haitian soldiers who fought for the US. I'm glad that the people of Savannah acknowledged and allowed for this monument. There's a place for restaurants adjacent to the park and a historical church as well. This is a great place to visit.

Ariel W.

Located at the west end of City Market, Franklin Square was designed in 1790 and named for inventor and American statesman Benjamin Franklin who worked as an agent for Georgia in London from 1768-1775. In the late 19th century, the square was home to Savannah's water supply and it was know as Water Tower Square. In 1935, Federal Highway 17 dissected the square destroying it. Franklin Square was restored in the 1980's to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of Georgia. In the center of the square is the Haitian Monument sculpted by artist James Masden. The monument represents the more than 500 Haitian Freedom Fighters who fought for America's Independence during the Siege of Savannah in 1779. They were one of the only all black regiments to fight on the side of the colonists during the American Revolutionary War. Soldiers were recruited from Haiti and the French colony of Saint-Dominigue. The twelve year old boy in the statue represents Henri Christophe who became the commander of the Haitian army and King of Haiti. The monument took nine years to complete and it was unveiled completed in 2009. On the west side of Franklin Square is the historic First African Baptist Church which is home to one of the oldest African-American congregations in the United States. The church was founded by George Leile, an enslaved preacher in 1773. The church was formerly recognized in 1788 during which time services were held in a barn on a plantation. In 1794, the congregation moved in to the city. Through the years the church grew and split with a faction moving to this church in the 1830's. There is so much interesting African-American history dating back to before the Revolutionary War in Franklin Square. I enjoyed reading all the plaques and learning about the sacrifices African-Americans made for this country before it was even founded. It would be more than 100 years later before they even got the right to vote. At least they finally have a monument that tells their story.

Mark M.

Yet another iconic square in historic Savannah, this one located right at the end of City Market across from the First African Baptist church. The monument of the soldiers is quite amazing, along with the surrounding trees, and engraved plaques telling the story of the African soldiers from Haiti who fought to capture Savannah from the British. There's a few benches here to relax on.

Dan R.

Franklin Square is one of the 24 urban patches of greenery known as "Squares" that you'll find sprinkled all over Savannah. The centerpiece of Franklin Square is a stunning sculpture of five black soldiers and a young drummer. They commemorate the Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue, a black regiment of French soldiers from Haiti that fought alongside of colonial troops in the Revolutionary War. Sculptures of the six soldiers stand on a 6 foot by 16 foot granite base that has inscriptions on all sides summarizing the history of the regiment. The statues themselves are incredible. You'll see four soldiers wearing the detailed uniforms of the Colonial soldiers aiming their rifles. A fifth soldier lies wounded at their feet while a young drummer boy plays away. The descriptive panels around the base tell the details of their forgotten story.

Haitian soldiers who assisted the United States in the battles against Britain.

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Review Highlights - Franklin Square

The twelve year old boy in the statue represents Henri Christophe who became the commander of the Haitian army and King of Haiti.

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Historic River Street

Historic River Street

4.7(7 reviews)
0.3 mi

This is one of those places that instantly pulls you in and makes you feel like you are part of the…read morehistory. Walking along the cobblestone street with the river right beside you is such a cool experience. You get amazing views of the water, big ships passing by, and that classic Savannah charm everywhere you look. There is always something going on here. Street performers, little shops, and great places to grab food or a drink all along the way. It is easy to spend a few hours just wandering in and out of spots and taking it all in. The mix of old brick buildings and lively atmosphere makes it feel unique compared to a lot of other places. The vibe really stands out. It is busy but in a fun way, not overwhelming. You see families, couples, and groups all enjoying the area, and it just has that welcoming energy. Whether you are there during the day or at night, it feels like there is always something to see. Overall this is a must visit if you are in Savannah. Great views, great atmosphere, and a lot to explore packed into one area. Definitely one of the highlights of the trip.

This is an amazing historical walk down the riverfront with cobblestone paved streets, multiple…read morehistoric restaurants, bars, hotels, and shops. They also have several areas that allow for great views of the river, the bridge skyline, and the tourist traffic meandering up and down River Street. Definitely a must visit when in downtown Savannah.

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Historic River Street
Historic River Street
Historic River Street

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Historic Savannah Carriage Tours - Perfect way to end the evening

Historic Savannah Carriage Tours

4.0(106 reviews)
0.3 mi

Had a great private carriage tour with Renee and George. Perfect way to see Savannah…read more (Bring peppermints for George).

Savannah Carriage Tours was incredibly frustrating and left me feeling taken advantage of. While…read morevisiting the area, I parked near their operation in what appeared to be a normal, public spot. There was zero clear signage indicating that parking was prohibited or that vehicles would be towed. No warning signs, no visible notices--nothing that would reasonably alert a driver. Within a very short time, my car was gone. I later learned it had been towed, conveniently and quickly, by a towing company that seems to patrol this area aggressively. The whole situation felt like a setup designed to trap unsuspecting visitors. It's hard not to believe there is some level of coordination when towing happens so fast in an area with no posted restrictions. The towing fees were outrageous, and the process to retrieve my car added insult to injury. What should have been a pleasant Savannah experience turned into a costly and stressful ordeal. Tourists beware: if you're anywhere near Savannah Carriage Tours, be extremely cautious about where you park--even if it looks legitimate. This experience seriously soured my visit, and I would not recommend supporting a business operating in an area where situations like this are allowed to happen.

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Historic Savannah Carriage Tours - Giving George some pets

Giving George some pets

Historic Savannah Carriage Tours - Mother letting Levi

Mother letting Levi

Historic Savannah Carriage Tours - One of the Squares

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One of the Squares

Armstrong Kessler Mansion - Armstrong Kessler Mansion

Armstrong Kessler Mansion

5.0(2 reviews)
0.7 mi

The Armstrong-Kessler House, built in 1919 by George Armstrong, a shipping magnate is today a…read moreprivate home that a few times a year opens up as an event space, mainly for High Society weddings and very exclusive social events...It is not open to the public but many tours stop in front of it and talk about its history and beauty. George Armstrong built this home for his wife. But she preferred living off the lake in North Carolina, so after George's death she donated the home to the city and it became Armstrong College. It remained as Armstrong college for many years until the school outgrew the location. Jim Williams used it during the 1960's as his antique shop, but it didn't work out too well, because he kept locking people in at night, not realizing they were still shopping. Later it became a law firm until 2017, when it was purchased by local hotelier, Richard Kessler. This 25,000 square foot house serves as Kessler's private home today, which can be rented for special occasions. The mansion has become the only Savannah home to be listed in the Italian Renaissance Style in the "Field Guide to American Architecture," as a national best-in-class example of its style.

I was visiting Savannah for the weekend and this landmark was on my list of buildings to visit…read more It's not open for public, it's just open for private and exclusive events. But you can just walk around the building to check it out. It's a registered national landmark. Built in 1919 by George Ferguson Armstrong and designed by world renown architect Henrik Wallin, the original mansion is the only Italian renaissance revival home in Savannah listed in the "A Field Guide to American Houses". It is now a residence to Richard C.Kessler, it was restored by him in 2019. The mansion from the outside looks absolutely stunning and has gorgeous architecture. It's across the famous Forsyth park. Highly recommend taking a stroll around this mansion when you are in Savannah.

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Armstrong Kessler Mansion - Armstrong Kessler Mansion

Armstrong Kessler Mansion

Armstrong Kessler Mansion
Armstrong Kessler Mansion - Armstrong Kessler Mansion

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Armstrong Kessler Mansion

Franklin Square - parks - Updated May 2026

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