1. Monterey Square

    1. Monterey Square

    0

    Savannah, GA

    Monterey Square Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Monterey Square

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Ariel W.

    Monterey Square was laid out in 1847 in honor of the Battle of Monterey during the Mexican American War. Monterey Mexico was captured by the United States Army by General Zachary Taylor on May 24, on 1846. Taylor became the 12th President of the United States when he was elected in 1849. The 55 foot marble obelisk monument in the center of the square is in honor of Polish Revolutionary War hero General Casimir Pulaski. Pulaski was a nobleman from Warsaw Poland. At the request of Benjamin Franklin he emigrated to the colonies to aid in the revolution. While fighting with the Continental Army he was credited with saving George Washington's life. He fought during the Seige of Savannah about a half mile northwest of the square when the Continental Army tried to take control of Savannah from the British on October 9, 1779. They were unsuccessful and Pulaski was mortally wounded at the age of 34 while charging into enemy fire in an attempt to disrupt the British line. 800 other soldiers who were killed or injured. He was one of only seven people in history to be granted honorary U.S. citizenship. Pulaski's monument was designed by Russian artist Robert Eberhard Launitz. He chose Monterey Square for the monument because of the scale of the surrounding buildings. The cornerstone for the monument was laid on October 11, 1853. It cost $17,000 to construct the monument and it was dedicated on January 9, 1855. Some controversy surrounds whether or not it is actually Pulaski buried in the grave at the base of the monument. The confusion stems from the fact that Pulaski did not die on the battlefield. He had the grapeshot seed removed from his leg by a doctor from South Carolina. He is believed that he died on a ship and had a burial at sea while other people believe he died at Greenwich Plantation and was buried there. Seventy-five years after Pulaski' death, the body at Greenwich Plantation was dug up and examined by doctors who determined it looked to be the right height and age to be Pulaski so the body was placed in a metallic case underneath the monument in 1854. Several famous buildings surround Monterey Square. The Mickve Israel Temple is home to one of the oldest practicing Reform Judaism congregations in the U.S. They came to Georgia on July 11, 1733, five months after it became a colony. This Gothic synagogue was built in 1878. On the south east corner of the square is the Mercer-Williams home. The home was designed by John S. Norris for General Hugh Mercer. Construction was started in 1860 but it was interrupted by the Civil War. The house was completed in 1868 but it was vacant when respected antiques dealer Jim Williams bought it in 1969 and restored it to it's full glory. The house was made famous by the novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil which told the story of how prostitute Danny Hansford was shot and killed in the house in 1981 by Jim Williams. There was also a 1997 film based on the book. Located near the square is the Comer Jefferson House where Confederate President Jefferson Davis resided when he visited Savannah with his daughter to celebrate the centennial of the Chatham Artillery. The monument in this square and the surrounding buildings make this square a must see when you visit Savannah.

    Kara M.

    We stumbled upon this beautiful square while wandering through the city of Savannah. I had never been to Savannah before (other than staying at a nearby hotel off I-95) but this square is exactly what I envisioned this city would be like. Elegant historic homes surround this small park. A monument honoring the 1846 Battle of Monterey is also situated here. This square oozes southern charm. There were beautiful colored flowers blooming, touches of Spanish moss and some park benches. The Mercer House is also conveniently located right across the street from Monterey Square. If you have time while in Savannah, I recommend stopping by for a few minutes. It's very romantic too!

    Mark M.

    This place has the Pulaski monument, dedicated to a Polish nobleman. It's surrounded by trees and paths, looked after perfectly. Located just north of Forsyth Park.

    Young tortoise on a jaunt. Expected to live another 11 decades. Way to go.
    James W.

    Amazing amount of history right here! And great food and drink/coffee close by. Casimir Pulaski was mortally wounded here in Savannah. The remains of Pulaski are said to be buried at the base of the monument. They have exhumed the body and similar height/bone density as Pulaski's, but found bones of a female and there is speculation that Casmir, who came to America to fight for freedom, was actually a female who disguised herself as a male. Mickve Israel is the oldest Jewish congregation in the state and the only synagogue built in a gothic crucifix form. Per history, The woman who deeded the land to the synagogue insisted on this crucifix form. Life and it's lemons! Also, according to history, Savannah didn't want the Jewish faith here during those times but they didn't have a doctor and relented since the Jewish refugees had a doctor. Lemons I tell ya'. The synagogue has many historical religious and medical artifacts in it's museum including a circumcision device. Rabbi is very friendly and has a great sense of humor. The Jewish Food Fest, Shalom Y'all, is held here in the square. The Comer House invited Jefferson Davis and daughter Winnie Davis, "daughter of the Confederacy" to dinner in 1886. I always thought odd since that was 20 years after the civil war.

    Historical marker for Pulaski Monument on Monterey Square
    Laura P.

    Monterey Square's name pays homage to the American Victory in the Mexican - American War of 1846. This Square was laid out in 1847. Monterey Square is one of the twenty two (22) squares of twenty four (24) designed by English visionary, General James Oglethorpe. Interestingly, this square, as well as others along Bull Street, are the home of memorials and monuments honoring American Revolutionary War heroes. Highlights of Monterey Square: *The focal point of Monterey Square is the Pulaski Monument. It is placed here in honor of American Revolution War hero Casimir Pulaski, Polish nobleman, and was dedicated in 1855. * R.E. Launitz sculpted the monument from Italian marble. *The bas-relief depicts the Revolutionary hero mortally wounded on October 9, 1779. *According to sculptor Robert E. Launitz, "...the eagle, emblem of liberty, independence, and courage, rest on both shields, bidding proud defiance - the eagle being the symbolic bird of both Poland and America." *Lady Liberty stands atop of the monument. *Remains of Pulaski are said to be buried at the base of the monument. Some historians believe he was buried at sea. The mystery remains. * The oldest synagogue in the state, founded 1733, stands on the SE corner of Monterey Square. It is the third oldest congregation in the United States. * The Comer House, on the NE corner, was host to Jefferson Davis in 1886. See historical marker. * In 1860 construction began on the Mercer-Williams House, on the SW corner, by confederate General Hugh Mercer. Construction was halted during the Civil War. General Mercer lost his fortune during the war, was unable to complete construction, and sold the property. Therefore, he never lived in the house for which he is the namesake. *The Mercer-Williams house is well known for its last occupant, the late Jim Williams, and the murder that took place here as featured in the book and movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The movie was filmed at this location.

    Purple and pink hydrangeas in full bloom

    See all

    3 months ago

    Beautiful and rich in history! A beautiful place to rest along your stroll exploring the squares in Savannah!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 5
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Helpful 45
    Thanks 1
    Love this 43
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ariel W.
    4415
    6027
    106283

    6 years ago

    Helpful 85
    Thanks 1
    Love this 80
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kara M.
    481
    1203
    14925

    8 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 20
    Thanks 0
    Love this 22
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kayla W.
    100
    24
    45

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tom O.
    4
    17
    0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    This is a cute square and right next to the Mercer Williams House from the book Garden of Good and Evil.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Monterey Square

    Review Highlights - Monterey Square

    The Comer House invited Jefferson Davis and daughter Winnie Davis, "daughter of the Confederacy" to dinner in 1886.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Landmarks & Historical Buildings 566 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Skidaway Island State Park

    Skidaway Island State Park

    4.6
    (109 reviews)
    8.4 mi

    Skidway Island State Park is a beautiful park to visit. It is pet friendly. The air smells divine…read more It smells clean and woodsy. I wished I could bottle it up and take the smell with me. It is within a campground. There is a gift shop, a children's playset, and an outdoor workout area. I loved the workout equipment, it was neat. I didn't go too far into the campground but it looked really nice. They have several trails you can explore. I went on the Sandpiper loop. It was about a mile. It was a bit muddy in spots so you may want to take hiking boots. I saw a deer and some mud crabs along the way. They even have a couple of dedicated places to stop and take a photo of the landscape. This provided a nice easy walk and a place for my pup and I to stretch our legs.

    This place is a nice and close in hiking spot and park…read more I took my canine companions. They both loved the outing. The park is pet friendly. They even provide stations with bags etc. to make it east to be a responsible owner. There are multiple trails, all are easy level. I found that the trail markings and other signage were well above average. One extra touch I found commendable is the scenic spot picture opportunities. Yes, they have a bracket set up to position your phone for the perfect shot. The visitors center is easily accessible and staffed by friendly and knowledgeable park rangers. My only complaint is that the "Avion" trail continues to be closed. Overall, the park is a great way to spend an afternoon commuting with nature.

    Photos
    From the trail
    From the trail
    Low tide in the marsh
    Low tide in the marsh
    From the trail

    See all

    From the trail
    DeVaul Henderson Lake Loop

    DeVaul Henderson Lake Loop

    5.0
    (3 reviews)
    16.2 mi

    Little One and I have been cooped up in the house because she has been sick, so I took her out to…read moreget some fresh air. The DeVaul Henderson Lake Loop (DHLL) seemed to be the best bet due to length of the trail. When you are on Hwy 144 and you get to the roundabout, turn in on Veterans Memorial Parkway, where the Bryan County Administrative Complex is. The trail is located right next to it. You can't miss it. Parking - You can pretty much park anywhere on the grass along Veterans Memorial Parkway. I like to park toward the other end, by the elementary school, where you see the 4 wooden posts. Trail Description - From the 4 wooden posts, down to the paved path, the ground is dirt and a mix of sand and pine needles, and not paved, but that distance is minimal. It is surround by tall trees. Once you get down to the paved part, the signs indicate that it's a 0.5 mile loop. This loop has 3 different connection points to other parts of DeVaul Henderson Recreation Park (to soccer fields and restrooms) and I believe to the side of the Bryan County Administrative Complex. The connection points are located on the opposite side of Veterans Memorial Parkway. There are park benches all around the lake, as well as flotation devices in case someone gets in and needs some saving. There was a unique bench (kind of like one of those stone benches you see in gardens) and it had a sign "The Murphy Bench" that was placed there in memory of an infant boy. How tragic, but so touching. Difficulty Level - Easy for all ages. It is stroller and wheelchair friendly too, but might experience some bumpiness when going down that first small stretch to the paved path. Beware - There are signs that say "Beware of Wildlife". I am assuming they mean alligators, because that is what they always seem to warn you about around these parts, but we did not personally see any. But do we ever really see them when they are around? Unless they decide to come out of the water. However, we did see a lot of ducks swimming in the lake, as well as a beautiful white one just sitting on the side in the grass. This is a great place to run, walk, speed walk, scoot (my Little One took her scooter) and I saw some people fishing too. It's a great pit stop if you happen to be in the area. You can fill up on gas at the Shell Station and stretch those legs before you go on the next leg of your trip. Get outside, People!

    This lake loop is 1/2 mile. The path is paved and stroller friendly. It also connects to other…read morepaved pathways leading past the soccer fields, baseball fields, softball fields, dog park and finally into the Green Creek trails. There are restrooms available.

    Photos
    03/22/2021
    03/22/2021
    One of few benches along the trail.
    One of few benches along the trail.
    Two little visitors

    See all

    Two little visitors
    Wormsloe State Historic Site

    Wormsloe State Historic Site

    4.1
    (274 reviews)
    6.6 mi

    Was excited to re-visit Wormsloe with their new gift shop and welcome center. They now offer ample…read moreparking equipped with EV charging stations and a gorgeous new building at the start of the Wormsloe experience with gift shop, restrooms, and a cute "porch area". Single day tickets for Historic Sites are only available to purchase on site the day you visit, not online. However, the staff is very friendly and helpful. They offer a shuttle that will take you to 1.5 miles down the picturesque drive or you can walk. Cars are not longer permitted down the drive. The shuttle does offer some interesting facts and is open air allow you to take pictures and still enjoy the outdoors! The shuttle drop-off is at the museum that is on-site. It is in MUCH need of a renovation as some of the interaction pieces are no longer working. I remember visiting in either elementary school or middle school some 20-ish years ago and I don't believe it has been touch since then. You are able to walk the grounds to visit the ruins via the trails. It is waterfront property with views into the marsh and channels off the Skidaway River. Keep in mind that mosquitos and sand gnats may be a nuisance; plan accordingly.

    Wormsloe is one of those places that's more about the experience than the destination. We wanted…read moresomewhere scenic to take a long walk and get out of the city for a bit, and it was great for that. The oak-lined entrance is beautiful and definitely worth seeing at least once. That said, I'd be lying if I said it totally lived up to the hype. It felt a little underwhelming overall, especially considering how long the walk is. Bring water -- seriously. If I did it again (and I absolutely will not), I'd probably rent bikes instead of walking the whole thing. I actually love history, so I was expecting to be more engaged by the historical side of it, but it just didn't really do it for me. I almost feel bad about it. In all fairness - half the site was closed so maybe I just got unlucky that day. The crowd also killed the vibe. It was the worst kind of tourist energy.

    Photos
    The driveway
    The driveway
    Wormsloe - Live Oak Avenue
    Wormsloe - Live Oak Avenue
    Avenue of Oaks

    See all

    Avenue of Oaks
    Chatham County Wetlands Preserve

    Chatham County Wetlands Preserve

    4.3
    (4 reviews)
    13.0 mi

    Near some botanical gardens, this separate tract of land was not particularly happening when I…read morebriefly dropped in, but it is free. A lake with a small bridge is the main attraction, with some areas around it to walk and a picnic enclosure. The highway is nearby and audible to some extent. There are some short trails, but signs caution against swimming in the water (which is true pretty much anywhere in the region given the robust reptile population).

    It was a beautiful day last Friday and my youngest and I had been cooped up in the house most of…read morethe week, so for Adventure Friday, we decided to explore Chatham County Wetlands Preserve. This 494-acre wetland preserve and park is another piece of property purchased by Chatham County. They created a 20-acre lake and have planted more than 20,000 trees. This park is tucked away on Highway 17, on Chief of Love Road. Parking - When you turn off on Hwy 17, you just have to continue driving until you get to a fork in the road. I stayed to the left and then we found ourselves in a huge gravel lot where it seemed the most appropriate to park the car. Trail Description - Once I parked the car, we walked to the fork where I could see the barrier and hiking sign (I saw it on the drive in). We started there and kept to the left. It started out as a pretty well marked path, under the trees. Once you get out of the shaded part, it's just grassy. It will bring you around the lake, and it's wide open, so there is no way you would get lost. We opted to take a shortcut and cut through on the bridge. There was a man there fishing. He said some days the fish bite like crazy and other says, nothing, so just a tip to anyone who likes to go fishing. There are picnic tables and a covered picnic area in the middle by the bridge that are great spots for meal and snack breaks. There were beautiful flowers along the way and also a patch of what I think are called Cypress Trees at one end of the lake. They are pretty much dead, but I thought they were pretty to look at the cluster of them. The reflection of the trees on the sunny day was just perfect. My Fitbit clocked the portion we did as about 1 mile. Kid-Friendly - Absolutely! Very flat trail, however not paved. Unless you have a B.O.B or a jogging stroller with bike-like tires, I would just use a baby carrier. Thankful that Chatham County is very nature focused and is committed to providing green space in the area for its residents. There seemed to be another trail by the park sign, so we will have to come back to explore that portion!

    Photos
    Chatham County Wetlands Preserve
    Chatham County Wetlands Preserve
    Chatham County Wetlands Preserve

    See all

    Monterey Square - landmarks - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...