I really liked this statue, even though this story is amazingly sad. Luckily it was a stop on our…read moretrolley. We actually got off the trolley at one end of River Street and walked all the way to this end (which is about where this is). I would highly recommend stopping by and reading about this amazing story.

We smoked a nice cigar by the statue. It's right on the water. Such a sad story, she waited too…read morelong for that guy!

Erected in 2002, the African American Monument (AAM) is located in Rousakis Plaza by the river…read morefront to symbolize where many African Americans first arrived in Savannah. This monument is of a black family with broken chains at their feet and it commemorates Savannah's African American citizens and their contributions to the city's history, economy and culture. In 2007, the City of Savannah publicly acknowledged its involvement in the institution of slavery. The artist behind it is Dorothy Spradley and supposedly, it took 11 years of planning before completion. The statue is made of bronze and granite. Inscription on monument: "We were stolen, sold and bought together from the African continent. We got on the slave ships together. We lay back to belly in the holds of the slave ships in each others' excrement and urine together, sometimes died together, and our lifeless bodies thrown overboard together. Today, we are standing up together, with faith and even some joy." - Maya Angelou. Interesting fact: as of the completion in 2002, the organizers were trying to raise funds to pay for the project with a hefty price tag of $250,000. Wonder if they've paid it off yet 8 years later? Parking is always challenging by the river front, so I suggest parking garages or on Bay Street and beyond and take a walk down! Stay safe, Friends!

I recently visited during the NOGs Tour of Hidden Gardens and was reminded what a lovely home this…read moreis! Truly one of my favorite homes to tour in Savannah. Wonderful history and they do a fabulous job. I also love that they are a part of the Coastal Heritage Society. I often get the annual pass to visit this home as well as other Savannah sites.

I visited this historic home after seeing a couple of the rooms featured in the movie Bride Hard…read more Once I was there to experience the well preserved beauty of the home it was easy to see why it was chosen as a film location. My tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the house and even other movies filmed there. The tour started in the basement with stories about slave workers. The tour ends in the upstairs bedroom, learning about about Alida "Harper" Fowlkes. It you are interest in historic homes, definitely check out the Harper-Fowlkes House if you are in Savannah.

The Georgia Historical Society is housed in Hodgson Hall, the headquarters and main library of the…read moreSociety and this building was designed by architect Detlef Lienau, being built in 1876. The Society itself was incorporated in 1839 and now holds the world's largest collection of materials germane to Georgia history. Hodgson Hall is a delightful building with a commodius interior and fine iron-work on the exterior, making a visit feel like a trip to a grand library at one of the world's great universities. Architect Lienau, though German-born, was one of the founders of the American Institute of Architects and though not as well-known as some of America's nineteenth-century architects, did some very innovative work including this building and it is fitting that the Historical Society is housed in a building of such note and merit. The collection itself is not only large but varied and while a lot of it understandably concerns the colonial and Civil War periods of Savannah's lengthy history, it also has interesting architectural and social content regarding the modern and contemporary history of the city and region. The Society also conducts frequent talks and events including special programs for schoolkids, partnerships with local colleges, and other efforts at outreach.

It's a beautiful, historic building, older than the whole city of Seattle (hey, Seattle is where I…read morelive, I can't avoid comparisons) (and yes, nearly all of the buildings in downtown Savannah are beatiful, old and historic, bear with me), and one of the perks of majoring in history at Armstrong in Savannah is that eventually you'll be admitted to the innermost sanctum of the Historical Society (after getting a membership, of course). You won't be able to do your Methodology paper without access to the boxes kept in a climate controlled environment that you have to sign for and can't leave the building with, but it's worth it to leaf through the 90 year old Grand Tour diary of the 10 year old son of a doctor who was one of the earliest users of the X-Ray. I think he died of radiation poisoning. Imagine that. It's a cool and quiet library with big wood tables, little lamps and a gallery running around the room. Just what you'd picture. The people working there are cool, quiet, smart and helpful, and if you appreciate libraries, history, books, and/or architecture, you should visit.

While extra planning will be needed, I highly recommend visiting this local treasure…read more We visited for a wedding and were able to enjoy many aspects of the island. The beaches are so pristine, and you're bound to find a treasure. I was not comfortable getting in the water. You couldn't see the bottom and the jellyFish were in full force. Golf carts are highly recommended and equally utilized. Plan ahead for your ferry ride over (or private rental). If you can indulge on the cuisine made by Sallie Ann Robinson, consider yourself lucky!!! She's a true gem. I am forever grateful that I got to meet her and eat her delicious food!! I would go back just to spend time with her. She's so knowledgeable, so loving, genuinely cares about preserving the Gullah history. She is a True Treasure!!! Pack bug spray! Wowzers. Loved our quick getaway.

Pronounced "Daw-fuss-key" or "Duh-fuss-key"…read more Daufuskie Island has a long rich history, which you can read about on Wiki, but I was first interested in visiting Daufuskie because it was settled by the Gullah for a long time, and I really wanted to learn more about the culture. I have come across Gullah works in various mediums in my folk art studies, and really yearn to know more. In retrospect, I think Sapelo Island would've been a better choice, but in either case, you'd need to have done your own research and historical reading ahead of time, because unfortunately, despite some local-level efforts, there has not been much invested in quality museum preservation of the culture on either island. I hope in the future this will change, and these historic sites will be given funding and national historic recognition. The island is 5mi x 2.5mi, with 3mi of beach. I've been to a lot of beaches around the world, and they do have a really pretty beach here. There are technically 2 beaches by name, but they run into each other. Our captain of our ferry told us a few years ago investors tried to hype Dafuskie up to be a southern Nantucket, but it didn't really catch on. I'd say the feel was more of Ocracoke (Boho artsy & southern nature) meets a small Bahamian island (island-rustic & party feel). There are these random gated communities and condo complexes amidst a very bucolic island bush feel. Golf carts are the main mode of transport, with very few cars, and there is this weird bike attitude, where they warn against trying to ride one on the sand roads, but yet rentals are available? (They recommend fat tire bikes.)       There are homemade YouTube videos on this island, but no major documentaries, and again, that is normally how I research a trip. So an island map is really the best resource I found on how to approach tourism across this island (apart from taking an official tour).  Unfortunately, due to my unhappy dog, I didn't get to explore beyond one restaurant and one beach. But I am aware of a schoolhouse, an iron master artist, a lighthouse (that isn't really a lighthouse), a very cool farm you can tour (that doesn't allow dogs), and a mishmash of old and new residences, where abandoned Gullah homesteads meet Baby Boomer retirement villages. There is also the Freeport town center, where the action is. Many boaters come dock just off the town square, and locals say the boats get rows deep, just tying one up to another. A rowdy party sparks up just about every afternoon, with lots of middle-aged to senior drunk people hanging out to play cornhole and flirt. There were also sketchy bungalow rooms for rent right on the party square for, presumably, boat goers to sober up before floating back to Hilton Head, and, (eek) hook-ups. Seriously, this spot is a maskless spreader zone come lunch time each day, so I steered clear!  Pat Conroy's book, The Water is Wide, is based on Daufuskie. This means nothing to me for the stuff I read, so I can't expand, but it is meaningful to some. People say of Daufuskie, "it feels like another country" ehhh, not really. I guess this is based on the rustic island vibe? If you've been to the Caribbean you know a bigger cultural difference. Even parts of the FL Keys feel more non-domestic than this. I did feel like I was still in SC. One detail that reminded me of small Bahamian islands, was the broken down cars, just rotting in various places. I get that on an island it's not easy to get rid of an old useless car, and I appreciate the rustic character, but there were a lot of them, especially in one particular sport, which was otherwise really pretty, by the water. Perhaps these are going to be reclaimed for their steel by the local steel artist? IDK. But that, for sure, felt Caribbean-y.  Visited in mid-March and temperatures were mid-70s. But on the beach it got hot! Daufuskie is a 45min ferry ride from Hilton Head, and then a short drive to Savannah. It is the last island in SC, before you get to Tybee in GA.

If you love history with a side of gorgeous scenery, Fort McAllister State Park is absolutely worth…read morethe stop. Fort McAllister is a Confederate earthen fort built along the Ogeechee River to protect Savannah during the Civil War. It's famous for for withstanding multiple Union naval attacks before ultimately falling during a land ambush in December 1864. By capturing the fort, Union forces had a clear path to the city of Savannah and kick-started Sherman's infamous March to the Sea. Today the park contains a visitors center, a small (but jampacked museum), campgrounds, the historical fort site, and more. The museum may be small, but it's packed with in-depth exhibits. You'll easily pass at least an hour here if you really take your time to read through everything. I especially loved the unexpected Henry Ford connection to the fort. Walking the grounds of the fort was the real highlight though. Fort McAllister is one of the best-preserved earthen forts from the Civil War, and you can explore the ramparts, cannons, and earthworks. Whether you're a casual visitor or a die-hard history buff, this park delivers a great walk in history's footsteps. Highly recommend carving out a few hours here!

Checked in for 5 days and nights 3/12-3/17…read more *Large Campsites* *Full Hook Up on some sites *Water and Electricity on all *Beautiful causeway to Savage Island *Expansive Salt Marshlands *Bring large amounts of bug repellents and spray *Historic Earthworks Fort* *Well cared for and maintained *Film, Museum and Open Buildings filled with history *Small Gift Shop *Nature Trails* *Nature Trails and observation points *Could be maintained much better and were impassable at many points We were camping when large weather system hit the campground. Rangers made sure to knock door to door and inform everyone that Tornadoes, hail, lightning and heavy winds were imminent. Went over safety plans. Definitely worth another trip. Thank you for the care and serenity with fauna and foliage. Please fix your trails. *All fees such as lot parking, museum, fort, boat ramp, kayaks etc are all EXTRA. Not included in your camping fee/lot fee. I would suggest that you consider one price because it felt cheap that even to park RV on paid lot required a parking fee. Made no sense and felt very cheap.

A rather quiet square in the southwest corner of the Historic District canopied by about 20…read morebeautiful Live Oaks - the state tree. It's not uncommon to spot a wedding taking place in Chatham Square or SCAD textile design students studying. Some interesting facts about Chatham Square and surrounding buildings: *Chatham Square was laid out, along with neighboring Monterey Square, in 1847. Chatham Square is one of the last four in the expanding "Oglethorpe Plan" by city and Georgia colony founder General James Oglethorpe. *Chatham Square is named after Englishman William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, who was an early supporter of the Georgia colony. *in the center of the square you'll find a sundial dedicated to African American, Savannah native, Louis Burke Toomer. Additionally, a historical marker placed in his honor highlights Toomer's contributions as a leader, local bank founder and realtor. Toomer established what is now the Carver State Bank. *In 1854, Barnard Street Elementary School, a boys school, was built on the northwest corner of Chatham Square. *General Sherman's Union forces used Barnard Street Elementary as a military hospital during the Civil War. *In 1906, Mediterranean revival style Barnard Street School was constructed on the same site as the old Barnard Street Elementary School. It was designed by Swedish immigrant, architect Gottfrid L. Norman. *The Northwest corner of Chatham Square continues to serve academically. SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) purchased Barnard Street School in 1988. The renovated school is now Pepe Hall and houses SCAD's Textile design school. *Gordon Row, on the southeast corner, was one of Savannah's first housing developments. These Federalist or Regency style homes line the 100 block of Gordon Street and were built in phases between 1852 and 1854. Cost per home was $3,500-$4,000 and marketed to country planters or farmers who wanted a house in town during visits.

Chatham Square is unique in that it's a little out of the way of your main Squares and houses no…read moremonuments or statues. It makes up for that with beautiful floral gardens, large oaks covered in Spanish moss and a lovely sundial. It's a short walk from Liberty Street, full of hotels and restaurants within the historic district. Interesting fact: Chatham Square is one of the least visited squares and was one of the last of Savannah's squares to be laid out. It's named after William Pitt, the first Earl of Chatham, the county Savannah resides in, and oddly enough, Chatham county was also named after William Pitt (but which was named first, I couldn't tell you. What you should look for when you visit: Barnard Street School, which used Chatham Square as their school playground for many years (the building is now part of SCAD). And "Gordon Row", a series of fifteen 4-story homes in a row. Square Review 2:22

The cash bar rocks the cheapest drinks in Savannah. Becca is amazing! Tip your servers!!read more

Really liked the place. The place has a nice vibe. I usually go to the legion when I go to a new…read morecity to make new friends. Always nice people at the American Legion no matter what city or state!