Landmarks in Savannah
Hold the horse-drawn carriage and halt the ghost tour! You might want to snap a photo (or three or four). If you want to see what Savannah is all about, you've got to check out its defining attractions: its landmarks. Savannah's landmarks are the must-see spots that let you know you're really somewhere special. Restored homes, famous statues, lush parks, stately squares—the landmarks of Savannah are as distinctive as the Spanish moss. And, as you follow the swoop and swirl of the city's signature sights, you'll learn about Savannah's history, its culture and what exactly it is that makes the city so sweet. Savannah's biggest and best landmark isn't a single house or square; it's the Historic District itself. The old-time heart of the city is a National Historical Landmark, and a long ramble through the beauty of its shady streets and breezy squares will immediately let you know the city was spared from Civil War destruction. Within the Historic District, you'll find most of the city's landmarks. Historical homes like the Owens-Thomas House and the Davenport House Museum immerse you in the life and culture of Savannah's yesterday, as well as the restoration movements of today. The excellent Telfair Museum of Art marks the oldest art museum in the South, with three distinctive houses taking you from Neo-Classicalism to Modernism. Savannah may have been spared during the Civil War, but the struggle certainly left its mark, and several of Savannah's landmarks tell the tale. The First African Baptist Church isn't just the oldest black church in the United States—it was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad, delivering slaves to freedom. On the other end of the spectrum, Forsyth Park's Confederate Memorial honors those who lost their lives fighting for the Confederacy. A must-see landmark for any history buff and transportation aficionado, the Historic Railroad Shops delve you back in time with its signature smokestack and giant, still-working turntable. The largest railroad complex of its kind preserved in the US, the structure stands testament to the importance of the railroad in Savannah. Culture vultures have plenty of landmarks to sink their talons into. For the book lovers, Savannah is rife with literary landmarks. From the Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home to the Mercer-Williams House, these landmarks immerse you in the literary tradition of Savannah. Music fans should be sure not to miss the annual Savannah Music Festival, which takes place in various historic venues through Downtown, overtaking the city with artistic and cultural events. Perhaps the most popular—and sometimes spooky—of Savannah's landmarks are its cemeteries, among its most distinctive and historic landmarks. Colonial Park Cemetery is the city's oldest cemetery, but the Bonaventure Cemetery is the city's most famous, due to the popularity of the novel and film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The signature Bird Girl statue has been removed, but the ghostly laughs of Savannah's former residents can supposedly still be heard. So hush and listen for the whisperings of the past…
