THINGS TO DO IN SAVANNAH IN YOUR SPARE TIME (OR ON YOUR NEXT VISIT)

 

(See www.savannahvisit.com)

 

 

Do you like trains?

                Central of Georgia National Historic Landmark District, consisting of:

Roundhouse Railroad Museum-oldest and most complete antebellum railroad manufacturing and repair facility in US (1838-1963)-first Central of Georgia president was W. W. Gordon, USMA 1815.  W. W. Gordon monument in Wright Square, 651-6823

                Savannah History Museum/Visitor Center-old passenger train shed and railroad dining car, The Whistle Stop Café, 8:30-4:00 M-F, 42 seats in dining car; www.chsgeorgia.org

 

How about boats?

                Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum-Scarbrough House, 41 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.  Built in 1819 for the principal owner of the SS Savannah, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic-Tuesday-Sunday 10-5, 232-1511 www.shipsofthesea.org

 

Churches?

                Congregation Mickve Israel-Monterey Square-1733-Third Jewish congregation formed in America

                First African Baptist Church-Church began in 1773; current sanctuary 1859-oldest continuously active black church in North America-23 Montgomery Street, Franklin Square-open Fri 10-2; other visitation by appointment only 233-6597

                Cathedral of St. John the Baptist-Lafayette Square-oldest Roman Catholic church in Georgia; organized in late 1700s.  Current cathedral dedicated in 1876.

                St. John’s Episcopal Church-Madison Square-built in 1852-the Parish House (Green-Meldrim House) was Sherman’s HQ in 1864)(open Tuesday 10-4)

                St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church, 1401 Bull Street, 236-8256

                Trinity United Methodist Church, Telfair Square, dedicated in 1848, www.trinitychurch1848.org

                Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church, 429 Abercorn Street, 232-0191, go to www.wesleymonumental.org

 

Do you visit Early Cemeteries?

                Old Colonial Park Cemetery-opened in 1750-Abercorn Street at Oglethorpe Avenue

                Laurel Grove-Gettysburg Field-802 W. Anderson Street west of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd

                Bonaventure-Bonaventure Road in Thunderbolt

 

Interested in Black History?

                Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum-Savannah’s peaceful transition-460 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.-opened in 1996

 

Ready for Afternoon Tea?

                Gryphon Tea Room-just across Madison Square from the hotel; M-F Open 8:30-6:00, Afternoon Tea 4-6 pm  525-5880

                The Tea Room-Broughton Street

 

You Must Enjoy Military History!

                Vietnam War Memorial-Emmett Park on Bay Street at Habersham Street  

                Casimir Pulaski Monument in Monterey Square-died in Siege of Savannah-1779 (father of U.S. cavalry)

                Battlefield Park and Spring Hill Redoubt-part of British defenses in 1779 Siege of Savannah -Liberty and MLK, Jr. Blvd -Coastal Heritage Society www.chsgeorgia.org

 

 

 

Like to Commune with Nature?

                Oatland Island Education Center-Savannah’s “Zoo”-1 and ¾ mile Native Animal Nature Trail-off President Street Extension and Islands Expressway five miles east of Savannah; 898-3980, www.oatlandisland.org

                Forsyth Park-26 acres-see the Fountain and the Confederate Monument (brought from Canada by ship so it would not have to touch Yankee soil)

                Walk through squares that were in the original 1733 city plan.

 

Art and Culture?

                Telfair Museum of Art-oldest art museum in the South, www.telfair.org

                                New addition-Jepson Center for the Arts (opened 10 March-$24.5 mil cost)

                Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) galleries (numerous, including Gallery A on Madison Square)

                City Market Art Center-studios and works by area artists (also restaurants)

               

Architecture/Preservation?

                Massie Heritage Center-In a Greek Revival building which operated as a school for children of the poor beginning 1856.  Exhibits focus on Savannah’s history, architecture, and preservation movement.  City Plan Room holds the only three-dimensional model of Savannah’s Landmark Historic District. 207 E. Gordon St., Calhoun Square, 201-5070. Open  9-4 Mon-Fri  www.massieschool.com

                Lucas Theatre-32 Abercorn Street on Reynolds Square, built in 1921 and restored to its original splendor-unfortunately, not open except for shows   www.lucastheatre.com

                Walk the streets of the historic district

 

Do you Browse in Bookstores?

                E. Shaver, Bookseller-12 rooms of books immediately behind the Hilton

 

Like Neighborhood Bars?  Enjoy Intellectual Discourse?

                Pinkie Masters-across the street from the SE corner of the hotel

                Moon River Brewing Company-Bay Street

                Kevin Barry’s-River Street

 

How about a Tattoo?

                Above Tony Roma’s restaurant on Bay Street

 

Why not Karaoke?

                McDonough’s-Two blocks from hotel; next to Savannah Theatre

                Gayna’s Pub at Tybee Island

               

Other Things?

                Georgia Historical Society; Hodgson Hall, 501 Whitaker St, at Gaston and Whitaker; NW corner of Forsyth Park; Tue-Sat 10-5

                The Waving Girl Statue-Florence Martus greeted every ship from 1887-1931 in search of her long lost lover-on the river at east end of River Street

                Bronze 1996 Olympic Flame monument for Olympic Yachting-just east of the Waving Girl

                Birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts-granddaughter of W. W. Gordon, Georgia’s first graduate of USMA.  10 East Oglethorpe Avenue

                Like to see young people walking and on bicycles in the streets?  SCAD with 6000 students from 40 countries