Most visitors flock to River Street, but Savannah’s real magic lies in the Historic District. Stroll shady squares, admire elegant homes, and uncover centuries of history on a walk that showcases the elegance and class of this southern U.S. city.
On this tour of Savannah’s Historic District, you will see many of its most iconic sights, including romantic Forsyth Park with its namesake fountain, stroll past historic homes, experience its most beautiful squares, visit a well-preserved neoclassical-style home built in 1819, and amble through an old cemetery.
We’ve curated the list of stops on this walking tour after visiting the Historic District several times. We like it because it covers the best of the historic district without wearing you out. The walk clocks in at about 1.8 miles, but it’s flat and scenic – and we’ve planned a coffee stop – so let’s go!
Stop 1 – Forsyth Park
The tour begins at Forsyth Park. Start early for morning light, cooler temps, and fewer crowds, although this walking tour can be done at any time of day. In the evening, Victorian street lamps light your way, making the tour incredibly romantic.
Parking: There’s plenty of free parking on the many residential streets surrounding the park. Leave your vehicle near the north end of the park since that’s the part we’ll be visiting. There’s no need to go to the south end for this tour.
Head over the the Forsyth Park Fountain to take in the views and people watch. Spanish moss-draped live oaks frame the fountain, making it one of the most photogenic spots in the Southern U.S. Stroll the tree-lined walkways to soak in the ambience.
If you haven’t eaten, consider stopping into Collins Quarter at Forsyth Park. This landmark restaurant provides dining with gorgeous views of the park, a breakfast / brunch menu, and a full bar. It’s located past the fountain on the east side of park. Entrees range from $15-20. Collins Quarter is open Tuesday – Thursday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Friday – Monday 8:00 am – 3:00 pm (Food) & 4:00 pm (Beverage).
If you’re traveling with children, there are two playgrounds located a little further south in the park.
Pro Tip: Saturday mornings in Forsyth Park feature the Forsyth Farmer’s Market. Hours are 9 AM – 1 PM. The farmer’s market sells local produce and other local, homemade products such as jewelry, tinctures and crafts, as well as coffee. It’s super fun to browse around and find a souvenir with meaning!
Stop 2 – Monterey Square
Stroll down Bull Street to Monterey Square. A popular feature here is the Mercer-Williams House, prominent in the best-selling novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Come back later if you want to tour the house.
Stop 3 – Madison Square
Keep strolling up Bull Street. After about 0.2 miles, you come to Madison Square. This square oozes history, architecture and Spanish moss. At the center of the square is a statue of Sgt. William Jasper, a Revolutionary War hero from the Siege of Savannah. Take a seat on one of the benches.
Surrounding the square are:
- The Green-Meldrim House – This is a gorgeous Gothic Revival mansion. General Sherman lodged here during his March to the Sea. It’s also now a National Historic Landmark. Tours available.
- St. John’s Episcopal Church – Still an active church, check out the spire and the incredible stained glass. The church is open to the public with limited hours. Check the website to see if you can peek in to admire this beautiful church with its large pipe organ. It’s also air-conditioned, making it a nice break if you’re touring on a hot day!
- Sorrel-Weed House – This home is reputed to be one of Savannah’s most haunted homes. It’s also an architecturally significant home, open for ghost and other tours.
Stop 4 – Franklin’s Cafe & Brunch (optional)
Proceed up Bull Street to Liberty Street and turn left. Immediately on your left is Franklin’s Cafe & Brunch. Pop in for a late breakfast, brunch, or simply a pastry or coffee and to recharge your batteries. This outstanding spot features a chic, modern counter with a trendy menu and amazing coffee drinks. Grab an iced latte to go!
Stop 5 – Chippewa Square
Back on Bull Street, walk another 0.2-mile to Chippewa Square. This large, captivating square is graced by a statue of James Oglethorpe, the founder of Savannah. It’s also where Forrest Gump famously told his life story while seated on a bench. Walk through the square to Hull Street, turn right and then make a left onto Drayton Street.
Proceed down Drayton Street and turn right onto E. York Street, where you will come to…
Stop 6 – Oglethorpe Square
Just 0.3-mile away from Chippewa Square, Oglethorpe Square is quieter and not as crowded as some of the other squares, but no less picturesque. It’s a beautiful spot for photos with its fountain, benches and green space all set under the canopy of live oak trees.
Stop 7 – Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters
This is my favorite of the historic homes in Savannah. While the upstairs of the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters is interesting, depicting life in early-1800s Savannah for a wealthy family, downstairs you tour the cramped slave quarters. One of the best examples of urban slavery living conditions in the U.S., it’s a sobering experience.
Another feature of this tour is the parterre garden, a manicured example of early 19th-century landscaping. Once the tour is complete, you are allowed to wander the garden on your own. In my opinion, this tour is the best glimpse into antebellum home life in Savannah.
Tours start every 15 minutes. Your ticket includes admission to all three Telfair Museums. Unfortunately, you can’t purchase tickets in advance, but must stop by the ticket booth at the Owens-Thomas House to purchase your ticket and receive an assigned time. If you’ve purchased your ticket at one of the other two Telfair Museums, present it at the ticket booth to receive a tour time. During weekends or other busy tourist times, purchase your ticket early in the day to avoid a sell out and to secure your preferred tour time. You may be able to join the next tour depending on the busy-ness of the day. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
If you are short on time, skip the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, saving it for another time. But we do recommend a visit to this important site.
Stop 8 – Colonial Park Cemetery
From the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, proceed south down Lincoln Street, which runs along the east side of the home. After three blocks, you come to the Colonial Park Cemetery.
This venerable graveyard, dating from 1750, is a highlight for history buffs as it is home to the graves of well-known figures such as Button Gwinnett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and Archibald Bulloch, the first president of Georgia and the great-great-grandfather of President Theodore Roosevelt.
The cemetery also contains a mass grave where close to 700 victims of the 1820 Yellow Fever Epidemic are buried.
While most tombstones in Colonial Park Cemetery are flat and ground-level, some tombs sit above ground. This can evoke images of cemeteries in New Orleans, but here the reason is different. It’s not because Savannah’s dead “float,” but because wealthy families in the 1700s and early 1800s preferred elegant, durable vaults to simple headstones.
Walk straight through the cemetery, crossing over E. Perry Lane, to rejoin Lincoln Street and continue straight two more blocks to E. Harris Street. Turn right and walk a short way to …
Stop 9 – Lafayette Square
This beautiful square evokes an age of glamor and wealth. Lafayette Square was established in 1873 and pays homage to the Marquis de Lafayette, a French hero of the American Revolution who came to Savannah in 1825. Note the dramatic cast-iron fountain marking the center of the square.
Also on this square are four important landmarks. Check out each one after admiring the square and the fountain and resting on a bench for a moment. I’ve arranged the sights in counter-clockwise order.
The stunning Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, located on E. Harris Street north of Lafayette Square is – to me – the most beautiful church in all of Savannah, and a high point of this walking tour. Construction of the cathedral began in 1873, and it is built in the High Victorian Gothic style. Step inside to cool off and sit a few minutes admiring the soaring ceilings and stained glass windows. Click here for visiting hours.
Next up is the Hamilton-Turner Inn, located on Abercorn Street on the east side of the square. Formerly home to a wealthy Savannah family, it’s now a luxury inn. Admire the Gilded Age architecture. The Inn also made a cameo appearance in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
The Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home also graces the square on the southeast corner facing E. Charlton Street. It’s open for guided and self-guided (but limited) tours Thursday – Sunday. Learn more about this important author’s childhood and see the carefully restored Depression era home.
Keep walking around the square to the Andrew Low House Museum, which also faces the square on Abercorn Street. One of the finest accessible mansions in Savannah, it was built in the 1840s. Originally home to Andrew Low, a cotton merchant, this opulent home, complete with period furnishings, was also home to Juliette Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts. The home is open daily; check the website for hours and tickets, which can be purchased in advance.
From Lafayette Square, walk down Drayton Street, south or back toward Forsyth Park to…
Stop 10 – Congregation Mickve Israel
Before returning to Forsyth Park, be sure to stop by this synagogue, built in the Gothic Revival style as the first synagogue in Georgia. The congregation dates to 1733. Guided tours of the gorgeous sanctuary and the Nancy & Lawrence Gutstein Museum, which houses many interesting artifacts including a 15th Century Torah (the oldest in North America), are available at set times Monday – Friday. Visit the website for more details and to purchase tickets in advance.
Return to Forsyth Park
You’ve completed your tour and just need to walk the short distance south on Drayton Street to Forsyth Park. You’ve now seen the best of Savannah’s Historic District and gotten a little fresh air and exercise. Pat yourself on the back for getting off River Street and immersing yourself in Savannah’s rich cultural heritage.
Map
Below is a map of this Savannah Historic District Walking Tour. Take it – and this guide – along with you on YOUR walking tour!
(Download as a KML file and use in Google Maps, Google My Maps, OpenMaps, or other mobile apps. Start from the full screen view of the map. Click the star next to the map title to view in Google Maps and then save for later reference.)
Did you complete the tour? Have comments or suggestions? We’d love to hear from you!
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