Locals say that each of Savannah's twenty two squares has it's own personality. These Squares were…read moreoriginally used to practice and drill for the militia, but today they are gathering places of beauty and history. The city design was dreamt up by a one James Oglethorpe of Yorkshire, England. In 1732, Oglethorpe was granted a charter to found the colony of Georgia, and his plan for the city's layout was based on the Enlightenment ideals of science, humanism and secular government. Oglethorpe Square is named after this man, the founder of Georgia and Savannah. It's paths are connected and multi-directional, without being chaotic. There are many benches for lounging and trees to provide shade and a sense of comfort. You won't find a statue of James Oglethorpe in the square with his namesake, you will have to head to Chippewa Square to see that. Oglethorpe Square is clean, peaceful and a lovely place to visit.

Oglethorpe Square is one of the 22 Squares of Savannah. Compared to the other squares, this one is…read morefairly "unremarkable." For example, it doesn't have an obelisk commemorating an American Revolutionary War general like Johnson Square ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/johnson-square-savannah ) nor does it have a monument like the Haitian Monument in Franklin Square ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/franklin-square-savannah ). In this sense, Oglethorpe Square is rather plain and boring. However, from our visit, I still found it to be a charming, nice-looking, and well-maintained square; hence, the Yelp four stars ("Good"). Oglethorpe Square is located in the North Historic District, only a couple blocks north of Colonial Park Cemetery. If you're in the area, I recommend visiting the cemetery: https://www.yelp.com/biz/colonial-park-cemetery-savannah Oglethorpe Square was one of two squares built after the original four. Overall, it was the sixth to be laid out, in 1742. For reference, Colonial Cemetery opened in 1750 and nearby Columbia Square, two blocks east, was laid out in 1799. Oglethorpe Square was named after General James Oglethorpe (1696-1785). Oglethorpe founded Georgia, then one of the Thirteen Colonies, in 1732. Oglethorpe County and Oglethorpe University are also named after the general, as well as, presumably, Oglethorpe Power. Anyway, back to the square. It consists of nine roughly equally-sized sections (mini squares, almost) divided by brick walkways. It's like a public park with lots of grass, a variety of trees, bushes, and flowers, and benches and trash cans. The center square is all grass with a classic lamppost at each of the four corners. During our visit, the grounds appeared well kept. A sign on a pedestal in the northeast corner of the square read: "In memory of the Moravian colonists in Savannah, 1735-1740, who maintained a mission to the Indians. This memorial is presented to the City of Savannah by the Wachovia Historical Society of Winston-Salem, NC." I think that's cool because I'm originally from the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina and I'm familiar with Old Salem and the Moravians: https://www.yelp.com/biz/old-salem-museums-and-gardens-winston-salem-3 I didn't know about their connection with Savannah until after visiting Oglethorpe Square.

Any fans of the Civil War will find so many amazing historical locations in Savannah…read more Shermans's Headquarters is one such place. Gorgeous building with amazing surroundings. Check out the history of why the Union left Savannah unscathed.

Located on Madison Square is the historic Gothic Revival Green-Meldrim House which was built…read morebetween 1853 and 1861. The architect for the house was John S. Norris who also designed the Savannah Customs House. The house was constructed for Mr. Charles Green who came from England to Savannah in 1833. Mr. Greene made his fortune in cotton and ships. In December of 1864, General Sherman used this house as his headquarters at Mr. Green's invitation. General Sherman came to Savannah with the Federal Army to occupy Savannah during his famous March to the Sea during the Civil War. Sherman was successful in taking over the city and sent President Lincoln a telegram that when down in history when he offered Savannah to him as a Christmas gift, bringing the Civil War to an end. Sherman occupied the house until the end of the war. In 1976, the house was designated a National Landmark by the United States Department of Interior. After Mr. Greene died, his son Edward moved to France with the furnishings from the house and sold it to Judge Peter W. Meldrim. On December 30, 1943, Judge Meldrim sold the house to the parish of St. John's after which they restored it. After Edwards youngest son, the writer Julien Green passed, the church was able to buy the furniture in France and have it returned to the house. Today St. John's Episcopal Church gives tours pf the house and they use it for meetings. St. John's maintains a church next door. There is a historical marker in front of the house detailing it's storied history. The houses fascinating story and magnificent architecture makes it a great stop during a tour of Savannah.

This is one of those places that instantly pulls you in and makes you feel like you are part of the…read morehistory. Walking along the cobblestone street with the river right beside you is such a cool experience. You get amazing views of the water, big ships passing by, and that classic Savannah charm everywhere you look. There is always something going on here. Street performers, little shops, and great places to grab food or a drink all along the way. It is easy to spend a few hours just wandering in and out of spots and taking it all in. The mix of old brick buildings and lively atmosphere makes it feel unique compared to a lot of other places. The vibe really stands out. It is busy but in a fun way, not overwhelming. You see families, couples, and groups all enjoying the area, and it just has that welcoming energy. Whether you are there during the day or at night, it feels like there is always something to see. Overall this is a must visit if you are in Savannah. Great views, great atmosphere, and a lot to explore packed into one area. Definitely one of the highlights of the trip.

This is such a beautiful walk. The buildings are amazing and the view of the river is excellent. My…read morelittle cousin was so excited to watch a barge come through! And the bridge looks terrifying from the ground. There are so many shops and restaurants that you could walk down this street every day for a week and always find something new. Is it catered towards tourists? Yes, but I really think that you'll enjoy it.

Truly a beautiful tree. If you love the Angel Oak in South Carolina, you will also love this tree…read more It's not as huge, but it has an amazing history. The park it's in is absolutely lovely as well. It's a must see if you're doing any sort of sightseeing in Savannah. It's a stop on the trolley and bus line so easy to find!

Oak trees are most likely included in any description or picture of Savannah. That's what makes up…read morethe charm of this city, coupled with the Spanish Moss draping over the oak's large canopy and it makes even the not-so-nice parts of town, still so pretty! Candler Oak, however is a special oak tree. It is one of the oldest living landmarks in Savannah and os estimated to date back to around the 1700s. Thankfully, in the 80's, a group of citizens formed a group when the tree was at a risk of dying and have made great efforts in keeping this tree alive and protected. History was made when the group obtained the first conservation easement on a single tree. - Parking - Street parking. - Location - It's located right next to Forsyth Park, on Drayton and E Gaston Street, on SCAD's Ruskin Hall's property. There is an iron gate that surrounds the tree that is kept under lock and key. You can't get past the gate. As we visited it today, there were a group of workers, repaving the cement walls that surround it from the street. It looks like the cement walls have slowly collapsed over the years and there were quite large cracks to the foundation. The information board is also contained inside the gated area. According to the board, the last time they measured the tree was in 2003 and it is as follows: Diameter - 65 inches Circumference - 17 feet Height - 54 feet Width of the canopy - 110.25 feet - Fun facts - 2001 - Designated a Georgia Landmark & Historic Tree 2004 - Placed on National Register of Historic Trees Tip: There is actually a Dot bus stop right in front of it and Dots are free to ride in Savannah. If you're walking around Forsyth Park, it's definitely worth going over to the end of Forsyth Park to see this beautiful tree.

In the past when I thought of the Revolutionary War, I assumed that the battles were held in the…read morenorth. I tend to think of Savannah as mainly being involved in the Civil War. That is why it was so cool to find this Revolutionary War battlefield on a recent trip to Savannah. I have since learned that there was a whole southern theater to the Revolutionary War. On October 9, 1779 more than 8,000 troops over three armies fought in the Battle of Savannah. During the battle 800 troops died or were wounded making this the seconded bloodiest battle of the war. During the battle, 2.500 crown loyalists who controlled Savannah faced off against 5,500 revolutionaries who were composed of soldiers from France, America, Germany, Haiti, Poland, Scotland, Ireland, and Sweden. During the battle five columns of the Continental Army attacked the British enemy lines. When the battle ended Savannah remained with the British. Battlefield Park, located on the corner of Louisville and MLK Jr. Blvd, was purchased by the City of Savannah in 2003 and in 2005 archaeologists discovered remains of the redoubt, a fort that was created during the battle. Money was raised through private donations and today the battlefield is a memorial. The Coastal Heritage Society's Preservation Team and Archaeology Team researched and restored the battlefield. They installed historic Interpretive panels which details the history of the battle. The fort has been recreated so visitors today can see how it looked in 1779. 800 granite stones were arranged to represent the dead and wounded. If you are interested in learning more about the battle you can do so at the Savannah History Museum located across the street. They hold a program called Loyalists and Liberty which teaches about the southern campaign of the war and it is offered to school field trips. On October 9th every year at dawn, a march is held by the Coastal Heritage Society to honor their ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War. Eight nations who sent troops in support of the revolution are represented to honor their sacrifice. Today the site of the battle is a public park and it is open daily for self guided tours.

Battlefield Memorial Park (BMP) is to commemorate the estimated 800 troops that were wounded or…read morepaid the ultimate sacrifice during the Revolutionary War Battle of Savannah. BMP is located on the corner of Louisville and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, between the Visitor's Center/Savannah History Museum and the Georgia Railroad Museum/Savannah Children's Museum. Eight hundred granite stones are arranged in rows of ten with our nation's flag in the middle. There is an information board to the right of it. - Parking - I am assuming that you can park at the Georgia Railroad Museum, as the memorial is at the entrance to the Museum. If not, you can park at the Visitor's Center and walk over. "We don't know them all, but we owe them all" - Anonymous.

Quick stop while I was visiting Tybee Island last year. It is one of the smallest lighthouses in…read moreGeorgia, located on a tiny island in the south channel of the Savannah River. Its part of Fort Pulaski National Monument. Its not open to the public for visiting. You can get close if your kayaking. The national park service does operate Cockspur Lighthouse, see website for the interesting facts about Cockspur. If you love lighthouses its a great stop for the history and views.

Decided to stop in here as we were headed to Tybee Island and we ended up spending so much time we…read moredidn't even go to the island! Fort Pulaski is in amazing condition and you get to walk through the tunnels as well as on top of the fort! They give you a paper with a map explaining history, and another one that tells you about all the canons. They have many original canons that you can see, and the information signs throughout the fort do a great job of just hitting the cool highlights without overwhelming you with information. The walk to the lighthouse is beautiful and you get some great views of the Savannah River.

We hit up a lot of squares while we were in Savannah Georgia. This is one of them that we stopped…read moreand saw took a lot of photos. Kept it on moving nice little spot.

Haunted Square…read more There are 22 of these "Squares" in Savannah. Squares are like parks. One of them is Wright Square and it was one of the original four squares to be laid out in Savannah's Historic District. The Square is named Wright Square in honor of Sir James Wright, the last Royal Governor of (the Province of) Georgia. Two monuments reside on Wright Square. Not a military person but one of the monuments honor the life and achievements of a wealthy and influential railroad tycoon named William Washington Gordon I. Yup, there he stands in the center of Wright Square. The other memorial is that of Tomochichi, a Yamacraw Indian Chief. The memorial is actually a huge boulder of Georgia granite located in the Southeast side of the square in memory of Tomochichi. He assisted James Oglethorpe in the establishment of the Georgia colony and was buried in Wright Square in 1739. The ghost of Tomochichi (allegedly) still resides in Wright Square. Located on Bull Street between State and York Streets, bordered by courthouses and other historic buildings, it is one of the oldest of the City's squares... and haunted! But then most of Savannah is haunted like the true story of Alice Riley, the first woman to be sentenced to death in Savannah in the hanging tree! I always find it interesting to find out the history of these places! In the daytime it looks like a normal park... oh, if you only knew the haunted stories behind this Square. Review #1853

Overjoyed to see this wonderful statue and park. A really…read moreadorable area. The park also features charming benches and those iconic trees with Spanish Moss. The fountain was on today. Very clean!! Apparently on St Patrick's Day the water will be green. I'm happy to enjoy it today. Perfect day thanks to all the hard working City planners, architects, employees, and volunteers. Both passed and present because it looks nice today because of everyone's efforts.

We were on a road trip to the Northeast and our first stop was Savannah. My husband was nice…read moreenough to find the nearby restaurant near this park so we took a stroll through the park before lunch. It is a beautiful and peaceful park with a gorgeous fountain in the middle. There were many people taking pictures of the fountain, including me!