Johnson Square was a nice place to visit while we were in town. We really like taking photos and…read morelooking around the sites and seeing everything that had to offer.

Johnson Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah. Located in the northernmost row of the city's…read morefive rows of squares, it was the first of the squares to be laid out, in 1733, and remains the largest of the 22. We loved walking around the square as well as sitting around, watching people go by....there's plenty of street parking around....some free, some metered, some inside parking garages Johnson Square is east of Ellis Square, west of Reynolds Square and north of Wright Square. Situated on Bull Street and St. Julian Street, it is named for Robert Johnson, colonial governor of South Carolina and a friend of General James Oglethorpe. Interred under his monument in the square is Revolutionary War hero General Nathanael Greene, the namesake of nearby Greene Square. Greene was a Rhode Island native who died in the South.....us being from RI, found this very interesting and eye opening. An obelisk in the center of the square serves as a memorial to General Greene. Johnson Square contains two fountains, as well as a sundial.

On a very busy roadway that leads into downtown Savannah, this marker points out some of the more…read morerecent history of the area. It's very small print and thankfully there is enough space to pull over to be able to read it. The marker reads, "Urbanization of western Savannah in the early twentieth century was spurred by growth in employment opportunities at the Central of Georgia Railroad facilities, the port, and the port-dependent industries that included the Hilton-Dodge Lumber Company, American Can Company, Mutual Fertilizer Company, Diamond Match Company, and Union Bag and Paper Corporation. The industrial facilities provided abundant jobs for both white and African American workers in the Jim Crow era, and the major roads and electric railways serving the area helped create the Hudson Hill, Woodville, and West Savannah neighborhoods as workers chose to settle close to the city's major employers. A diverse mix of small businesses that appealed to both neighborhood residents and motorists soon expanded along the Augusta Avenue and Bay Street corridors. These businesses reached their peak in number and diversity in the 1950s and included small grocery stores, seafood markets, fruit stands, restaurants, dry cleaners, pharmacies, and gas stations. They declined in the 1970s as residents shopped elsewhere and finally collapsed in the 1990s when layoffs in the manufacturing sector caused working-age residents to move, leaving fewer homeowners and customers to support local businesses." Quite a few sponsors for the marker including the Federal Highway Administration, the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Chatham County and the City of Savannah. It is in excellent condition and has the same text on both sides. [Review 19348 overall - 583 in Georgia - 318 of 2023.]

This square is located on Abercorn, between Taylor and Gordon Streets. It was named in honor of…read moreJohn C. Calhoun, a United States Senator from South Carolina who was known as the great orator of the south. He served as Secretary of War, Secretary of State, and the Vice President under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. This was one of the final three squares to be completed in 1851. This square is unique in that it is the only square in the City of Savannah with all of its original buildings still intact. Many of the home along the the square were built in the 1850's and 1860's in the Greek Revival style. One of the historic buildings that overlooks the square is the Massie Common School House. It was designed in the Greek Revival style by John Norris and served as Georgia's first school. General William Sherman took over the school in December of 1864 and used it as a hospital. Another historic building along the square is the Gothic Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church founded in 1868. Construction of the church began in 1875. The first phase of construction was completed in 1875 and the second floor was finished 12 years later. There are stories of this square being haunted because this square was a slave burial ground containing 1,000 graves. In 2004 a skull was discovered by utility workers outside the Massie Heritage Interpretation Center on the square's southeastern side. Slaves in the 18th century were buried in the area that is now the square when the land was on the outskirts of Savannah's city limits. Many of the bodies were moved to Laurel Grove Cemetery South but apparently they still missed a few. Points of interest near Calhoun Square includes Clary's Cafe two blocks north, famous for it's breakfast and Savannah's biggest park, Forsyth Park, is three blocks southwest from the square. Today you can sit on a bench and reflect on the history of this part of the city beneath the trees that cast their shade over this hallowed ground.

The mature Live Oak tree canopy, limbs dripping with Spanish Moss, make Calhoun Square the perfect…read moresetting for its ghost stories! Those believing in the supernatural make this Square a must see. Additionally, Calhoun Square was one of the last three squares to be laid out in 1855. James Oglethorpe's 1733 city plan was still an ongoing vision one hundred and twenty two (122) years later with its construction. John C. Calhoun, an accomplished South Carolina statesman, Vice President to John Quincy Adams and Secretary of War for the United Stares of America, was the namesake of Calhoun Square. This is an intriguing Square with original buildings surrounding the square and ghost stories involving its history. Originally, in Savannah's infancy, the property that is now Calhoun Square was beyond the city limits. At that time, this property was the resting place of approximately "1,000 slaves", according to Wikipedia Squares of Savannah. The bodies were later moved to Laurel Grove Cemetery South. However, some remains were obviously missed as utility workers found a skull in 2004 that testing revealed dated back to the 1800s. For this reason, many Ghost tours make Calhoun Square a spot to investigate, and hopefully encounter, paranormal activity. Savannah is touted as one of America's most haunted cities in the USA, and Calhoun Square is one of many intriguing ghostly places to visit due to the burial ground history. Additionally, several of the homes and Massie School facing Calhoun Square are supposedly haunted. Some interesting facts regarding the surrounding buildings: *Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church stands grandly on the southwest corner of Calhoun Square. This gothic style church was named after and a tribute to the brothers and founders of Methodism, Charles and John Wesley. First services were held in 1868. *Greek Revival style Massie School is located on the southeast corner of Calhoun Square and was Savannah's and the state of Georgia's first public school. It's namesake Peter Massie, a Scotsman, gave Savannah $5,000 to build a school for "children of the poor". Massie School opened in 1856 and educated students until 1974. *The Greek Revival style home at 432 Abercorn Street in the southeast corner of Calhoun Square has an interesting past of death, and some say the most haunted in Savannah. The home was built for civil war veteran and cotton merchant, General Benjamin J. Wilson. The family of five children moved in in 1869. His wife died sometime after of Yellow Fever, and legend has it her ghost still wonders the home. *Stories of Prohibition bootlegging and murder make up some of the history of the Espy home, built in 1900, at 421 Abercorn Street and facing the northwest corner of Calhoun Square. This home belonged to federal judge, Carl Espy, who lived a double life as a respected judge and had a thriving, secretive bootleg business. Supposedly his granddaughter tragically died in the home, and his son was found murdered here, as well.

Reynolds Square is one of the many squares that dot the city of Savannah…read more.. It's located just a few blocks from River Street, which is a very historic and touristy part of the city. This square has some of the best company in town - with The Ole Pink House right off the square, The Lucas Theater on the intersecting Abercorn Street and Leopold's Ice Cream and Savannah College of Art and Design's Trustees' Theater just one block away. The square was designed in 1733 and originally named Lower New Square...... thanks to General Oglethorpe. It was and renamed in the 1750's after John Reynolds, the first Royal Governor of Georgia. In the middle of the square is a statue of John Wesley. Wesley is the founder of Methodism, who came to Savannah at General Oglethorpe's request. The statue was erected about 1970 on the spot believed to be Wesley's home. The nice old trees that cover the square are huge and they provide lots of shade....which is great if you happen to sit on one of the nice wooden benches located around.

Came through here and noticed a lot more historical markers than I recall. There weren't as many…read morebuns in the park this go around, not sure if that's because of the weather, but it is such a pretty square. I just had to stop and really look at everything.

This area is full of shops, restaurants, cafes, galleries, boutiques, inns and hotels. A good part…read moreof these businesses are located in restored passageways and nineteenth-century cotton warehouses. Everyone seems to enjoy this area when visiting Savannah. But what is Factor's Walk...and how did it get its name? Why is it here? Factor means to "sell" or "factorize". In these same buildings that now house various businesses...men used to bale, factor and sell cotton. The iron bridges and walkways led to the office entrances...often on the 3rd, 4th & 5th floors of the buildings. Here, brokers worked on sales and managed exports. "Factors" determined the amount(s) of cotton that would be sold to any merchant. Factors Walk was named after these cotton factors. Although the cotton trade is no longer here, it is still very much a business district...just in a different way. Today it is more of a promenade for all to enjoy instead of just doing business. The walkways & bridges are beautiful and remain nearly the same. There are historic steps that are rather steep still in existence as well that lead below to the river front...use them at your own risk. The architecture in this entire area is amazing...and cost nothing to take it all in except a little time...and this is time that I highly recommend.

Great place to visit , great view a good spot to take great pics . Historic steps is beautiful…read moreloved it . The only thing I hated was a lot of mosquitoes but other than that it was a great place to walk by and get to know

Savannah is a great place to visit. I did not feel unsafe anywhere…read more It has a great restored port area, a huge main street that is not all shuttered, lots of scattered parks, lots of shipping and railroad history.

Did a quick visit and really fell in love with Savannah. There are so many offerings along the…read moremain street of unique boutiques, gift shops, restaurants, etc. It was thriving with energy and people. I did see a lot of tourists. It is hard not to feel something when visiting the beautiful South with the hanging Spanish moss from the big old trees and all the historical buildings.

The Globe dates back to 1957 when it was constructed as a storage tank by the Savannah Gas Company…read more About two years after completion, it was painted to resemble the planet we're all Yelping though a classroom-style globe. In 1999, it was repainted as it is now, to look like the Earth as it appears from space. It's next to a gas station, Starbucks and Chick-Fil-A. Unless you collect odd water towers like I do, I wouldn't say that you need to go out of your way to visit. Don't miss the "Moon" mailbox nearby. [Review 19932 overall - 619 in Georgia - 905 of 2023.]

Civil War History…read more Dining at Old Fort Pub is always preceded by our walking tour of the Civil War fort, Fort Mitchel (one L.) Fort Mitchel and other Union forts, together with a superior Union Navy were Key to ultimate Union victory. Old Fort Pub is closed, and visitors to FT Mitchel have decreased. This Fort played a vital role in Coastal defenses.

Fun and Interesting historical presentation on old site of this fort area. Well spoken guide met us…read morenear parking and welcomed us, began discussion readily, sharing Civil war history. We ambled to park benches as he continued, explaining the importance of the area, and fortifications there, preserved as possible despite nearby modern development. His talk was augmented with a second presentor, in character and costume, to explain local sentiments during war times, with good humor and good understanding of historical local, slave and soldier perspectives. Well done! Well appreciated! Give a listen , everyone! Volunteer guides, money supports local history library.