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Ariel W.

Monterey Square was laid out in 1847 in honor of the Battle of Monterey during the Mexican American War. Monterey Mexico was captured by the United States Army by General Zachary Taylor on May 24, on 1846. Taylor became the 12th President of the United States when he was elected in 1849. The 55 foot marble obelisk monument in the center of the square is in honor of Polish Revolutionary War hero General Casimir Pulaski. Pulaski was a nobleman from Warsaw Poland. At the request of Benjamin Franklin he emigrated to the colonies to aid in the revolution. While fighting with the Continental Army he was credited with saving George Washington's life. He fought during the Seige of Savannah about a half mile northwest of the square when the Continental Army tried to take control of Savannah from the British on October 9, 1779. They were unsuccessful and Pulaski was mortally wounded at the age of 34 while charging into enemy fire in an attempt to disrupt the British line. 800 other soldiers who were killed or injured. He was one of only seven people in history to be granted honorary U.S. citizenship. Pulaski's monument was designed by Russian artist Robert Eberhard Launitz. He chose Monterey Square for the monument because of the scale of the surrounding buildings. The cornerstone for the monument was laid on October 11, 1853. It cost $17,000 to construct the monument and it was dedicated on January 9, 1855. Some controversy surrounds whether or not it is actually Pulaski buried in the grave at the base of the monument. The confusion stems from the fact that Pulaski did not die on the battlefield. He had the grapeshot seed removed from his leg by a doctor from South Carolina. He is believed that he died on a ship and had a burial at sea while other people believe he died at Greenwich Plantation and was buried there. Seventy-five years after Pulaski' death, the body at Greenwich Plantation was dug up and examined by doctors who determined it looked to be the right height and age to be Pulaski so the body was placed in a metallic case underneath the monument in 1854. Several famous buildings surround Monterey Square. The Mickve Israel Temple is home to one of the oldest practicing Reform Judaism congregations in the U.S. They came to Georgia on July 11, 1733, five months after it became a colony. This Gothic synagogue was built in 1878. On the south east corner of the square is the Mercer-Williams home. The home was designed by John S. Norris for General Hugh Mercer. Construction was started in 1860 but it was interrupted by the Civil War. The house was completed in 1868 but it was vacant when respected antiques dealer Jim Williams bought it in 1969 and restored it to it's full glory. The house was made famous by the novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil which told the story of how prostitute Danny Hansford was shot and killed in the house in 1981 by Jim Williams. There was also a 1997 film based on the book. Located near the square is the Comer Jefferson House where Confederate President Jefferson Davis resided when he visited Savannah with his daughter to celebrate the centennial of the Chatham Artillery. The monument in this square and the surrounding buildings make this square a must see when you visit Savannah.

Kara M.

We stumbled upon this beautiful square while wandering through the city of Savannah. I had never been to Savannah before (other than staying at a nearby hotel off I-95) but this square is exactly what I envisioned this city would be like. Elegant historic homes surround this small park. A monument honoring the 1846 Battle of Monterey is also situated here. This square oozes southern charm. There were beautiful colored flowers blooming, touches of Spanish moss and some park benches. The Mercer House is also conveniently located right across the street from Monterey Square. If you have time while in Savannah, I recommend stopping by for a few minutes. It's very romantic too!

Mark M.

This place has the Pulaski monument, dedicated to a Polish nobleman. It's surrounded by trees and paths, looked after perfectly. Located just north of Forsyth Park.

Young tortoise on a jaunt. Expected to live another 11 decades. Way to go.
James W.

Amazing amount of history right here! And great food and drink/coffee close by. Casimir Pulaski was mortally wounded here in Savannah. The remains of Pulaski are said to be buried at the base of the monument. They have exhumed the body and similar height/bone density as Pulaski's, but found bones of a female and there is speculation that Casmir, who came to America to fight for freedom, was actually a female who disguised herself as a male. Mickve Israel is the oldest Jewish congregation in the state and the only synagogue built in a gothic crucifix form. Per history, The woman who deeded the land to the synagogue insisted on this crucifix form. Life and it's lemons! Also, according to history, Savannah didn't want the Jewish faith here during those times but they didn't have a doctor and relented since the Jewish refugees had a doctor. Lemons I tell ya'. The synagogue has many historical religious and medical artifacts in it's museum including a circumcision device. Rabbi is very friendly and has a great sense of humor. The Jewish Food Fest, Shalom Y'all, is held here in the square. The Comer House invited Jefferson Davis and daughter Winnie Davis, "daughter of the Confederacy" to dinner in 1886. I always thought odd since that was 20 years after the civil war.

Historical marker for Pulaski Monument on Monterey Square
Laura P.

Monterey Square's name pays homage to the American Victory in the Mexican - American War of 1846. This Square was laid out in 1847. Monterey Square is one of the twenty two (22) squares of twenty four (24) designed by English visionary, General James Oglethorpe. Interestingly, this square, as well as others along Bull Street, are the home of memorials and monuments honoring American Revolutionary War heroes. Highlights of Monterey Square: *The focal point of Monterey Square is the Pulaski Monument. It is placed here in honor of American Revolution War hero Casimir Pulaski, Polish nobleman, and was dedicated in 1855. * R.E. Launitz sculpted the monument from Italian marble. *The bas-relief depicts the Revolutionary hero mortally wounded on October 9, 1779. *According to sculptor Robert E. Launitz, "...the eagle, emblem of liberty, independence, and courage, rest on both shields, bidding proud defiance - the eagle being the symbolic bird of both Poland and America." *Lady Liberty stands atop of the monument. *Remains of Pulaski are said to be buried at the base of the monument. Some historians believe he was buried at sea. The mystery remains. * The oldest synagogue in the state, founded 1733, stands on the SE corner of Monterey Square. It is the third oldest congregation in the United States. * The Comer House, on the NE corner, was host to Jefferson Davis in 1886. See historical marker. * In 1860 construction began on the Mercer-Williams House, on the SW corner, by confederate General Hugh Mercer. Construction was halted during the Civil War. General Mercer lost his fortune during the war, was unable to complete construction, and sold the property. Therefore, he never lived in the house for which he is the namesake. *The Mercer-Williams house is well known for its last occupant, the late Jim Williams, and the murder that took place here as featured in the book and movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The movie was filmed at this location.

Purple and pink hydrangeas in full bloom

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18 days ago

Beautiful and rich in history! A beautiful place to rest along your stroll exploring the squares in Savannah!

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14 years ago

This is a cute square and right next to the Mercer Williams House from the book Garden of Good and Evil.

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Review Highlights - Monterey Square

The Comer House invited Jefferson Davis and daughter Winnie Davis, "daughter of the Confederacy" to dinner in 1886.

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DeVaul Henderson Lake Loop - Morning walk. Sun's up!

DeVaul Henderson Lake Loop

(3 reviews)

Little One and I have been cooped up in the house because she has been sick, so I took her out to…read moreget some fresh air. The DeVaul Henderson Lake Loop (DHLL) seemed to be the best bet due to length of the trail. When you are on Hwy 144 and you get to the roundabout, turn in on Veterans Memorial Parkway, where the Bryan County Administrative Complex is. The trail is located right next to it. You can't miss it. Parking - You can pretty much park anywhere on the grass along Veterans Memorial Parkway. I like to park toward the other end, by the elementary school, where you see the 4 wooden posts. Trail Description - From the 4 wooden posts, down to the paved path, the ground is dirt and a mix of sand and pine needles, and not paved, but that distance is minimal. It is surround by tall trees. Once you get down to the paved part, the signs indicate that it's a 0.5 mile loop. This loop has 3 different connection points to other parts of DeVaul Henderson Recreation Park (to soccer fields and restrooms) and I believe to the side of the Bryan County Administrative Complex. The connection points are located on the opposite side of Veterans Memorial Parkway. There are park benches all around the lake, as well as flotation devices in case someone gets in and needs some saving. There was a unique bench (kind of like one of those stone benches you see in gardens) and it had a sign "The Murphy Bench" that was placed there in memory of an infant boy. How tragic, but so touching. Difficulty Level - Easy for all ages. It is stroller and wheelchair friendly too, but might experience some bumpiness when going down that first small stretch to the paved path. Beware - There are signs that say "Beware of Wildlife". I am assuming they mean alligators, because that is what they always seem to warn you about around these parts, but we did not personally see any. But do we ever really see them when they are around? Unless they decide to come out of the water. However, we did see a lot of ducks swimming in the lake, as well as a beautiful white one just sitting on the side in the grass. This is a great place to run, walk, speed walk, scoot (my Little One took her scooter) and I saw some people fishing too. It's a great pit stop if you happen to be in the area. You can fill up on gas at the Shell Station and stretch those legs before you go on the next leg of your trip. Get outside, People!

This lake loop is 1/2 mile. The path is paved and stroller friendly. It also connects to other…read morepaved pathways leading past the soccer fields, baseball fields, softball fields, dog park and finally into the Green Creek trails. There are restrooms available.

Wormsloe State Historic Site - Wormsloe - Museum

Wormsloe State Historic Site

(268 reviews)

We had a wonderful time exploring Wormsloe. While you can choose to walk the grounds, taking the…read moreshuttle through the iconic path of 440 massive oak trees was both informative and enjoyable. They've recently updated their shuttles, which made for a comfortable experience even though they are wooden bench seats. They run every 30 minutes, take you to the museum and trails, and the ride itself lasts about 15-20 minutes each way. After the ride, we spent some time in the small museum which was cute and took the trail out to the Colonial Life Area. It's a nice walk through the forest with plenty of fresh air and different kinds of birds that really adds to the visit. The Colonial Life Area was small so don't expect a large village or anything. We also managed to find a few things in the gift shop, which has a surprisingly good selection. Definitely a highlight if you're looking for that classic, historic, and forest atmosphere!

There are places you visit for the history. There are places you visit for the beauty. Wormsloe is…read moreboth -- but it's worth knowing going in that it doesn't always treat those two things equally. Start with what it gets right. The 1.5-mile avenue of live oaks leading to the site is one of the most stunning natural corridors in the South -- more than 400 trees, Spanish moss hanging in every direction, the kind of canopy that makes you slow down without being asked. The grounds are genuinely breathtaking, and no photograph fully prepares you for the real thing. Our guide Brian was excellent -- personable, knowledgeable, and generous with detail about the site's long lineage and the current family who still call part of the land home. The blend of guided and self-directed exploration worked well. The museum is modest but worthwhile, the tabby ruins of Noble Jones' original colonial fortification are the oldest standing structure in Savannah , and the nature trails along the marsh add a quieter, more reflective dimension to the visit. Where the experience falls short -- and this is worth saying plainly -- is in how little the tour engages with the full human history of the place. From the time Georgia's Trustees lifted the ban on slavery in 1749, the Jones family enslaved more than 350 people across Wormsloe and their other landholdings through the Civil War. That history is largely absent from the guided experience. Brian covered the family lineage thoughtfully, but the enslaved people who cleared this land, maintained these grounds, and made Wormsloe what it became were not given meaningful space in the narrative. It's worth noting that the Barrow family -- direct descendants of Noble Jones -- retained the historic house, slave quarters building, and family cemetery when the state acquired the property, and by agreement must reside on the premises as their primary residence. Whether that arrangement shapes what guides are able to address is something only the site can answer. But the gap is noticeable, and other visitors have noted the same -- that understanding the full history of slavery at Wormsloe requires research done independently, outside the tour itself. Wormsloe is worth visiting. The grounds are stunning, the colonial history is well presented, and Brian made the experience genuinely enjoyable. Just go in knowing you may need to seek out the rest of the story on your own.

Chatham County Wetlands Preserve

Chatham County Wetlands Preserve

(4 reviews)

Near some botanical gardens, this separate tract of land was not particularly happening when I…read morebriefly dropped in, but it is free. A lake with a small bridge is the main attraction, with some areas around it to walk and a picnic enclosure. The highway is nearby and audible to some extent. There are some short trails, but signs caution against swimming in the water (which is true pretty much anywhere in the region given the robust reptile population).

It was a beautiful day last Friday and my youngest and I had been cooped up in the house most of…read morethe week, so for Adventure Friday, we decided to explore Chatham County Wetlands Preserve. This 494-acre wetland preserve and park is another piece of property purchased by Chatham County. They created a 20-acre lake and have planted more than 20,000 trees. This park is tucked away on Highway 17, on Chief of Love Road. Parking - When you turn off on Hwy 17, you just have to continue driving until you get to a fork in the road. I stayed to the left and then we found ourselves in a huge gravel lot where it seemed the most appropriate to park the car. Trail Description - Once I parked the car, we walked to the fork where I could see the barrier and hiking sign (I saw it on the drive in). We started there and kept to the left. It started out as a pretty well marked path, under the trees. Once you get out of the shaded part, it's just grassy. It will bring you around the lake, and it's wide open, so there is no way you would get lost. We opted to take a shortcut and cut through on the bridge. There was a man there fishing. He said some days the fish bite like crazy and other says, nothing, so just a tip to anyone who likes to go fishing. There are picnic tables and a covered picnic area in the middle by the bridge that are great spots for meal and snack breaks. There were beautiful flowers along the way and also a patch of what I think are called Cypress Trees at one end of the lake. They are pretty much dead, but I thought they were pretty to look at the cluster of them. The reflection of the trees on the sunny day was just perfect. My Fitbit clocked the portion we did as about 1 mile. Kid-Friendly - Absolutely! Very flat trail, however not paved. Unless you have a B.O.B or a jogging stroller with bike-like tires, I would just use a baby carrier. Thankful that Chatham County is very nature focused and is committed to providing green space in the area for its residents. There seemed to be another trail by the park sign, so we will have to come back to explore that portion!

Monterey Square - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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