So I’ve discussed the tours to take and the food to eat but what about the places to see? Well you have plenty of options. First, I’d like to talk about the picture at the top of my blog. This statue is known as The Waving Girl of Savannah. The Waving Girl statue overlooks the Savannah River from the bluff at the eastern end of River Street. It was created by the famous sculptor Felix De Weldon, who also created the United States Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. The Waving Girl Statue honors the life of Florence Martus, Savannah’s legendary waving girl. Florence, who was known far and wide, welcomed more than 50,000 ships to Savannah throughout her lifetime.
The Waving Girl of Savannah
One of the more popular things to do when you’re in Savannah is to take tours of historic homes. Savannah has PLENTY of them for anyone who enjoys architecture and history. I toured two of these homes while in Savannah. One being the Mercer Williams House and the other being the Owens-Thomas House. The Mercer Williams House is probably one of the most toured homes in Savannah. It was designed in 1860 for Hugh W. Mercer, Johnny Mercer’s great-grandfather. The construction was interrupted by the Civil War, and the house was not completed until 1868. The house’s most famous owner, Jim Williams, a preservation and restoration expert, as well as a lavish host became famous as the central figure in the book turned movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Jim Williams was accused of killing Danny Hansford in the study of the mansion in May of 1981. Williams was found not guilty of the murder after his fourth murder trial, but died of pneumonia just six months later at the age of 59. The movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, starring Kevin Spacey features scenes filmed in the house. Jim’s sister now owns the property and has turned the mansion into a museum with daily-guided tours.
The Mercer Williams House
The Owens-Thomas House was built by William Jay in 1816 and is considered the nations finest example of English Regency architecture. The house takes up a whole block and features a columned entrance portico, handsome cast iron balcony, winding double stairway, and arched second story windows. The interior has a gorgeous stairway of mahogany, cast iron, brass and elegant furnishings. The foundation of the home and garden walls are built of tabby, a regional material made of sand, shells and lime. One of the most famous guests of the house was the Revolutionary War hero, Marquis de Lafayette who visited Savannah in 1825. It is said that he reviewed Savannah’s militia from the south balcony of the house and addressed the thousands of cheering citizens who gathered below. It is currently owned by Savannah’s art museum, the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences and is a National Historic Landmark.
Another must-see is the Savannah History Museum. The Savannah History Museum is located in the old Central of Georgia Railway passenger shed, which is a Natural Historic landmark built in the 1850s. The museum has more than 10,000 artifacts, including the famous bench from the movie Forest Gump. The famous bench scene was actually filmed in Savannah.
The Famous Bench
That is about it for Savannah. I hope you enjoyed my Savannah blogs. I will updating with places I’ve been, places I’d like to go, and the latest travel deals.
Lets Go Explore! 