Savannah, Georgia City Guide
For over 20 years, Pamela Lanier's Savannah, Georgia Travel Guide has been your connection to Savannah's tourism community with invaluable details on local attractions, restaurants, shopping, museums, history, outdoor recreation and more.
History
 Savannah, GA is bursting at the seams with historical charm, and the history buffs and non-initiated alike among bed and breakfast travelers are sure to be delighted. Savannah was first founded in 1733 and became a British Royal Colony in 1751. Savannah played a part in the American Revolution with the Siege of Savannah in 1779. The city also played a part in the American Civil War, when in 1864 it was captured by General Sherman and then offered to President Abraham Lincoln as a Christmas gift.
Through all of the battles Savannah saw during these two wars, the original planned layout of the city remained mostly intact. Squares of public parks, fountains and monuments dot the city, and the Savannah Historic District still has 22 squares standing today. Two of the more known squares are Forsyth Park, a 30 acre park with a gorgeous, tiered fountain in its center, and Colonial Park Cemetery, which is the resting place of many famous early Savannah residents and a highlight in Savannah’s many ghost tours. This section of the city is one of the largest historic districts in the nation, and the parks are framed by beautiful buildings in antebellum architecture including Gothic, Georgian, and Greek Revival styles. Located in the historic district are museums like the Mercer Williams House Museum, the Telfair Museum of Art, and the Wormsloe Historic Site. Numerous churches are added places of beauty and worship along these oak lined streets. No trip to the historic district is complete without a trip down River Street, with its many festivals and colorful boat parades, or the City Market, a Savannah tradition dating back to 1755.
In 1912, Savannah became the home of the first Girl Scouts of America meeting. Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low founded the organization and gathered girls from the local community. These first Girl Scouts performed community service, went on hiking trips, played sports, and studied first aid to develop self-reliance and ingenuity. The Juliette Gordon Low House still draws Girl Scouts today and visitors can take a tour around the house, or take part in hands-on activities.
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