Lafayette Square: Savannah's Tribute to a French Hero of the American Revolution

Lafayette Square, named for the French Revolutionary War hero, is located in the center of Savannah's downtown Historic District. It is within walking distance of many of the Historic District's attractions, particularly the southern half of the area. It is about 12 blocks from the River Street entertainment district. The square can be reached easily from Interstate 16. CAT, Savannah's public transit system, has a free downtown shuttle that stops near the square.

The square was named for the Marquis de Lafayette, a Frenchman who came to America to help fight the Revolution. He became George Washington's aide and close friend. He was wounded in the Battle of Brandywine in 1777 and was considered one of the heroes of the war. In 1824, he returned to the United States to help celebrate the impending anniversary of its independence. He toured the country for over a year and visited Savannah in March of 1825. According to Lafayette's biographer Harlow Unger, quoted in the Savannah Morning News, "Lafayette was `greeted by levels of acclaim that bordered on the mystical' ... During his visit he toured all 24 states, and in each he received a `wild welcome.''' Lafayette Square, the 16th square to be built in Savannah, was laid out in 1837 in the general's honor.

The square itself contains cobblestone sidewalks and a fountain given to the city by the Colonial Dames of America on Savannah's 250th anniversary. Around the square are several historic properties, including the:

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. The cathedral is the home of the oldest Roman Catholic congregation in Georgia. The current church, built in a soaring, Gothic style complete with pointed arches and a rose window, was completed in 1900 after the previous building was destroyed in a fire. It is one of the most popular attractions in Savannah.

Andrew Low House. Andrew Low was a Scottish immigrant who became a wealthy cotton merchant. The home was designed by famous Savannah architect John Norris and was completed in 1849. Low's son, William, who also lived here, married Juliette Gordon, who went on to found the Girl Scouts.

Flannery O'Connor House. Flannery O'Connor, one of the 20th century's most important American writers, was born in this house in 1925 and lived here until 1938. Today, part of the house serves as a tribute to her life and work.

Hamilton-Turner House. Now the Hamilton Turner Inn, this grand mansion built in 1873 in the Second Empire style, has had an interesting past, including a cameo role in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Battersby-Hartridge-Anderson House. Built in 1852, this house in unusual in Savannah because of its side-facing orientation with a two-story porch, a style associated with Charleston, South Carolina.

Lafayette Square plays a role in Savannah's St. Patrick's Day celebration, the second-largest in the country. The day begins with a mass in the cathedral. The partying starts immediately afterward around the square, whose fountain is dyed green every year. The square is major gathering place for watching the annual parade.