The Historic District: Savannah's Jewel

The Historic District of Savannah is considered to be one of the most beautiful old cities in America. The district is located in downtown Savannah in the northeast corner of the city along the Savannah River. Interstate 16 dead ends into the Historic District. Chatham Area Transit (CAT), the area's public transit system, offers a free shuttle that serves many of the attractions in the Historic District. The area is also easy to explore on foot.

The Savannah Historic District is a National Historic Landmark. According to the National Park Service, the district "is significant for its distinctive grid plan as well as its 18th and 19th century architecture.'' Few cities in America have retained their colonial plans as well as Savannah. The city was laid out in its grid pattern by General James Oglethorpe, who founded the city in 1733. Oglethorpe's plan, based on an egalitarian belief that each homeowner should have equal assets and access to open areas, started with a square-shaped piece of land called a "Ward.'' At the center of each ward was a "Square'' surrounded by four groups of ten houses each. Each ward also included four "Trustees Lots'' which were meant for community buildings such as churches or government buildings. Oglethorpe envisioned six wards, all of which were completed by 1742.

As the city grew, developers maintained the ward system. The city grew to 24 wards, although three of those squares were eventually demolished. Although Oglethorpe's houses were of a small, plain egalitarian design, as the city's wealth grew throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries, these houses began to be replaced by the grand planters' and merchants' homes that are there today. Historian Mills Lane, in Savannah Revisited: A Pictorial History, quotes an 1833 report that says, "What constitutes its beauty is the manner in which the city is laid out. ... These manifold grassy parks [the squares] ... are very picturesque and inviting, and highly suggestive of health and comfort.''

Today the Historic District is replete with private homes, house museums, inns and B&Bs, shopping, world-class restaurants and, of course, those inviting squares. Among a few of the many treasures in the Historic District are the:

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, a French Gothic-style Catholic church built in 1876.

Jepson Center for the Arts, part of the Telfair Museum of Arts, with a collection of contemporary art in a stunning new building.

Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace and National Girl Scout Center.

First African Baptist Church, once a way station on the Underground Railroad.

Downtown Design District, a collection of antique, arts and crafts and gift shops.

Owens-Thomas House and Museum, a house museum that is considered one of the finest examples of Regency architecture in the United States.

Riverwalk, an old brick concourse along the Savannah River, with shops, restaurants and

views of the port.

Almost no one dislikes Savannah's Historic District. Even General Sherman couldn't stand to burn it! (Instead he presented it to President Lincoln as a Christmas present.) Reviewers on popular travel websites call it "a breathtaking experience'' with "a near perfect balance of neighborhood feel mixed with a Southern sophistication.'' Those who were not happy with their trip cite the lack of nightlife and the fact that its main draw is historical. Also, most visitors caution others to wear comfortable footwear because many streets are made of cobblestones and old brick. Cassandra M. Vanhooser, writing for Southern Living, says of the Historic District, "When people find out that I'm a travel writer, they always ask, `Where's your favorite place?' ... All roads lead to Savannah.''