About Savannah, Georgia!
The British General James Oglethorpe founded Savannah, Georgia in 1733, which makes this city one of the oldest cities in the United States. It is a city on the coast where you will come across great history, beauty and charm. This city lies on the Savannah River, about 32 kilometers upriver from the Atlantic Ocean and it is the primary port on the Savannah River. It is also the largest port in the state of Georgia and the fifth largest city in Georgia.
Many of Savannah’s points of interests are those that have a great history behind them. This city has been through two wars, slavery, reconstruction and segregation. Most of the great history of Savannah can be discovered throughout the city in the form of monuments, historical landmarks, architecture, museums and more. If one is not up for exploring by oneself, then many historical tours will take you to the most famous historical areas in the city.
The historic district in this city has 22 squares, under which Ellis Square was demolished in 1954 and fully restored again in early 2010. Old churches and places of worship are plentiful in Savannah, and the Baptist Church, located on Chippewa Square is the oldest standing house of worship in town.
As for historic homes, many have been preserved, for example, the Olde Pink House, Sorrel-Weed House, and Wormsloe plantation. Fort Jackson was built to protect the city from attack by sea, during the 1800s. Several other forts can be found in Savannah which played a role in protecting the city from enemies, including Fort Pulaski.
It has been said that Savannah has one of the worlds most revered city plans, due to the design and layout of the city. Besides its architecture and history, the city layout itself is worth the visit. One will see greenery on every other street throughout the city and as well as streets made of cobblestone.
General James Oglethorpe designed the layout out of the squares during 1733. The east and west of the town are divided by Bull Street, where the odd-numbered buildings are on the south sides and even numbered buildings on the north side.
The city consists of diverse neighborhoods, 100 distinct neighborhoods to be exact and they all fall into six main areas, which is, Downtown, Midtown, Southside, Eastside, Westside and the Southwest. However, with plenty of hiking trails and recreational venues, Savannah is undoubtedly more than just an urban metropolitan.
It was once nicknamed “The Forest City” due to the vast population and variety of oak trees that flourish in the areas around Savannah. Before, these trees were precious because of the shipbuilding that was in high demand during the 19th century.
During the World War II, the Southeastern Shipbuilding Corporation formed in Savannah with the aim to build Liberty ships. The shipyard eventually closed after the war, but it managed to produce 88 Liberty Ships and 18 Type C1 ships. Furthermore, the oldest antebellum rail facility of America can also be found in Savannah, which is called the Central Of Georgia Railway.
Business in Savannah has and is always booming, thanks to the progressive government and extraordinary business community. It started off with the first cotton gin and a first steamship that was exported over the ocean. Technology related business is not far behind today, as Savannah has the headquarters to promote them too, from Gulfstream Aerospace to other graphic design and software pioneers.
People with creative talent are also very attracted to Savannah because of the many art galleries in the city. Many art events and performing art shows are also held in Savannah all year round, every year. The Savannah College of Art and Design is one of the most respected design schools in the world. On the East Coast, there is no better music festival than the Savannah Music Festival that has become very large and diverse over the years.
The former promotional name of this city was “Hostess City of the South,” due to the hospitable atmosphere. During 1996, Savannah was the host city for the sailing competitions when the Summer Olympics was held in Atlanta. A magnificent amount of 13.5 million visitors from across the globe made their way to Savannah in 2014.
Whatever is expected in a modern city, it can be found in Savannah, from upper-class eateries, shopping areas and plenty of nightlife and entertainment to go around. But with the beautiful architecture, stories from the olden days, breathtaking natural surroundings and unique design, Savannah is more than just an ordinary city.
Here you will find people jogging or biking along the cobblestone streets or having a picnic in the public gardens with plenty of shady trees and fountains that add to the serene atmosphere. Even though there are plenty of hotels and ins to stay at, most visitors will be found outdoors, taking advantage of the natural beauty.
We, at Harper Special Services, Savannah, GA are very proud that Savannah was named as one of the top 10 beautiful places in America by the USA Weekend Magazine, and the worlds top ten trendy travel hot spots by The New York Times as well as the top 10 U.S city to visit by the Conde Nast Traveler. The list of achievements goes on, as it is frequently praised for its beauty, hospitality, charm, and attractions in Savannah.