It's impossible to imagine Savannah without the stunning mansions which adorn so many of its squares and streets. But the city's architectural heritage was once in real danger of disappearing completely. The struggle to save Savannah's soul began in 1955, at the Isaiah Davenport House.
The Central of Georgia Railway company was founded in 1833, connecting Savannah to Macon and Southeast America's budding train network. The company's Savannah headquarters were closed in 1963, and today the grounds have found a new life as home to the Georgia State Railroad Museum.
"Lady Hats at the Mansion" is a suggestive title, yes? Is it a metaphor? A play on words? Well, apologies for being so literal, but in this case, we're referring to actual lady hats. As soon as we learned about this bizarre collection, we raced over to the Mansion on Forsyth. Nothing gets our blood pumping like dainty hats for lady-folk!
Opened in 1856, the Massie School may have been the city's first public school, but many of Savannah's aspiring students would have to wait eleven more years for the founding of the Beach Institute: Savannah's first school specifically for black children. Today, the school has moved into a more modern facility, and the old house has evolved into a cultural center and gallery.
Found along the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia are communities known as the Gullah-Geechee, who are descended from freedmen and former slaves. Historically isolated due to the ultra-rural environment and their own choice, these are people who developed their own culture and language. We went to the Pin Point Heritage Center to learn more about them, their work and their lives.
Located on Calhoun Square, the Massie School opened its doors in 1856, and was the first public school in Georgia. Today, it's been converted into the Massie Heritage Center, featuring an overview of Savannah's unique urban planning, and exhibits dedicated to the most important aspects of the city's culture, from architecture to the Native American influence.
Found in the old railway shed of the Central of Georgia, the Savannah History Museum is a good place to stop for an overview of the city's development through the ages.
Found on on the eastern side of Telfair Square, the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences occupies a Regency style mansion built in 1818. It's been a public art museum since 1886, which makes it the oldest in the South.
On MLK Boulevard near River Street, one of Savannah's most historic houses has been converted into a museum called The Ships of the Sea. The 1819 Scarborough House was designed in the Greek Revival style by architectural wunderkind William Jay, who was responsible for many of the city's best houses of that time period.