Savannah's Historic Squares

This beautiful southern city was planned out before Georgia's founder, James Oglethorpe,ever left England. The public squares were an important design element.

Today these little gems of relaxing greenery are populated by tourists and citizens of Savannah alike. There are tour groups and dog walkers, an occasional person selling palm frond flowers or jewelery, people simply relaxing on a park bench with a cold drink.

Historically the purpose of these little parks was much more utilitarian. They were places to drill the local militia, a place to gather citizens for a last desperate defense if Indians or the Spanish attacked the infant colony. They also housed early cisterns, wells and even early public ovens.

Once there were 24 of these squares. Today 21 remain. Unfortunately a few of the ones on the West side of the historic district have been butchered up a bit for modernisation.

Most are still amazingly beautiful and surrounded by historic homes and buildings. Many have fountains or monuments that commemorate people who played a role in making Savannah Georgia the special place it is today.

Come visit Savannah and take an Uncensored History Tour with Mad Cat Tours to hear all the good, the bad and the ugly that occurred in the first city of America's 13th colony.

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Why is Savannah so haunted?

The number one question we get on our ghost tours is "why is Savannah so haunted?" There are numerous theories, but the one that we, at Mad Cat Tours, find most credible is the theory of attachment. Ghosts form ties to places or things. Most often a house or building. In this sultry little city there are over a thousand buildings in the downtown historic district alone that date from 1760 to the early 1900s. This gives our ghosts huge opportunities to anchor themselves to this world. Savannah has the largest urban historic district in America. We also have had our share of murders, tragic accidental deaths and of course the second bloodiest battle in the Revolutionary War. Come join our local guides and hear chilling stories of this fascinating city's past as we walk through the moss draped streers and squares. Our guides are passionate about our charming city, it's fascinating history and the folklore that makes Savannah the most haunted city in America.

Why are there so many ghosts in Savannah?

In a previous post I talked about the theory of attachment being a reason our sultry little city is so haunted. But here is a second cause for the ghosts that seem to linger in our buildings, streets and squares. There are age old superstitions regarding crossroads. Some of these date back to the 1300s. Crossroads have been a location considered neither here nor there. A place between worlds. In voodoo and hoodoo tradition it was a place to summon a dark spirit who would confer special powers upon you, if you performed the ritual properly. Blues musicians often referenced crossroads as the place they met with the devil, and won their musical talent. Numerous Celtic and European cultures believed that crossroads were a magical place to perform spells or to placate spirits. Crossroads are considered to be a veritable hot spot for paranormal activity. In Savannah's lovely historic district there is a precise and neatly laid out grid-work of streets. Each of the beautifu

Ghosts of Savannah

The ghostly spirits of Savannah's past linger in the gorgeous squares, the stunning homes and tree lined streets of this lush Southern city. Stories of hauntings abound. There are ghostly children, forlorn ladies and murderous ones, as well. There are beautiful old houses and buildings that may have more ghosts than residents. Savannah is home to Alice Riley, an indentured servant who murdered her master in 1734, Wesley Espy, who was a victim of a murderous attack, Matilda Sorrel and her servant, Molly. There is Ann, at the 1790s Inn and of course the Kehoe family ghosts. Spooky children hang out in the Marshall Houe, the Isaiah Davenport House and the Hamilton Turner Inn. Savannah has Civil War ghosts and some from the Revolutionary War,as well. There are ghosts who interact with you and others that are simply echoes in time, reenacting occurences from their past. Come join Mad Cat Tours and find out about this city's chilling past. The Ghosts of Savannah Tour is l

Savannah Ghost and History Blog

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