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.
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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