 |
| General William Sherman's headquarters |
Savannah, Georgia is dotted with picturesque miniature parks called squares, rightly named the "crown jewels" of the city. There is a total of 22 remaining today. Many are dominated by a monument featuring a famous dignitary who played an important part in its history and growth. Originally, they were used by the militia for practice and drills but now are gathering places for citizens and visitors. Each are shaded by huge live oak trees, beautifully landscaped, and surrounded by inns, shops, restaurants, museums, churches, and majestic estate homes available for you to tour.
On our way to Savannah, we made a stop at the Sheldon Church Ruins in Beaufort County, SC, which would turn out to be a fortuitous decision. From there, it was another hour drive to Savannah. Our accommodations for our two-night stay was in the Historic District at the Cambria Hotel on Montgomery Street. It turned out to be a good location because it put us within decent walking distance to the landmarks and points of interest we wanted to see. We were about a half a mile from East Bay Street and a little less than a half mile from the famous and stunning Forsyth Park, a must see when visiting the city.
Moving past the fountain, you come to a building called The Fort on Forsyth where there is a restaurant, children's playgrounds, and a huge domed stage for concerts. Continuing further, you come to a tall Civil War Monument, and beyond that, acres and acres of green grass for setting up picnics and playing sports. The sun was getting low in the sky, so we made our way back toward our hotel, walking past the nearby squares, picking out the estate homes we were interested in touring on our next day--the Mercer William House Museum and The Old Sorrel-Weed House Museum.
The house was slated to be demolished. In 1969, James A. Williams, one of Savannah’s earliest and most dedicated private preservationists, bought the vacant property and began a two-year restoration of the house that would become his permanent residence. Thus, we have the famous Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I will not go into detail about the true murder story. You will have to read the book, watch the movie, or go to Savannah and do the tour to get the facts. However, I do enthusiastically suggest the tour. It is fascinating, and our guide was excellent. I have no pictures of the Mercer House gardens or interior. You are not permitted to take photographs once you leave the carriage house, where the tour begins. However, I will say, it was stunning. Interesting fact--James Williams had a cat named Sheldon, who came from the Sheldon Church in South Carolina, according to the guide. Tour cost--$13.50 per person.
Savannah's history oozes with charm. Its architecture dates back more than 200 years. Many of the city's oldest houses and buildings have been transformed into museums over the years. You'll find that Savannah is legendary for its unique old-world antebellum architecture, her cobblestone streets, beautifully landscaped garden squares, and world-renowned parks. Small shops and fine eating establishments small and large are aplenty. One visit is not enough. Two visits are not enough. Three visits are not enough. I will go as far as to say, no number of visits is enough to take in all that is Savannah.
