One of the most beautiful and historical cities in America, Savannah, Georgia, was founded in 1733. It’s home to incredible architecture, diverse culture, and great food! If you’re planning on visiting this fantastic city or living there already, check out these squares. They will offer you views of some of the most iconic buildings in Savannah, Georgia, as well as hidden gems that you might have yet to notice.

Johnson Square

Johnson Square is named after Robert Johnson, a local Savannah politician. Robert Johnson was the Chairman of Georgia’s Board of Commissioners in 1776. He also served as Mayor of Savannah from 1812 to 1815 and again from 1816 to 1817.

Johnson Square is located on Barnard Street, near where it intersects with Monterey Avenue. It’s a popular location for concerts and festivals because it has excellent acoustics! During Colonial times, this square was known as “Bloody Point” because it was the site of many public hangings.

Wright Square

Wright Square is named after William Wright, the first mayor of Savannah. The square was laid out in 1733 and was initially called Tradd Street Square. It was renamed to honor Wright in 1867 after he died. His statue stands at the center of the square, but it was only sometimes there; it was erected in 1879 when he was 100 years old!

Ellis Square

• Built-in 1812, the square was named for Henry Ellis, Georgia’s first royal governor.
• A statue of John Wesley sits in the center of this historic square, surrounded by four cannons and a fountain.
• Across from Ellis Square is City Hall, often decorated with flowers and greenery during special occasions such as weddings or holidays.

Telfair Square

Telfair Square is a historic square in Savannah, Georgia. After becoming a state, the square was named for Edward Telfair, Georgia’s first governor. A number of its buildings were designed by master architect William Jay (1767–1853), who designed many public and commercial buildings in Savannah’s historic district. In addition, the square contains many large homes once occupied by some of Savannah’s most prosperous and influential citizens.

The Telfair family owned thousands of acres in south-central Georgia, and their holdings included several plantations and vast tracts of land on which cotton was cultivated by thousands of enslaved people. These lands also produced peaches picked by sharecroppers; an influx of poor white farmers also worked these lands until they bought them up during the Great Depression.[2]

Reynolds Square

Reynolds Square is named after James Reynolds, a British soldier who served under General James Oglethorpe. It’s the smallest of Savannah’s squares and is home to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

Some of Southeastern Georgia’s most famous restaurants here include 1620 Restaurant, Antico Pizza Napoletana, and The Grey. There are also plenty of bars like The Rail Pub & Kitchen, Cocktail Club, and Bar + Lounge at The Hyatt Regency Hotel.

If you’re looking for something different than your run-of-the-mill cocktail or glass of wine with dinner, head over to Moon River Brewing Company, where you can enjoy beer brewed on-site or take a tour through their brewery!

Oglethorpe Square

• James Edward Oglethorpe was an English general, Member of Parliament, and philanthropist who founded the Georgia colony in America.
• The square is home to the Savannah City Hall building and a statue of James Edward Oglethorpe.
• Oglethorpe Square houses two museums: Telfair Museum of Art and Owens-Thomas House.

Chippewa Square

Chippewa Square was named after the Native American tribe that once lived there. It’s a small square located between Bull and Drayton Streets.

In 1821, Drayton Hall (which you can still visit today) was built on the square. This mansion is one of Savannah’s most popular tourist attractions.

Madison Square

Madison Square is the smallest of the squares. It is located at the intersection of Bull and Whitaker Streets. It is named after James Madison, the fourth president of the United States.

Madison Square was originally part of a large lot owned by William Jay and his wife, Sarah Osborne Jay. Their daughter married John Marshall in 1797, and they built their home on this property which would later become Madison Square Park.

In 1856, a monument to General Robert E Lee was placed in Madison Square Park (near where City Hall now stands). The memorial was removed in 2017 after many years of debate about its appropriateness and cost due to upkeep costs associated with maintaining it, given its location within Savannah’s downtown area.

Orleans Square

Orleans Square is one of the most beautiful squares in Savannah, and it’s also named after a French city. The square is located in the Historic District of Savannah and contains many mansions preserved as museums or homes.

The square was initially named after Louis Philippe d’Orléans, Duke of Orleans. He was a member of France’s royal family who had ties to Georgia because he was exiled to America after being judged guilty of plotting against his father (Louis XVI) during the French Revolution.

Monterey Square

Monterey Square is the smallest of Savannah’s squares, but it is one of the most beautiful. It was named for the Spanish city of Monterey and has been called “the garden square” because of its many flower beds and trees.

The square was designed by William Jay in 1799 and named after Spanish Governor Vicente Filisola y Ceballos (1742-1814), who had served as commanding general during Spain’s occupation of Florida from 1784 to 1795.

Calhoun Square

Calhoun Square is a public park and historic district in Savannah, Georgia. It is named for John C. Calhoun, the former vice president and senator from South Carolina. The square has been included on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973 and was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976.[2] It is bounded by Barnard Street on the north, McDonough Street on the east and south, and Park Avenue on the west. The square contains many statues of notable figures from American history, including that of Henry Clay atop his monument facing east towards East Bay Street; Joel Chandler Harris, who wrote Tales of Uncle Remus; James Edward Oglethorpe, who founded Georgia along with other members of The Trustees; Robert Toombs (1810–1885) was an American politician from Georgia who served as United States Senator from 1853 to 1861 representing Georgia as well as U.S Secretary Of State In 1861 under President Abraham Lincoln; William Aiken (1776-1856) was an American lawyer who served as Governor Of South Carolina during 1801-1806

Washington Square

Washington Square is a public square in historic downtown Savannah, Georgia. It is the location of a monument to General Nathanael Greene, who led American troops in the Battle of Savannah in 1779. The square also contains numerous monuments and statues; these include one commemorating Julian Shakespeare Carr (1853–1929), an influential developer who made his fortune building textile mills, as well as one for James Henry Hammond (1807–1864), a U.S. Senator from South Carolina who advocated slavery and states’ rights during his career—and was also known as “Cotton King” Hammond due to his involvement with cotton production on plantations throughout Georgia and South Carolina.

Franklin Square

• Location:
• Franklin Square is located on the northern edge of downtown Savannah. It’s between Bull Street and Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, just west of Chatham Square and east of Barnard Street.
• History: Franklin Square was named after Benjamin Franklin, who visited Savannah in 1764. He was impressed with Georgia’s climate and soil conditions and recommended that it be used where settlers could grow cotton. In the late 1700s, this square was used as a gathering place for enslaved people who were taken there to work out their sentences or wait until they were sold at auction. Today, this area is home to many historical sites, including the Telfair Academy Art Museum (which houses works by some famous American artists like Mary Cassatt), Carnegie Library (which dates back to 1903), First African Baptist Church (the oldest black congregation founded in 1801) and more!

Warren Square

• Directions: Warren Square is located in the heart of Downtown Savannah, Georgia. It’s an easy walk from anywhere on River Street and a short drive from I-16.
• Named for: The square was named after Revolutionary War hero Joseph Warren who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. He is buried there as well.
• What it looks like: This square is mainly paved with brick, making it a great place to sit down while you enjoy your lunch or people-watch! There are also several spots around the perimeter where you can find shade underneath large trees if necessary (though I wouldn’t recommend bringing an umbrella). The center of this square is adorned by statues depicting Stonewall Jackson and John Paul Jones, who fought during America’s Revolutionary War.
• History: In addition to being home to many famous historical figures like Stonewall Jackson and John Paul Jones, who fought during America’s Revolutionary War, this area also includes several buildings that were constructed before 1820, including City Market, as well as numerous other shops along Bull Street which leads directly into downtown Savannah Georgia

Columbia Square

Located on Bull Street, Columbia Square is one of the best places to shop in Savannah. The square was built in 1820 and is named after James Edward Oglethorpe, who founded Georgia.

The square has a thriving arts scene with many galleries and museums. In addition, you can enjoy live music performances each night at several restaurants or visit an art gallery and see work by local artists.

Greene Square

Greene Square is a public square in Savannah, Georgia. It is located on the west side of Drayton Street between West Bryan and Abercorn Streets. The square was laid out in 1799 as part of the original plan for Savannah and named for Nathanael Greene, Revolutionary War hero and Georgia governor from 1786-1787.

The façade of the Greene Square Building has been preserved as a museum devoted to Savannah’s history, containing numerous artifacts from Colonial times through today’s city life.

Liberty Square

• Liberty Square is the smallest of Savannah’s squares, but it’s no less beautiful than its large counterparts.
• It was added to the original plan in 1799 when it was decided that there needed to be a place for locals to celebrate the end of the Revolutionary War and honor military leaders who had fought for American independence.
• The square is named after an oak tree planted as a symbol of colonial liberty during the American Revolution.

Elbert Square

Elbert Square is a quaint square located in the Historic District of Savannah. It is the smallest of all five squares and was named after Judge William Jay Elbert, one of Savannah’s first judges. There is a fountain at this square, surrounded by historic buildings that date back to the 1800s.

Lafayette Square

You may have heard of Lafayette Square, the first square in Savannah. It’s located on Habersham Street between Harris and Charlton Streets. The square is named after Marquis de Lafayette, a French general who fought in the American Revolutionary War.

Pulaski Square

Pulaski Square is a public square located at Habersham, Harris, and Barnard Streets in Savannah, Georgia. It is named for Count Casimir Pulaski (1745-1779), a Polish-Lithuanian nobleman who fought for American independence during the American Revolutionary War.

The square’s design was based on Paris’ Place de la Concorde by Charles Bulfinch (1763 – 1844); it was laid out between 1790-91 and formally named “Pulaski Square” in 1854 after William Henry Ellis’ statue of Pulaski was erected there in 1853.

Crawford Square

Crawford Square is a historic park in Savannah, Georgia. It was named for James Crawford, the first mayor of Savannah. City Market Square became known as Crawford Square after James Crawford’s death and was used as a slave market before the Civil War. The square is now a public park with a gazebo and fountain.

Chatham Square

Chatham Square is a historic park in Savannah, Georgia. It was named after William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. The square was originally the site of the city market, which burned down in 1796 and was rebuilt as a brick structure with cast-iron posts that were removed during the reconstruction of Bull Street.

The site also contains one of three remaining open-walled slave auction blocks in the USA (the other two being found in New Orleans, Louisiana). A plaque commemorating this can be seen today at 11 St Philip Street.

Monterey Square

The Monterey Square, named after Dr. William Monterey, is the smallest of the squares and is located in downtown Savannah. This square was originally a marshy area, but it’s now home to a statue of James Oglethorpe, which was erected by his son in 1770. The figure was previously located at the northern end of Liberty Street until it was moved to its current location in 1854.

Monterey Square is also the only one of the four original squares not to have a fountain on it because that area was occupied by houses at the time when they were built around 1756-1757. However, there are several fountains on nearby streets, such as Wright Square (where you can find two fountains), Chippewa Square (one), and Reynolds Square (two).

Troup Square

Troup Square is located in the heart of Savannah’s Historic District. It was named for Georgia’s first governor and founder of Savannah, James Edward Oglethorpe. The square is one of the oldest in Savannah. In 1733 it was called Liberty Square until it was renamed after Wilson Lumpkin, who served as governor from 1827 to 1829. During this time, a statue honoring General Nathanael Greene, who served during the American Revolution, stands on this square.

Whitefield Square

• Whitefield Square is a square in Savannah, Georgia. It is named for the Reverend Samuel Whitefield and is located on Abercorn Street between State Street and MLK Jr. Boulevard.
• This is the site of the first African American Episcopal Church, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, founded in 1872.

Conclusion

There are many squares in Savannah, Georgia, that you want to take advantage of. Having a good time when visiting an area like this is essential because it can be challenging to spend so much money on just one trip.

The post Squares of Savannah Georgia first appeared on The USA Traveler.