Savannah Square History
Written by Bri LaMere. Graphic by Kaitlin Elliot.
Savannah’s city squares are impossible to miss. They are prettier, historic versions of roundabouts, but inside each is a rich, sometimes troubling, history. It’s no wonder there are almost 300 sold-out walking, trolley, and biking tours throughout the city during tourist season.
The oldest squares start by the river, where Savannah was founded. While there were originally 24 a century and a half ago, 22 of them remain today. Here are 10 of my favorite squares that hold the city’s monuments and history.
1. Johnson Square – 1733
The first square in Savannah was planned by a figure with a name familiar to many, thanks to the monuments and streets named after him: James Oglethorpe. Named after the Royal Governor of South Carolina when Georgia became a state, Johnson Square served as the central point for political and commercial activity in Savannah. The newborn Declaration of Independence was read to the city’s eager citizens in the square on Aug. 10, 1776.
2. Telfair Square – 1733
The square, along with the three Telfair Museums, was named after the Telfair family, a man and his wife who cared deeply about the arts. This square, formerly called St. James Square, was renamed in 1883 to honor the Telfairs and their legacy in Savannah. It maintains its original purpose as a hub in the middle of downtown for arts and culture to connect. The museums are renowned for their exhibits and cultural collections from around coastal Georgia.
Curated spotlights on artists who have a connection to Savannah and work to educate people of all ages frequently rotate. Over the past few decades, the museums’ curators have expanded their collections to represent a diverse range of artists’ experiences in the American South. They educate on ocean health and the interesting niches of science that would engage any elementary schooler.
3. Wright Square – 1733
This square was also one of the originals planned throughout the sprawling city. It has a dark past with its original purpose as a hanging site. A monument honoring a Native American Chief of the Yamacraw tribe, Tomochichi, is within. His grave is one of the most important memorials in the city because he lent James Oglethorpe the land to found Savannah. Oglethorpe originally demanded the burial and historical paintings show a pyramid of stones that marked his grave. It’s unknown when they were moved or taken, but Tomochichi’s monument shares the square with another monument for a leader in the Revolutionary War, William Washington Gordon.
4. Oglethorpe Square – 1742
General James Oglethorpe was, of course, the final person to commemorate in his original layout of the city squares. It pays tribute to Oglethorpe for founding the first city in Georgia, but there’s another marker within to mark where the Moravians from the north region of the Czech Republic settled in Savannah in 1735.
5. Madison Square – 1779
Named after James Madison, the fourth U.S. president, this square is also a monument within a monument. The statue of Sgt. William Jasper, an Irish-American who led the Siege of Savannah in the Revolutionary War, pays homage to Savannah’s Irish roots. There was so much bloodshed that people believe there is frequent paranormal activity in and around this area. The Sorrell-Weed House is on Madison Square and is believed to be the most haunted building in Savannah. The famously reported opening scene of “Forrest Gump” was also filmed here, so you might already know it.
6. Franklin Square – 1791
The city’s water tower was placed in this square for many years. The square was named after Benjamin Franklin, who died a year before it was erected in 1791. The square was the origin of the Great Savannah Fire in 1820. The fire destroyed 500 buildings in the city and began at the livery stables that resided on the square. What dug deeper into destruction was that the ruins of the ash-ridden buildings left in the square were a breeding ground for the era of yellow fever outbreaks from the 17th to 19th centuries.
7. Monterey Square – 1847
Many states in the country have Pulaski Monuments because of Casimir Pulaski’s impact during the Revolutionary War. Pulaski died during the Siege of Savannah, a battle fought against the British in the city. While there’s a bigger national monument on the way to Tybee Island, an obelisk with intricate etchings sits in Monterey Square. The name came from an 1846 battle in the Mexican-American War. A year later, the square was named to commemorate a troop of soldiers from Savannah that fought in it.
8. Whitefield Square – 1851
Walking into this square feels like a scene in “Gilmore Girls.” The white gazebo sitting at the center is surrounded by pristine bricks and flowers. The architecture that surrounds it is Gothic and multicolored. It’s the last square in the city, created in 1851, nearly 75 years after General James Oglethorpe founded the first. Four squares have been destroyed to make room for urban expansion in the past two centuries. Ellis and Franklin Square have now been restored, while slivers of the other two stand in their places.
9. Taylor Square – 1851
Originally named Calhoun Square, Taylor is a better name to commemorate history. John Calhoun was a horrible, pro-slavery senator who was remembered for his War contributions. In recent years, there’s been a necessary push to rename places with Calhoun attached. In 2023, it was officially changed to Taylor Square in honor of Suzie King Taylor. It’s difficult to name one profession Taylor had. Born into slavery, she was educated by her mother in Savannah. She became the first Black teacher in Georgia at only 14. Taylor is mostly remembered for her contributions as a nurse in the Revolutionary War. She later wrote a memoir, sharing her voice and unique story with the world.
10. Troup Square – 1851
This is one of two squares to be named after someone alive at the time it was built. George Troup was a senator and governor of Georgia, but the things inside the square have the most interesting story. There’s a restored dog fountain on one side. In the middle is an Armillary Sphere, an ancient celestial device. Interlocking rings surround what once held the continents of the world in gold. Those, and zodiac signs that bordered the rim of a ring, were removed to preserve the sphere from vandalism. It looks like a magic globe statue today, but it used to have similar functions to a sundial for astronomers.
