Savannah, Georgia — Attractions
Davenport House
This beautiful characteristic pink homestead at the heart of Savannah's historic district was the first of the city's architectural treasures to be saved for posterity. It was the threatened demolition of this house that goaded the city's residents to form a fund to preserve Savannah's historic heritage. The house was built between 1815 and 1820 by Isaiah Davenport, a master builder. It features a semi-circular staircase with wrought-iron trim leading up to the recessed front door. Inside the polished hardwood floors gleam and the mansion is furnished befitting the period with Hepplewhite, Chippendale and Sheraton pieces.
- Region/City Name
- Savannah
- Address
- 324 East State Street
- Phone Number
- (912) 236 8097
- Website
- www.davenporthousemuseum.org
- Hours
- Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm; Sunday 1pm to 4pm. Guided tours run every 30 minutes
- Admission
- Tours: $8 (adults), $5 (children 6-17)
Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
The majestic Regency town house that stands in Savannah's historic district was the birthplace of Juliette 'Daisy' Low, founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA. Visitors learn about the Girl Scouts movement and experience a taste of Victorian family life. The house, which was built in 1821, is a National Historic Landmark and is furnished with many original pieces and also features the artwork of Juliette Gordon Low.
- Region/City Name
- Savannah
- Address
- 10 East Oglethorpe Avenue
- Phone Number
- (912) 233 4501
- Website
- www.juliettegordonlowbirthplace.org
- Hours
- Tours are Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm; Sunday 11am to 4pm. Closed first two weeks in January, on Wednesdays from November to February, and some holidays
- Admission
- $8; concessions available
Savannah History Museum
The Savannah History Museum gives an excellent introduction to the city, its exhibits reflecting the city's history from her founding to the present day. The museum is housed in a restored railway station that dates from before the Civil War and is one of Georgia's 43 National Historic Landmarks. Beneath the building are the graves of Polish Count Pulaski and his fellow colonists, killed on this spot in 1779 while trying to drive off the British soldiers.
- Region/City Name
- Savannah
- Address
- 303 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
- Phone Number
- (912) 651 6825
- Website
- www.chsgeorgia.org/shm
- Hours
- Weekdays 8.30am to 5pm, 9am to 5pm weekends
- Admission
- $4.25 (adults); concessions available
Telfair Museum of Art
The Telfair Museum of Art is the oldest public art museum in the South, fittingly housed in an important historic building, the Owens-Thomas House. The house, overlooking Oglethorpe Square, was designed by William Jay, a young English architect, who introduced the British Regency style to America. It was built in 1818 for Alexander Telfair, son of the Governor of Georgia. The art museum's permanent collection includes paintings, works on paper, sculpture and decorative arts by both American and European artists. The museum encompasses the art gallery, restored rooms in the historic house, and the Jepson Center for the Arts. Guided tours are offered daily, included in the admission price.
- Region/City Name
- Savannah
- Address
- 124 Abercorn Street, Oglethorpe Square
- Phone Number
- (912) 790 8800
- Website
- www.telfair.org
- Hours
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10am to 5pm, Thursday 10am to 8pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm
- Admission
- $15 (adults), $5 (children 5 -12), concessions available. Combination tickets for the Jepson Center for the Arts, the Telfair Museum and the Owens-Thomas house are available
Fort Jackson
A short distance to the east of central Savannah stands Georgia's oldest standing fort, surrounded by a deep tidal moat. The fort was preceded by a mud battery, the brick fort having been built in 1808. It was the headquarters for the Confederate river defenses during the Civil War, when it was enlarged and strengthened. The fort today contains numerous exhibits pertaining to the war. Living history demonstrations are staged in spring and summer.
- Region/City Name
- Savannah
- Address
- 1 Fort Jackson Road
- Phone Number
- (912) 232 3945
- Website
- www.chsgeorgia.org/jackson
- Hours
- Daily 9am to 5pm
- Admission
- $4.25 (adults), children under 6 free, concessions available
Okefenokee Swamp
The mysterious Okefenokee Swamp comprises 700 square miles (1,813 sq km) of wet, green wilderness stretching across the southern part of coastal Georgia. The largest peat-producing bog in North America, Okefenokee is a national treasure because it provides a refuge for a vast number of animals and plants that thrive in its lakes, islands and wetlands. The park consists of different environments, from towering cypress stands in still waters to vast prairie grasslands in other areas. Visitors have four parks to choose from when pursuing an Okefenokee experience: three of the parks are on the east side of the swamp and one on the southwestern side. All three offer sightseeing, boating and fishing opportunities. The southwestern park is Stephen C. Foster State Park, featuring cypress swamps, at the headwaters of the Suwannee River, near Fargo. Laura S. Walker State Park is near Waycross, on the swamp's margin. South of Waycross Okefenokee Swamp Park has some alligators, snakes and other swamp wildlife in easy-to-see captivity for a quick swamp experience, while Suwannee Canal Recreation Area near Folkston provides access to the prairie environment of the swamp, offering nature boardwalks and historic sites.
- Region/City Name
- Savannah
- Phone Number
- (912) 283 3744 (Waycross Tourism Bureau)
- Email Address
- waycrosstour@accessatc.net
- Website
- www.swampgeorgia.com
Darien
A short drive south of Savannah lies the charming old town of Darien, established in 1736 on the banks of the Darien River as a military outpost. Today it is a favored tourist town; its historic shopping enclave specializes in unique gifts and antiques, and the picturesque waterfront is lined with shrimp boats. A series of walking and bike paths, lined with Spanish moss-draped oak trees, connect the downtown waterfront with Fort King George, which houses a museum and plays host to living history pageants. Other diversions include paddling the river and tidal creeks in kayaks or canoes and dining on delicious shrimp. The area around Darien in McIntosh county is extremely scenic, dotted with quaint fishing villages like Valona and Shellman Bluff. Just offshore, accessible by ferry across Doboy Sound, is the pristine barrier island of Sapelo, which boasts one of Georgia's most beautiful beaches and a restored lighthouse.
- Region/City Name
- Savannah
- Website
- www.mcintoshcounty.com
Tybee Island
The small barrier island of Tybee, 18 miles (29km) east of Savannah, is a popular seaside resort for locals and visitors alike. The three-mile (5km) long beach has rolling sand-dunes, and at the south end of the island a pier and pavilion offer a pleasant stroll, usually accompanied by live band music. Apart from swimming and sun worshipping, the island also has sightseeing opportunities including Fort Screven, a historic Tybee lighthouse dating to 1773, an intriguing museum and Fort Pulaski. There is a selection of restaurants, hotels, motels, inns and cottages available.
- Region/City Name
- Savannah
- Website
- www.tybeeisland.com
