Since we have not been to downtown Savannah before we decided to take a guided bus tour of the city in combination with a riverboat cruise on the Savannah River. Each tour was 90 minutes long and gave a brief overview and tour of the historic downtown district and activity along the river.
Savannah escaped devastation during the Civil War. As General Sherman was advancing towards the city near the end of the war, the Confederates evacuated, and the city was occupied without a fight. Consequently, most of the colonial buildings and infrastructure has survived and has been preserved and grown since then.
There were several battles in the area during the Revolutionary War in 1778-1779. The most significant one was when the French and colonials attacked the city occupied by the British. The site has been restored near the visitors center with memorial to the soldiers killed there.
The Siege of Savannah 1778 -1779
The city is laid out basically with north/south and east/west streets in a grid. There are at least 30 parks and squares in the city offering plenty of opportunities for urban relaxation. Many of the streets are also center divided by areas of grass, plants and trees. This is similar to many southern cities we have visited and what is called "neutral ground" in New Orleans. It is a very beautiful city historical district and would be best enjoyed through walking tours if you have the time and the ability to do so. Which we did not.
Savannah is also a thriving seaport, primarily through exporting of commodities like wood chips used for making composite furniture and the like. Interestingly, Savannah is the westernmost seaport on the Atlantic Coast, making it an attractive choice for importing and exporting things inland by reducing transportation costs. If you draw a line due north from Savannah, it woud go through Ohio.
The riverboat portion of the tour was a narrated tour of the river, north for a short portion and south to Fort Jackson, a restored Civil War fort further down river. The cruise did not go all the way down to the mouth of the river, however. We have been there before, staying at Tybee Island and visiting the nearby larger Fort Pulaski guarding the river access.
After the two tours and a late lunch on the riverboat, it was back to the RV after a long and busy day.
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