The Squares of Savannah, Georgia

One of our favourite things to do in Savannah was simply walk around the historic district and visit the city’s beloved squares. Resting in the shade of giant oak trees, we’d talk to locals, enjoy the music of talented buskers and learn about Savannah’s history from the many monuments on display.

Savannah’s historic district is built on a grid system, making it easy to get around and visit the squares. We would just wander up and down the blocks, stopping when we came to a square, which was never too long of a walk.

Of Savannah’s original 24 squares, 22 remain. Even with 3 days in the city, we didn’t get a chance to visit all the squares in Savannah but we still managed to enjoy quite a few!

Here’s a look at the mossy, historic beauty of the squares of Savannah!

Historic Squares of Savannah

Savannah’s squares date back to 1733, when General James Oglethorpe founded the city and laid out plans for the city’s grid design. To this day, the squares of Savannah remain the heart and soul of the city.

Johnson Square

Johnson Square was the first, and largest, of Savannah’s squares. It is named after Robert Johnson, who was the colonial governor of South Carolina when Georgia was founded.

Prominently placed in the centre of the square, is an obelisk for General Nathanael Greene. General Greene was a Revolutionary War hero and Savannah patriot who died in 1876.

My favourite thing about Johnson Square was how the huge oak trees created a canopy over the square. There’s something really calming, yet mysterious about those trees. Either way, I loved staring up at their thick, crooked branches.

Besides the obelisk and beautiful trees, Johnson Square also has two fountains and a sundial dedicated to Colonel William Bull. Bull helped Oglethorpe establish Savannah by surveying the land and laying out the original street grid.

Franklin Square

Franklin Square was established in 1791 and is named after Benjamin Franklin, who served as an agent for the colony of Georgia from 1768-1778.

The square used to be the site of the city’s water tower, but today is home to a memorial for Haitian volunteers who fought during the Siege of Savannah.

Monterey Square

Designed in 1847, Monterey Square commemorates the Battle of Monterrey (1846) during the Mexican American War.

The square has a large white column dedicated to Casimir Pulaski, a Polish nobleman and military general. Pulaski died after being seriously wounded during the Siege of Savannah in 1779. It’s said that a body of an unknown Revolutionary soldier is buried beneath Pulaski’s monument, but some believe that this could be Pulaski himself.

Monterey Square was one of our favourite squares in Savannah because we enjoyed the stories we heard about it during a ghost tour we went on. Another draw is that the square is across from Savannah’s most famous (and interesting) house- the Mercer House. Both the Mercer House and Monterey Square were featured in the novel and movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Taylor Square (Formerly Calhoun Square)

Taylor Square dates back to 1851 when it was originally named after John C. Calhoun, a South Carolina statesman and Vice President of the United States. However, Calhoun was also a slave owner and defender of slavery, so there was a push to change the square’s name to better reflect the city’s current values.

In 2023, this historic Savannah square was renamed in honour of Susie King Taylor, a Black woman who served as an Army nurse during the Civil War and opened a school to teach emancipated slaves how to read and write.

What makes Taylor Square stand out from all the rest is that it’s the only square with all of its original historic buildings. It’s also the first Savannah square to be named after a woman and person of colour.

Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square honours Marquis de Lafayette, who aided the Americans during the Revolutionary War.

It was designed in 1873 and features brick sidewalks and a central fountain commemorating the 250^th anniversary of the founding of the Georgia colony.

Wright Square

Wright Square was the second of Savannah’s squares and is named after Sir James Wright, the last colonial governor of Georgia.

The monument in this square is dedicated to William Washington Gordon, an early mayor of Savannah and the only native Savannahian honored with a monument in one of the city’s squares.

Wright Square is also the burial site of Tomochichi, a trusted friend of James Oglethorpe and Chief of the Yamacraw Indians.

Orleans Square

Orleans Square was established in 1815 to commemorate the victory at the Battle Of New Orleans during the War of 1812.

There is a small fountain here that recognizes the contributions of early German immigrants to Savannah.

Chippewa Square

Chippewa Square was designed in 1815 to commemorate the Battle of Chippawa during the War of 1812. Being Canadian, we thought it was quite the discovery to find a square in Savannah named after a place in Canada!

I did find it odd though that this square has a statue of General James Oglethorpe. I thought it would be better placed in Oglethorpe Square, which was named after him.

You may recognize Chippewa Square from movie Forrest Gump. The bus stop scenes were filmed on the north end of the square. You won’t find the park bench here though- it was a prop.

Madison Square

Established in 1837, Madison Square is named after the fourth president of the United States, James Madison.

In the centre of the square is a statue of Sergeant William Jasper, shown heroically retrieving his company’s banner, even though he was mortally wounded, during the Siege of Savannah.

More Savannah Attractions and Travel Guides

• The Haunting Beauty of Bonaventure Cemetery
• Wormsloe Historic Site- Enjoying History and Nature in Savannah
• Best Places for Photography in Savannah
• Majestic Oak, Savannah