Savannah

Savannah


Savannah is Georgia's oldest city. It was founded by English general and philanthropist James Oglethorpe in 1733 and served as the colonial seat of government. During the American Revolution the British took Savannah on 29 December 1778 and held it until July 1782. A land-sea force of French and Americans tried to retake the city in 1779, first by siege and on 9 October that same year by direct assault, but failed dismally. Savannah was Georgia's state capital from 1782 to 1785. With the growth of trade, especially after the invention of the cotton gin and the construction of railroads extending to the cotton fields of central Georgia, the city became a rival of Charleston as a commercial center. The first steamship to cross the Atlantic, the Savannah, sailed from the city to Liverpool in 1819. In the Civil War, Fort Pulaski, on an island near the mouth of the Savannah River, was captured by Federals in 1862, but Savannah did not fall until 21 December 1864, when Sherman entered. The city was spared destruction though.

At the end of the 19th century; economic troubles put Savannah into severe decline. Fortunately, as a result, there was no money for development and nowadays the city boasts a wonderful collection of elegant streets, lined with well-preserved 18th and 19th century buildings that also survived devastating fires in 1796 and 1820. In downtown Savannah's Historic District are more than 1000 restored Federal and Regency buildings, wide tree-lined streets and numerous shady squares. There are many parks in Savannah, featuring magnolias, pines and ancient oaks, which are indigenous there. The district has a serene Old South ambiance. The famous park bench that features in the movie Forrest Gump is in Chippewa Square in the middle of the district. Savannah's historic district was designated a national historic landmark in 1966.

Some of the most interesting monuments in the Historic District include the Pirates' House, which dates from 1754 and was an old seaman's inn mentioned in Stevenson's Treasure Island, the Herb House, which was built in 1734 and is the oldest existing building in Georgia and the Pink House from 1789. It was the site of Georgia's first bank. The mansion birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low was built between 1819 and 1821. It is owned and operated by the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. as a memorial to their founder. The monument and grave of American Revolutionary general Nathanael Greene are in Johnson Square. There are many churches in Savannah, including the Lutheran Church of Ascension, which dates from 1741, the Independent Presbyterian Church, which was constructed in the 1890's and is a replica of an earlier church that was destroyed by fire. It was the scene of Woodrow Wilson's marriage to Ellen Axson. The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist can also be found in Savannah. It dates from 1876 and is one of the largest Roman Catholic churches in the southern United States.

Southeast of downtown is the traditionally African-American Victorian District, where the King-Tisdell Cottage has exhibits on African-influenced crafts and African Americans through slavery. There are also displays on the Civil War and Reconstruction. The Beach Institute displays current African-American art.

Savannah is a rail, fishing and industrial center. It is a leading southern port for a wide variety of manufactured goods. Among the city's exports are tobacco, cotton, sugar, clay and wood pulp. Shipping is a major industry, but tourism is becoming increasingly important. Chemicals, plastics, transportation equipment, lumber and paper are among the most important products that are manufactured in Savannah. The city is the seat of Savannah State University and Armstrong State University, which are both part of the University System of Georgia. There are several interesting museums in town, as well as the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences. An air force base and a U.S. coast guard station also are there.

There are many hotels and restaurants in Savannah. Several beach and island resorts as well as a wildlife refuge are not far from town. Savannah is a well-planned city near the mouth of the Savannah River, some 360 km southeast from Atlanta and 870 km south from Washington D.C.


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