Squares of Savannah, Georgia

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The city of Savannah, Georgia was planned with twenty-four city squares. Three of these squares have at various times been paved over or demolished and are no longer extant, leaving a total of twenty-one squares in present-day Savannah.

Contents

[edit] Extant squares

[edit] Calhoun Square

Calhoun Square was laid out in 1851 and is named for South Carolinian statesman John C. Calhoun. It is located on Abercorn Street, between Taylor and Gordon Streets.

[edit] Chatham Square

Chatham Square was laid out in 1847 and named in 1851 for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. It is located on Barnard Street, between Taylor and Gordon Streets.

[edit] Chippewa Square

Chippewa Square was named in memory of American soldiers killed in the Battle of Chippawa (1812). In the centre of the square is a bronze statue of Georgia founder General James Oglethorpe. It is located on Bull Street between Hull and Perry Streets. Also was the site of the famous bench used in the movie Forrest Gump.

[edit] Columbia Square

Columbia Square was laid out in 1799. In the centre of the square is a fountain that formerly resided at Wormsloe

[edit] Crawford Square

Crawford Square was laid out in 1841 and is named for Georgia Senator and one-time Presidential hopeful William H. Crawford.

[edit] Franklin Square

Franklin Square, formerly Water Tank Square, was laid out in 1790 and later renamed for Benjamin Franklin.

[edit] Greene Square

Greene Square is named for Revolutionary War hero General Nathanael Greene, who is incidentally buried with his son, and memorialised with an obelisk, in Johnson Square.

[edit] Johnson Square

The sundial in Johnson Square
The sundial in Johnson Square

Johnson Square was Savannah's first, laid out in 1733 and named for Robert Johnson, colonial governor of South Carolina and friend of General Oglethorpe. Interred in the square are Revolutionary War hero General Nathanael Greene and his son. Greene is also memorialised with an obelisk in the centre of the square.

Johnson Square also contains a sundial dedicated to Colonel William Bull, as well as a fountain. The sundial has four panels, one on each side of its square granite base. The dial itself is bronze, set atop a marble shaft. One of the base panels features a view of Savannah in 1734; the others are dedicatory inscriptions.

It is located on Bull Street between Bryan and Congress Streets.

[edit] Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square was laid out in 1837 and is named for Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette, an aide to George Washington during the Revolutionary War, who visited Savannah in 1825. The square contains a fountain.

[edit] Madison Square

Madison Square is named for James Madison, fourth president of the United States. In the centre of the square is a statue memorialising Sgt. William Jasper, a soldier in the Revolutionary War who, though mortally wounded, heroically recovered his company's banner. The square is located on Bull Street.

[edit] Monterey Square

Monterey Square is named for Monterey, Mexico, which was captured General Zachary Taylor during the Mexican-American War in 1846. In the centre of the square is a statue memorialising General Casimir Pulaski, a Polish-born Revolutionary War hero who died in the Siege of Savannah.

[edit] Oglethorpe Square

Oglethorpe Square was laid out in 1742 and is named for Georgia founder General James Oglethorpe.

[edit] Orleans Square

Orleans Square was named after the 1815 Battle of New Orleans. In the centre of the square is a fountain honouring early German immigrants to Savannah.

[edit] Pulaski Square

Pulaski Square is named for General Casimir Pulaski, a Polish-born Revolutionary War hero who died in the Siege of Savannah.

[edit] Reynolds Square

Statue of John Wesley in Reynolds Square
Statue of John Wesley in Reynolds Square

Reynolds Square, formerly Lower New Square, was laid out in 1734 and later renamed for John Reynolds, an early governor of Georgia. The square contains a monument memorialising John Wesley, Savannah resident and founder of Methodism.

[edit] Telfair Square

Telfair Square was originally named St. James Square but was renamed in honour of former governor Edward Telfair in 1883.

[edit] Troup Square

Troup Square was laid out in 1851 and named for former Georgia governor George Michael Troup. A large model of an armillary sphere is erected in the centre of this square.

[edit] Warren Square

Warren Square was laid out in 1791 and named for General Joseph Warren, a Revolutionary War hero.

[edit] Washington Square

Named for George Washington.

[edit] Whitfield Square

Whitfield Square was laid out in 1751

[edit] Wright Square

[edit] "Lost" squares

[edit] Elbert Square

Elbert Square was paved over to make way for improvements to Montgomery Street.

[edit] Ellis Square

Ellis Square was paved over to make way for a parking garage for City Market.

More recently the garage has been demolished and the city plans to build a new facility underground, to allow for the restoration of a square on the site.

[edit] Liberty Square

Liberty Square was paved over to make way for improvements to Montgomery Street.