Savannah, Georgia: The Lasting Legacy of Colonial City Planning

(Georgia Tourism Division) F ew places in America possess the breadth of natural and designed scenic beauty, the magical and eerie charm, and the immediate presence of the past as the historic district of the city of Savannah, Georgia. Strolling through the old city's rigid, grid pattern streets, down its linear brick walkways, past over 1,100 residential and public buildings of unparalleled architectural richness and diversity, visitors and residents come to appreciate the original plan which has existed intact since Savannah's founding in 1733. Twenty-four tree-shaded, park-like open spaces called "squares" are the essence of the city. One of the few surviving colonial city plans in the United States, Savannah is a testament to the ingenuity of Georgia's founders.

TABLE OF CONTENTS About This Lesson Getting Started: Inquiry Question Setting the Stage: Historical Context Locating the Site: Maps 1. British & Spanish claims in the Southeast 2. Portion of the southeast Atlantic coastline Determining the Facts: Readings 1. Establishing Savannah 2. The City Plan and How It Was Built 3. Good Intentions Don't Always Last Visual Evidence: Images 1. View of Savannah, 1734 2. Detail from View of Savannah 3. Savannah, 1800 4. Savannah, 1818 5. Panorama of Savannah, 1837 Putting It All Together: Activities 1. Draw the City Plan of Savannah 2. Then and Now in Your Town Supplementary Resources

RELATED INFORMATION How to Use a TwHP Lesson Lessons on Related Topics TwHP Home National Register Home About the National Register How the National Register Helps Teachers Contact TwHP This lesson is based on Savannah Historic District, one of the thousands of historic districts listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The district has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

Continue

Comments or Questions
Privacy & Disclaimer
Site optimized for V4.0
& above browsers

TCP