For our 38th anniversary we went to Savannah, Georgia. I have been wanting to visit Savannah for our entire married life because my first job out of graduate school was for a local Girl Scout Council. And all Girl Scouts know that the founder, Juliette Gordon Low, was from Savannah.
It exceeded my expectations. I want to go back!
Juliette Gordon Low house.
On our first day, I did go to the Juliette Low Gordon house. I saw the rooms she walked in. I saw ceramics and paintings she had created. I walked in the garden with my husband. Yes, I did buy something at the gift shop. I had to. Later we went to the Andrew Low house, where she spent her adulthood and passed away. Unfortunately, we were too late to get on a tour. But we did walk over the first Girl Scout headquarters, which is just beyond the gardens. While there, a purchase of Girl Scout cookies was made.
But Savannah is not only for Girl Scout fans. There was so much else to see. So many lovely old homes from the early 1800s. Due to a group of women who started saving these homes in the 1960s, Savannah was saved from being a faceless and bland city to one that kept its local charm and ambiance.
I loved those restored homes. We went on an architecture walking tour of the historic area, seeing many houses from the outside. The next day, we visited three homes that were designed by William Jay in the 1820s: Owens-Thomas House, a home museum; the Telfair Academy Art Museum which was once the home of Mary Telfair; and Scarborough House, built for the owner of the Savannah steamship. This home is now the setting for the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. This museum is packed with wonderful models of sailing ships. But the history of the building is also unique, it was once a school during segregation.
Inside the Owens-Thomas house. There is actually a bridge on the second floor connecting the two sides.
At each home I learned a bit more about William Jay, the architect, and even more about the economic slump of the 1820s that led to most of the original homeowners losing all their money and their homes, soon after they moved in. These homes passed to other families and some fell into disrepair. Thank goodness for the Historical Society and the ladies that saved them!
We walked the paths in Colonial Park Cemetery, reading the markers that told of the famous and infamous people who were buried there. The saddest were the number of children who perished. So many died in the epidemics of Yellow Fever that swept through Savannah several times.
I loved walking through the historic district and visiting every one of the 22 squares that still exists. Yes, we went to every single one. Each square has its own personality, some with a statue and a historic marker telling about that area. I loved it. I took photos of almost every marker.
We also meandered along the river and walked in and out of candy stores and gift shops. The many diverse restaurants served the most delicious foods. My favorite was Elizabeth’s on 37th Street. We ate in two different restaurants each day, some fancy, others just fun. Some we enjoyed were: the Funky Brunch Café; Boar’s Head Grill and Tavern, near the river; The Lady and Sons Restaurant, surprising delicious; and Lulu’s Chocolate Bar. I was surprised that I did not gain an ounce. But then we did walk 4 to 6 miles most days.
We also learned how Prohibition impacted Savannah! It seems that lots of booze smuggling and speakeasy joints were part of the riverfront during the 1920s. A visit to the American Prohibition Museum is a must. And yes get a drink at the end in the speakeasy. You do not have to have an alcoholic drink…but my husband loved his. I went for an original lemon soda mixed from scratch!
I found the history of the city is intriguing. But for me, the Jewish history was amazing. Who knew that just a few months after the first settlers arrived, a group of 42 Jewish settlers arrived in 1733 bringing a Torah and starting a Jewish community in Savannah that survives today! This group of Sephardic Jews had been forced to leave Spain and settled in England just a decade or so earlier. They then traveled to the unknown on their search for religious freedom. WOW!
Built in the late 1870s, this building has always been a synagogue: Mikve Israel.
We went to visit the current synagogue building in the historic district: Temple Mikve Israel. Built in the late 1870s, the building is still used as by a congregation. It contains a small museum and you can visit the chapel area. But when we were there it was undergoing renovations, so we could not enter.
The Torah brought to Savannah in 1733, written on parchment made from deer hide.
We got to see one of the oldest Torah’s in the USA. The one that was brought here from England in the 1700s. It is written on deer skin. For me this was a thrill to see that a strong Jewish community still exists and has been a part of the Savannah community for 285 years.
I did not see all that I wanted to see in Savannah. I loved staying in the Marshall House, with its evening wine and cheese, speakers and musicians, and wonderful staff. But next time I want to stay in a bed and breakfast. I have the spot picked out. I could spend another five days in Savannah eating, walking and visiting museums. I love learning about history and walking through Savannah is a living history lesson!
zicharonot 
We were there many years ago—such a beautiful and charming Southern city. We only had two days (and I was not feeling well on the second day), so we will need to go back also.
It is well worth the trip. Just so pleasant to walk around. I have about ten more things I want to do, including taking a ride on the river!
I remember reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil before we visited. And we did take a river ride on the first day. And, of course, we also went to visit Juliet Gordon Low’s home. I was a girl scout from second grade through eighth grade. 🙂
We walked around the Mercer house but did not go in. That will be next trip. It is very close to the synagogue.