The City of Savannah is a treasure of the Old South and a very popular tourist destination for visitors from around the world. In the last decade of the 20th Century, over 50 million visitors came to the Port of Savannah to enjoy its beautiful architecture, elaborate ironwork, many fountains, and lush squares.
The Port of Savannah's almost 300 years of history are evident in the beautifully preserved and restored structures that include Georgia's oldest standing brick fort, the US's oldest pre-Civil War railroad repair shop, and a great modern aviation museum. In addition to these attractions, the beaches of Tybee Island, the golf courses, and the salt marshes offer unlimited opportunities for outdoor and water-related fun. There are far too many places to see and things to do in Savannah than can be covered here. If you would like to know more about the city's attractions, visit the Savannah Area Convention and Visitors Bureau website.
The Port of Savannah enjoys a subtropical climate with hot humid summers and cool dry winters. Outdoor activities are possible throughout the year, although the hot summer days are often punctuated by afternoon thunderstorms. Temperatures range from an average high of 33 °C (91 °F) in July to an average low of 3 °C (37 °F) in January. The rainiest time of the year is in August.
The Port of Savannah has many historic districts, but the National Historic Landmark District contains the original planned city that was established by James Oglethorpe in 1733. The area contains the many squares surrounded by 18th-, 19th-, and 20th Century buildings.
The historic buildings that are popular with visitors include the 1754 Pirates' House, an inn that Robert Louis Stevenson mentioned in his famous book, Treasure Island. The 1734 Herb House is Georgia's oldest building. The Pink House is the site of the first bank in Georgia. The 1821 birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., is now a museum for that organization. The 1812 Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences was one of the first museums in the South. The city also contains many early churches, including the 1788 First African Baptist Church and the Temple Mickeve Israel, the third-oldest synagogue in the United States.
In 1755, farmers and fishermen brought their goods to market in the Port of Savannah. The market was a social and commercial center for daily life in Savannah. Today, the City Market is a mixed-use project northwest of the Historic District, a rehabilitated area covering four blocks where visitors can find restaurants, entertainment, and shopping opportunities in a beautiful historic atmosphere. Modeled after the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia, the City Market contains working studies for artists where visitors can stroll through this living gallery and stop for a bite to eat, a show, or a few souvenirs.
With its rich history, the Port of Savannah is well-known in the supernatural community as a haven for ghosts. More than half of the six visitors to the city every year take one of the popular ghost tours where they visit haunted places and learn about the macabre and romantic personal past of the city.
Travelers who want to visit the Port of Savannah by sea can find a list of scheduled cruises on the Cruise Compete website.
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