Page 260 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

258  THE SOUTHEAST

Georgia A handful of museums also
highlight different aspects of
The last of the 13 original colonies, Georgia was founded by a the city’s history. The Telfair
British general, James Oglethorpe, to stop Spanish expansion Academy, at the center of the
north from Florida. While the state initially banned slavery, historic district, displays a fine
economic pressures from competing slave-holding colonies collection of Impressionist
paintings and decorative arts
led to its introduction and, as a result, it grew wealthy from within an 1818 Regency-style
slave labor on rice, indigo, and cotton plantations. Georgia mansion. At the western edge
was devastated during the Civil War, when General Sherman’s of the district, the Ships of the
“March to the Sea” set ablaze a swath of land across the state. Sea Maritime Museum holds
Led by pragmatic Atlanta (see pp262–3), Georgia was able ship models of all shapes and
to overcome the many hardships of its troubled past, and sizes within the palatial 1819
Scarborough House. Located
was well positioned to benefit from the economic boom in just beyond the historic district,
the late 20th century. the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil
Rights Museum has exhibits
Horse-and-carriage tours provide relating to the city’s growth
an introduction to historic and also offers in-depth African-
Savannah, though walking is American heritage tours.
the best way to explore the area. Many more attractions await
River Street is one of the in the surrounding Lowcountry –
city’s central entertainment the marsh-laden coastal region
districts, lined with seafood of Georgia and South Carolina
restaurants, raucous taverns, (see p257). A drive out on Hwy 80,
and souvenir shops housed in east towards Tybee Island, passes
old warehouses constructed of the Bonaventure Cemetery,
ballast-stones. Uphill, Factors where singer Johnny Mercer
Walk is a stately promenade and writer Conrad Aitken are
on top of the bluff. A few blocks buried. Also located en route is
in from the river, City Market the behemoth brick Fort Pulaski
A colorful Halloween display on River is another lively arts and National Monument, which
Street, Savannah entertainment district, housed rises like a medieval fortress at
in a series of historic buildings. the mouth of the Savannah River.
r Savannah Notable house museums
throughout Savannah shed light P Davenport House
* 144,000. ~ £ @ n 301 324 E State St. Tel (912) 236-8097.
Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, (912) 944- on the city’s history, architecture, Open 10am–4pm Mon–Sat, 1–4pm
0455. ∑ visitsavannah.com and culture, with many open to
tours year-round. Of these, the Sun. Closed Jan 1, one week in Jan,
Labeled the “most beautiful Davenport House on Columbia Mar 17, Thanksgiving, Dec 25. &
city in America” by the Paris Square is considered one of the ∑ davenporthousemuseum.org
newspaper Le Monde, the lushly country’s finest examples of P Owens-Thomas House
landscaped parks and gracious Federal-style architecture, while 124 Abercorn St. Tel (912) 790-8800.
homes of Savannah have nearby, the Owens-Thomas Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sat, noon–
earned it a reputation for scenic House on Oglethorpe Square 5pm Sun & Mon. Closed public hols.
beauty and sophistication. is among the finest Regency & 8 ∑ telfair.org
It was established in 1733 on buildings, built by English E Telfair Acedemy
the banks of the Savannah River, architect William Jay in 1816. 121 Barnard St. Tel (912) 790-8800.
16 miles (26 km) from the Other houses can be seen on Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sat, noon–
Atlantic Ocean. Its founder, the popular Tour of Homes 5pm Sun & Mon. Closed public hols.
James Oglethorpe, laid out a and Gardens, held in spring. & ∑ telfair.org
town grid dotted with small
squares designed to deter
invaders. Today, even after the
turmoil of the Revolution and
Civil War, his design remains
intact, with the squares now
serving as scenic parks filled
with statues and fountains.
The city has one of the largest,
and perhaps most beautiful,
urban historic districts in the US,
which now thrives as the city’s
downtown commercial center. Fort Pulaski National Monument, Savannah
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp276–8 and pp279–81

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