5th - 12th Grade   History of Savannah

Departing early, we board our air-conditioned coach and head north, stopping for breakfast along the way. As we make our way across the Florida border to beautiful and historic Savannah, Georgia, our six-hour journey ends with spectacular views of the saltwater marsh ecosystem as we enjoy lunch at the Crab Shack. A local favorite, the restaurant is poised on stilts and offers us an opportunity to survey the wildlife of this natural area. After lunch, we head into town to explore two of Savannah’s many historic buildings. At our first stop, the Jepson Center for the Arts, the future meets the past as we explore the arts place in the world over three floors of interactive exhibits. After honing our critical thinking skills, we’ll head to the historic Owens-Thompson House and explore the lavish home and gardens built by one of Savannah’s first cotton merchants in 1819. After checking in to the Historic Savannah Doubletree Hotel, we’ll set out to stroll along the riverfront where we find an open market with local vendors to explore. After dinner, we join our guide for a walking ghost tour of the legendary streets and shadowy squares of what locals claim is one of the most haunted cities in America!

 

After breakfast, we get acquainted with Savannah’s unique network of streets and squares on our walking tour of the city. Planned and built by Ogelthorpe in the 1800s, Savannah was the first city of it’s kind in this area. Our morning offers us a chance to explore many of the cities important sites including the Savannah History Museum and the Roundhouse Railroad Museum. The Civil Rights Museum explores the history of Georgia’s oldest African American community and their settlement in Savannah. We visit the First African Baptist Church and then move on to discover another early cultural settlement in the city. Visiting the historic Mickva synagogue, established in 1735 and housing a 200-year old torah, we learn of the largest group of early Jewish colonists who, five months after Savannah was first settled, administered to the health needs of the city. After lunch, we discover two historic landmarks, the Juliette Gordon Low birthplace where we learn the family story of this Girl Scout founder, and the Davenport House Museum which dates from the 1820s. Our day’s exploring wraps up with a murder mystery dinner hosted by the professional actors of the Savannah Community Theater at the Pirate’s House- a perfect end to our historic day.

 

After breakfast, we head out to Old Fort Jackson, Georgia’s oldest brick fort, where history comes alive while we watch how Civil War soldiers fired the forts cannons. For the fort, we head down the longest live oak driveway in the world to discover the ruins of Wormsloe, Savannah’s legendary colonial estate. After a picnic lunch on the grounds, we say goodbye to the rich history and unique architecture of Savannah, Georgia. Arriving home after a dinner rest stop, we are full from our experience discovering one of our nation’s most interesting cities!

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