3 Best Landmarks in Savannah, GA

“Old Fort Jackson is a restored nineteenth-century fort that was named in honor of James Jackson, who was a British-born political figure in Georgia. The fort was constructed between 1808 and 1812 to guard the city of Savannah from attack by sea. During the American Civil War, the site became one of three Confederate forts that protected Savannah from Union forces (the other two were Fort McAllister and Fort Pulaski). In 1862, Fort Jackson came under shelling from a ship captained by an escaped slave, Robert Smalls. Old Fort Jackson was bought by the city of Savannah in 1924 for park purposes and was fully restored in the 1970s. The fort was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2000. Old Fort Jackson is a National Historic Landmark that offers daily cannon firings and exciting interactive programs for adults, kids, and families.”

“Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters was built in 1819 and displays the neoclassical style popular in England during the Regency period. The Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters allows visitors to explore the complicated relationships between the most and least powerful people in the city of Savannah in the early 19th century. The site is one of the mansion’s most distinctive exterior features, the cast-iron balcony on its south facade. Their tours focus on the art, architecture, and history of the home through the lens of slavery. Visitors will experience an inclusive interpretation of not only the wealthy families that inhabited this home for a span of over 100 years but also of the enslaved people who lived and labored here.”

“Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace is owned and operated by Girl Scouts of the USA, where you can trace the journey of Juliette Gordon Low’s life and the Girl Scout Movement she founded. Juliette was born here in 1860, and she lived in and visited the house throughout her life. In 1953, the house was saved from the threat of demolition when Girl Scouts of the USA purchased the birthplace. In true Girl Scout style, Girl Scouts then led a major fundraising effort to support the incredible restoration project that followed. Girls from around the world raised nickels, dimes, and dollars for Daisy, putting together bake sales, community fairs, dinners, pageants, fashion shows, and more to restore the birthplace to its original splendor.”