Known for its Victorian gazebo, this is a quiet square that doesn’t get much tourist foot traffic. One of the more interesting things about it is that it was built over a slave burial ground. In the 19th century, it was illegal to bury slaves in your backyard/courtyard, so the squares were often used for this purpose.

The square was named for Reverend George Whitfield who founded the oldest orphanage in the United States.

The dominant architecture is “gingerbread,” which is represented by the latticework and decorative wood. This is one of the newer squares, having been laid out in 1851, so many of the surrounding buildings were constructed after the Civil War.

“The one with the armillary sphere….” Yes, Troup Square has its very own celestial armillary sphere, and, in case you don’t know what that is (I didn’t), it’s an ancient mathematical instrument that shows how the celestial sphere moves about the earth, the stationary realm. Why is it in Troup Square? No one seems to know!

Take note of the Universalist Unitarian Church in this square. James Pierpoint, the organist and choir director, as well as the brother of the church’s founding minister, wrote a Christmas song you likely hear every year…..Jingle Bells!

“The one with the green fountain…” Or, if you want to be correct, the Wormsloe Fountain, which was plucked directly from the Wormsloe Plantation and installed in 1970. The square itself was initially built in 1799, making it the ninth square of the original 24. Its name is supposedly based on “the poetic personification of America.”

Interestingly, the Davenport House, which lies on this square, is one of the very first restoration projects of the Historic Savannah Foundation. Back in 1955, a group of women joined together to purchase the house and save it from demolition, an act that spurred a movement to preserve the entire town, its architecture, and history.

The Kehoe House has a legacy as both a boarding home, as well as a funeral parlor, which lends to its designation as one of the more haunted homes in the area. For a while, football star, Joe Namath, owned the property.

Laid out in 1791, Warren Square is named after General Joseph Warren who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Why? Savannah and Boston were sister cities, with Boston delivering provisions to Savannah after Sherman spared it from the same catastrophic fate Atlanta experienced. Because General Warren had served as the President of the Provincial Government of Massachusetts, the square was named for him and the special relationship the two cities shared.

The one with an obelisk, two fountains, and a sundial….

An ally of James Oglethorpe, this square is named after Robert Johnson, the governor of colonial South Carolina, and is the first of the original squares, dating back to 1733.

As for the obelisk, it was installed in 1825 in memory of Revolutionary War hero Nathaniel Greene, whose remains are actually buried in the square along those of his son.

The sundial was installed in 1933 as a tribute to Colonel William Bull, a friend of Oglethorpe’s and a master surveyor whose contributions to Savannah’s development were significant.

It’s a dark and ghostly reason behind this square’s fame — as it is where criminals were hung in the 1700s, the most famous of which was Alice Riley. In January of 1735, she became the first female to be executed. Riley and her common law husband were indentured servants of William Wise, who, according to various people, was an unsavory individual towards those who worked for him. After murdering Wise, they dumped his body in the Savannah River, expecting him to float and sink down stream. Nonetheless, he drifted, and his body washed up on shore across the river. Alice was pregnant at the time of her conviction and was allowed to give birth, only to be hung immediately after. The baby then died weeks later. It is rumored that Alice’s ghost haunts the square in search of the infant she wasn’t able to raise.

The one where Tom Hanks filmed the bench scenes from Forrest Gump…

Chippewa might be Savannah’s most famous square from a tourist’s perspective. Because of its location on Bull Street and proximity to both Forsyth and downtown, it is a well-traveled square in the historic district. Of course, it is where Forrest sat on the bench while waiting for the bus in the blockbuster movie, Forrest Gump, but don’t go looking for it because that piece of cinematic history is not there! It’s in a museum.

Standing tall and facing south with a drawn sword in Chippewa Square is the founder of Savannah, James Oglethorpe, even though the actual “Oglethorpe Square” is several blocks away. You see this a lot; squares are named for a significant person, and yet that person’s statue is in another square entirely!

The square itself commemorates those who died in the War of 1812.

The one with the cannons and the Sorrel Weed House….

Most notably, though, this square has a statue of a Revolutionary War sergeant who recovered his company’s banner during the Siege of Savannah despite being mortally wounded. His name was William Jasper. The square wasn’t laid out until 1837, but some of the bloodiest battles during the Revolutionary War took place in this location.

Also in the square are two actual canons, symbolizing the first highways in Georgia.

The Sorrel Weed House has a history of its own, marked in drama and suicide, and is worth a visit. There are daily tours, detailing the tragic events that took place here.

I particularly like this square for the activity/shopping surrounding it. You have Shop SCAD, a cool shop that sells current and former students’ work; Gryphon Tea Room, which is in one of Savannah’s most beautiful structures, the Scottish Rite Building; Art’s, which houses a London tour bus, serves coffee, smoothie bowls, paninis, etc.

All in all, it’s been, and continues to be, an active square! From Revolutionary War battles to present-day visitors and locals who appreciate its beauty and authenticity.

The one about that book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil….

Monterey Square is home to the Mercer Williams House, which is where the scene of the crime in the movie took place. By the way, the book/movie are based on actual events! Though you can tour the home, there is no mention of the events that have taken place here!

As for the military history, the square was named to commemorate America’s victory in capturing the city of Monterrey (yes, the square only has one r) during the Mexican-American War.

And, once again, the monument in the center is not representative of the square’s name. In this square stands a statue of Count Casimir Pulaski, even though Pulaski Square is on Barnard Street!

Built between 1917 and 1919, this amazing mansion is an example of Italian Renaissance Revival architecture. It was built as a private residence for George F. Armstrong, eventually becoming a community college and then a home for law offices. Now, over a century later, it has been returned to being a private residence after an extensive and costly renovation that ensured the structure’s original details were uncovered and restored. Its current owner, Richard Kessler, was born in Savannah and is owner of the Kessler Enterprise. He has developed many hotels in Savannah and elsewhere and is also responsible for the development of the Plant Riverside District.

There is so much to be said about Forsyth, but I'd like to give you a detail that you won't find in many tours.... The entrance to Forsyth (Gaston and Bull) was once flanked by two massive sphinx until, in the late 1800s, they were blown up with firecrackers! They were restored in 1899 and then again blown up by even stronger firecrackers. The remains are purported to be in a private residence somewhere in Georgia, despite being owned by the city.

Forsyth is over 30 acres in size — exactly one mile around its perimeter — and was named for Georgia’s 33rd governor. The fountain was installed in 1858 and is now, arguably, its most famous attraction with a host of proposals and weddings taking place in front of it on a daily basis. A feature many don’t notice is the “fragrant garden” in its center on the west side. This was originally constructed as a mock fort for soldiers to use in practice before WWI. It’s now filled with roses of all varieties, as well as other plants/flowers, and is a great place to make a phone call if you are in need of a more quiet setting!!!

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