Historic District - North in Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Savannah Waterfront

Photographed By Michael Stroud, January 2008

1. Savannah Waterfront Marker

Inscription. The colony of Georgia began on Savannah's waterfront in 1733. The riverfront has always played an important role in Georgia, whether as a colonial port, exporter of cotton, or tourist destination. The first commercial house below the bluff opened in 1744. Cotton dominated Savannah's exports throughout the nineteenth century. Construction began in early 1800s for the multi-storied warehouses and "Factor's Walk," named for the cotton brokers whose offices were in the upper floors. River Street, was created in 1834 and cobbled with ballast stones. The last cotton office on the waterfront was closed in 1956. River Street's revitalization began in 1977.

Erected 2001 by The Georgia Historical Society and the Savannah Waterfront Association. (Marker Number 25-7.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1733.

Location. 32° 4.898′ N, 81° 5.462′ W. Marker is in Savannah, Georgia, in Chatham County. It is in the Historic District - North. Marker is on River Street near

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Bull Street, on the left when traveling south. Marker is at Visitor's Center behind Savannah's City Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 W River St, Savannah GA 31401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. African American Monument (here, next to this marker); Savannah and the Slave Trade (a few steps from this marker); Jewish Colonists (within shouting distance of this marker); Savannah in the American Revolution (within shouting distance of this marker); A Storeroom By Any Other Name (within shouting distance of this marker); One Building - Many Stories (within shouting distance of this marker); This is Yamacraw Bluff (within shouting distance of this marker); Landing of Oglethorpe and the Colonists (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Savannah.

Regarding Savannah Waterfront. Riverfront Plaza and "Factor's Walk", River Street's restored nineteenth-century cotton warehouses and passageways, include shops, pubs and restaurants, amoung other businesses today.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry for Savannah, Georgia. Savannah's historic district has 24 squares. The squares vary in size and personality, from the formal fountain and monuments of the largest, Johnson, to the playgrounds of the smallest, Crawford.

Savannah Waterfront Marker along River Street, opposite the Visitors Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, September 11, 2011

2. Savannah Waterfront Marker along River Street, opposite the Visitors Center

Elbert, Ellis, and Liberty Squares are classified as the "lost squares," destroyed due to development in the 1950s. Elbert and Liberty Squares were paved over to make way for a realignment of US 17, while Ellis Square was demolished to build the City Market parking garage. Separate efforts are under way to revive each of the three lost squares. The city has recently razed the City Market parking garage in order to build a new parking facility underground, with a new park on the street level. (Submitted on January 22, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

2. "The River Street Rambler, ". a Central of Georgia switching engine, has become a tourist attraction (Submitted on January 22, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. “Tall Ships Challenge 2012, Atlantic Coast”
May 2012 when Savannah becomes a stop for tall sailing ships racing along the Atlantic coast. Up to 15 tall ships will dock in Savannah May 3-7, 2012, as part of the “Tall Ships Challenge 2012, Atlantic Coast” race

— Submitted May 4, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.

Photographed By Brian Scott, April 21, 2005

3. Savannah Waterfront Marker

Waterfront with Paddlewheeler image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Stroud, October 2003

4. Waterfront with Paddlewheeler

City Hall, with the Gold Dome roof, is to the right.

Savannah Waterfront image. Click for more information.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 30, 2009

5. Savannah Waterfront

Landing of Oglethorpe
Click for more information.

Factors Walk image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Stroud, January 2008

6. Factors Walk

The men who worked with the cotton exchange were called factors; they factored how much cotton was brought in to be sold. Thus, this area was given the name, Factors Walk. Factors Walk, the center for most commercial activities in the area, is a network of iron and concrete walkways connecting the buildings to the bluff.

Photographed By Michael Stroud, January 2008

7. Factors Walk

Photographed By Michael Stroud, January 2008

8. Factors Walk

Photographed By Michael Stroud, January 2008

9. Factors Walk

The Cotton Exchange image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Stroud, May 2005

10. The Cotton Exchange

River Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Stroud, May 2005

11. River Street

Shops, pubs and restaurants...

Savannah's Waving Girl, Florence Martus... statue by Felix de Weldon image. Click for more information.

Photographed By Michael Stroud, July 1, 1994

12. Savannah's Waving Girl, Florence Martus... statue by Felix de Weldon

Florence Martus (1868 – 1943), also known as The Waving Girl, took it upon herself to be the unofficial greeter of all ships that entered and left the Port of Savannah. Using a handkerchief by day and lanterns by night, not a ship was missed in her 44 years on watch. A statue of Martus has been erected in Morrell Park on the riverfront in Savannah, Georgia. On September 27, 1943 a Liberty ship was christened in her honor, the SS Florence Martus. (Wikipedia)
Click for more information.

Trains once traveled River Street, but no longer image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Stroud, July 1994

13. Trains once traveled River Street, but no longer

The River Street Rambler - this locomotive was so much trouble that NS removed it from Savannah as of 2003

Savannah Waterfront, Tall Ships 2012 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 3, 2012

14. Savannah Waterfront, Tall Ships 2012

Savannah Waterfront, Tall Ships 2012, French Schooner "La Belle Poule" hanging a pennant image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 3, 2012

15. Savannah Waterfront, Tall Ships 2012, French Schooner "La Belle Poule" hanging a pennant

Savannah Waterfront, Indonesia's "Dewaruci" ... tall Ships 2012 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 3, 2012

16. Savannah Waterfront, Indonesia's "Dewaruci" ... tall Ships 2012

She is used as a sail training vessel for naval cadets and is the largest tall ship in the Indonesian fleet. The Dewaruci also serves as a goodwill ambassador for the country of Indonesia to the rest of the world.

Savannah Waterfront image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 5, 2012

17. Savannah Waterfront

Old Retaining Wall image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, April 21, 2005

18. Old Retaining Wall

River Street Shops image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, April 21, 2005

19. River Street Shops

Photographed By Brian Scott, April 21, 2005

20. River Street Shops

Photographed By Brian Scott, April 21, 2005

21. Riverboat

Photographed By Brian Scott, April 21, 2005

22. Riverboat

Savannah River Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, April 21, 2005

23. Savannah River Bridge

Photographed By Brian Scott, April 21, 2005

24. Savannah River Bridge

Waterfront Fountain image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, April 21, 2005

25. Waterfront Fountain

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 24, 2009

26. Savannah Waterfront

The Port of Savannah was the second busiest U.S. container port for the export of American goods by tonnage in FY2011. It also handled 8.7 percent of the U.S. containerized cargo volume and 12.5 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2011.

Savannah Waterfront, working tugs image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 24, 2009

27. Savannah Waterfront, working tugs

Savannah Waterfront, container ship heading to port, with ferry boat image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 30, 2009

28. Savannah Waterfront, container ship heading to port, with ferry boat

The distribution sector of Savannah's economy is booming. Fueled by the Port of Savannah, the world's largest distributors are clamoring to get a piece of the action.

Savannah Waterfront, tugboat Gen.Oglethorpe working the Savannah River image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 30, 2009

29. Savannah Waterfront, tugboat Gen.Oglethorpe working the Savannah River

The Port of Savannah, operated by the Georgia Ports Authority, is the fastest growing port in the nation, the second largest on the East and Gulf Coasts, and not surprisingly, a major economic development engine for the entire state of Georgia.

Savannah Waterfront, Savannah Convention Center seen from Bay Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, December 9, 2008

30. Savannah Waterfront, Savannah Convention Center seen from Bay Street

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 5,336 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 22, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2. submitted on February 15, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 3. submitted on October 6, 2012, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 4. submitted on January 22, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 5. submitted on October 7, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on January 22, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 14, 15, 16. submitted on May 3, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 17. submitted on May 5, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. submitted on October 6, 2012, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. submitted on October 7, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.