April 2017
Having covered so much of the Historic District on our first day, we decided to get out of town this morning. We started out at Bonaventure Cemetery. We wound up getting there before it was open, but after a short wait, we toured the massive cemetery full of historic graves and insanely ornate monuments and headstones. Then we headed to Wormsloe Historic Site, an old fortified plantation that played an important role in Savannah's early history. Then it was back downtown to wander around the Cathedral of John the Baptist and then trek in the scorching sun to the Savannah History Museum. Of course, the highlight of that was the all-important Forrest Gump bench!
Early morning ship traffic on the Savannah River
Heading into Bonaventure Cemetery
Bonaventure Cemetery is heavily wooded with old live oaks
The Jewish section of Bonaventure Cemetery
The Jewish section of Bonaventure Cemetery
The Veterans section of Bonaventure Cemetery
The graves here are unique
The ornate headstones are unlike you’d find elsewhere.
Many of the headstones are more like monuments.
General Robert Anderson was an Army officer who fought with the Confederacy, but also played an important part in reunification.
General Robert Anderson was an Army officer who fought with the Confederacy, but also played an important part in reunification.
Bonaventure Cemetery is a unique place
Many of the headstones are more like monuments.
Many graves have ornate statues
Many graves have ornate statues
There are more than a few obelisks in Bonaventure Cemetery
Another impressive headstone
Yep, this guy has his own pyramid
Bonaventure Cemetery overlooks the Wilmington River
One of the more scenic graves
If you paid for perpetual care, they make sure it’s well known!
Some statues are a bit creepy
Johnny Mercer, one of Savannah’s favorite sons, has his own bench at his grave.
Johnny Mercer, one of Savannah’s favorite sons, has his own bench at his grave.
Johnny Mercer, one of Savannah’s favorite sons, has a fancy gravesite including palm trees.
The Old Bonaventure Waterworks supplied water to the cemetery before it was connected to municpal water
These are the oldest graves in Bonaventure Cemetery. They predate the cemetery. They were part of the plantation that resided here before it became a cemetery in 1846.
This headstone is a life size statue of the girl who is buried here, Gracie Watson.
One of the more ornate headstones in Bonaventure Cemetery
Edward Telfair was the governor of Georgia twice in the 1700s, a member of the Continental Congress and signer of the Articles of Confederation. You find his name throughout Savannah.
The Spanish moss that adorns the live oaks looks like something from a movie set.
This is the ONLY magnolia flower that we managed to see anywhere on our trip.
Wormsloe Historic Site was the plantation of Noble Jones and important to the defense of Savannah.
Wormsloe Historic Site was the plantation of Noble Jones and important to the defense of Savannah.
The driveway into Wormsloe is lined with 400 live oaks that create a beautiful canopy.
The driveway into Wormsloe is lined with 400 live oaks that create a beautiful canopy.
The hike down to the tabby ruins is scenic and mostly shaded (thank god!)
The Spanish moss grows on everything!
The tabby ruins are the remnants of the original fortified plantation house. Tabby is a rudimentary concrete made of oyster shells and lime.
The tabby ruins are the remnants of the original fortified plantation house. Tabby is a rudimentary concrete made of oyster shells and lime.
The tabby ruins are the remnants of the original fortified plantation house. Tabby is a rudimentary concrete made of oyster shells and lime.
Exploring more of Wormsloe
This woodpecker was at the very top of a dead tree. You could hear him for miles.
This woodpecker was at the very top of a dead tree. You could hear him for miles.
Looking out over Jones’ narrows. One of the waterways Wormsloe was built to defend.
A gecko hiding among the leaves
Red cedar trees are strange looking. You’d think this was dead, but this is just how it’s growing.
Looking out over Jones’ narrows. One of the waterways Wormsloe was built to defend.
The Wormsloe blacksmith shop
The driveway at Wormsloe is lined with 400 live oaks that create a beautiful canopy.
Clary’s is a great little retro restaurant with fantastic comfort food.
Clary’s is a great little retro restaurant with fantastic comfort food.
Clary’s is a great little retro restaurant with fantastic comfort food.
Pimento cheese sandwich at Clary’s. Pimento cheese is a southern classic!
Clary’s is a great little retro restaurant with fantastic comfort food.
The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist is one of the more ornate of the many churches in Savannah.
The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist is one of the more ornate of the many churches in Savannah.
Inside the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
Panorama of the interior of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
Inside the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
No shortage of stained glass in here
Looking back from the front of the church
I guess people who go to church also want to be left alone sometimes!
Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist’s massive pipe organ
Fanciest bathtub ever! Actually, it’s their baptizing tub.
Central Georgia Railroad locomotive at the Savannah History Museum
Wow, dentist offices used to be a lot scarier looking!
Savannah’s greatest landmark, Forrest Gump’s bench! It was placed in Chippewa Square for the movie.
This 1902 Crestmobile is technically a car though I’m not sure I’d want to drive very far in it!
Join or Die, originally drawn by Ben Franklin
Weaving loom
Quilts on display
Johnny Mercer’s Oscar & Grammy
Orleans Square has a fountain
The Harper Fowlkes House is a Greek Revival mansion
The Scottish Rite Temple
The Scottish Rite Temple
The monument to Revolutionary War hero and honorary US citizen Casmir Pulaski in Pulaski Square.
The monument to Revolutionary War hero and honorary US citizen Casmir Pulaski in Pulaski Square.
Mickve Israel Synogogue joins Savannah’s pile of religions
And one more religion is represented… Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church
Spending another evening on the riverfront watching container ships go by. This is the APL Yangshan from Singapore.
The tugboat Arkansas hooked up to the back of a container ship.
Spending another evening on the riverfront watching container ships go by. This is the APL Yangshan from Singapore with the tugboat Arkansas
Ghost tours are a HUGE thing in Savannah. We did not do one.
River Street and the riverfront are busy tonight
Trying my first sazerac at Huey’s, a New Orleans themed restaurant
Huey’s is a New Orleans themed restaurant, so of course I ordered crawfish etouffee.
No New Orlean’s style meal is complete without beignets
The Georgia Queen riverboat looks great all lit up on the riverfront late at night.