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When Georgia cotton was the world standard, River Street was where cotton merchants’ offices and warehouses were located in six-storey buildings right by the docks for ease of loading the bales onto ships. The Civil War blockade 150 years ago put a temporary end to that trade, and when General Sherman captured Savannah he informed President Lincoln that the spoils of war there included about twenty-five thousand bales of cotton. After that War ended other fabrics began to displace cotton on world markets, and the riverfront area declined. The solidly-constructed buildings remained, but more than a century passed before the River Street Urban Renewal Project undertook to refurbish the neglectedstreet as a major tourist attraction.
The original cobblestones were retained, and tracks were laid for an old-fashioned tourist trolley. Abandoned warehouses were transformed into a colourful collection of shops, galleries and boutiques. By 1973 a pedestrian walkway named after a former mayor was completed, facilities for ferries and river tour boats were installed, and the free trolley began to take passengers the length of the street with several stops along the way. Today the River Street area is one of Savannah’s most popular tourist attractions.
This relaxing and pedestrian-friendly
area boasts three unique memorials. At the City Hall end is a thought-provoking 2002 statue depicting an African-American family released from their chains. At the other end is an unusual tribute to Florence Martus, the “waving girl” who for 44 years waved to every ship arriving or departing, and was known by name to ships’ captains around the world. Nearby is a figurative commemoration of the six sailing competitions held at Savannah as part of the 1996 Olympic Games. For complete information go to:
http://www.visit-historic-savannah.com/river-street-memorials.html .
Much more about this fascinating city will follow in future blogs.
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Misty
non-member comment
High class place!! I would love to grab a coffee or tea along the pier there, looks so posh. Very cool they commemorated the "waving girl" with a statue- thanks for sharing some of Savannah's history with me!