greene square history, savannah

Greene Square

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Why You Should Go

Greene Square was named in memory of the Revolutionary War hero, Nathaniel Greene. So great was Greene’s contribution to the war effort in Georgia that he was given a grant of land in gratitude for his service. Originally from New England, Mr. Greene moved his family to Savannah, only to die shortly following the move from heat stroke. In addition to the striking architecture, Greene Square is home to the Second African Baptist Church, and its long and vibrant history.

  • THE SECOND AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH – The Second African Baptist Church has its origins in the early 1700’s, when slaves participated in worship with their white masters. In 1802, Henry Francis and Henry Cunningham were ordained as Baptist Ministers and together with a small group of followers, selected a site for the construction of what would become the Second Colored Baptist Church at 123 Houston Street. At that time Savannah had a significant number of free African Americans, and those with the financial means to provide support became some of the church’s early leaders.
  • EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION – By 1864, the church was 58 years old and playing host to Union forces that had entered the city with General William T. Sherman. The church could not contain the enormous crowd that gathered to hear the Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, and General Sherman as they read the Emancipation Proclamation and freed the enslaved African Americans of Savannah. A plaque commemorating the event can be seen to this day in Greene Square.
  • MARTIN LUTHER KING JR – Nearly a century later, in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. visited the church and gave a thunderous sermon. He incorporated segments of what would become his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, clearly perfecting his historic words one month before the landmark “March on Washington.” After touring the square, turn south on Houston Street and then turn left onto Oglethorpe to Colonial Park Cemetery.

Parking & Transportation

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Overview Video

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