johnson square, savannah

Johnson Square

DESCRIPTION

Why You Should Go

It was the first of Oglethorpe’s original squares and is still Savannah’s largest. It was named after South Carolina Governor Robert Johnson, who was a friend of Oglethorpe’s and provided assistance to the early settlers of the colony. This square was laid out in 1733 and was a central focus of daily life in the earliest days of the city. Thus, the settlers gathered in this square to get the time of day (which they read on a sundial which had been built there), post public notices, get water for their families, socialize, and even to bake their bread. The square’s two fountains now mark the places where the city’s communal ovens once stood.

  • JOHNNY MERCER BENCH – Johnson Square also pays homage to Johnny Mercer, Savannah’s favorite son. The popular and commercially successful songwriter wrote more than 1,000 songs between 1929 and 1976. Mercer also received eighteen Academy Award nominations, won four Academy Awards, composed music that was featured in several Broadway shows, and was a cofounder of Capitol Records. A beautiful bench carved from white marble pays tribute to this remarkable entertainer. The bench is engraved with the titles of some of Mr. Mercer’s greatest hits, and a profile sketch of the singer which was hand drawn by the music legend himself.
  • NATHANIEL GREENE MONUMENT – Dominating the center of Johnson Square is an impressive white obelisk marking the final resting place of Nathanael Greene, a hero of the Revolutionary War. The French General Marquis de Lafayette, who was so instrumental in assisting the Continental army during the Revolutionary War, laid the cornerstone for the monument honoring Greene in 1825.
  • CHRIST CHURCH – On the south east corner of the square you will find Christ Church, now known as Christ Anglican Church. Also known as “the Mother Church of Georgia,” Christ Church was the first church in Savannah and was originally established as an extension of the Church of England. The church continues to be home to a vibrant Christian community today.

Parking & Transportation

See map below for address

Overview Video

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