As you come to the eastern end of River Street, you will see Savannah’s famous statue: “The Waving Girl.” This beautiful statue was created by noted sculptor Felix de Weldon as a tribute to Florence Martus. A favorite local legend, Florence’s story is bittersweet. The sister of the lighthouse keeper on nearby Elba Island, Florence was rumored to have fallen in love with a handsome sailor who promised to return and marry her. The sailor gave her his white handkerchief as a token of his promise. It is said that Florence ran out to greet every ship that arrived in Savannah, day or night, waving the white handkerchief in order to ensure that she was the first to see her lover return. How much of the story is true remains a mystery, but what is certain is that Florence Martus was known to have welcomed more than 50,000 ships to Savannah during her lifetime.