Historic River Street
Savannah’s birth as a community happened right on the shores of Savannah River, where British general James Oglethorpe landed in 1733 with 114 men, women and children, aboard the galley ship “Anne.”
General Oglethorpe went on to found Savannah, which eventually became the first city of Georgia. Savannah River’s shores were developed into cobbled streets, a large portion of which has come to be known as River Street.
History of River Street
The history of River Street is very closely linked to that of Savannah and the state of Georgia.
With the invention of the cotton gin in the 1700s, Savannah became highly prosperous. River Street saw the rise of large warehouses and offices dedicated to the cotton trade. It also became the site of rich merchants’ opulent and stately homes, designed and constructed by the most famous architects of that era.
The following decades saw the ups and downs of Savannah as it went through the Civil War, a series of yellow fever epidemics, and the Great Depression. In the 1950s, many of the city’s historic buildings were demolished to give way to modern infrastructures like parking lots, gas stations, and others.
More structures would have been destroyed were it not for the intervention of the Historic Savannah Foundation. Formed by seven women, the Foundation successfully halted the demolition of more of the city’s historic homes and buildings by finding new owners committed to their restoration and preservation.
River Street was abandoned for more than a century following a yellow fever quarantine in 1818. In the 1970s, however, the district was revived and given new life by a group of developers and landowners who gave it a $7million-rehabilitation. The waterfront was subsequently re-introduced to the public in 1977 as a major Savannah destination.
Today, thousands of tourists and locals flock to River Street each year to enjoy world-class shopping and dining, amid distinctly historic homes and structures and stunning views of the grand Savannah River.
Things to do and see around River Street
River Street is truly a unique destination that blends the Southern charm of historic Savannah with modern urban amenities. Here’s a list of places to see and activities to do to help you fully enjoy the River Street experience:
- Shop and dine at the Riverfront Plaza – Formerly the site of Savannah’s Cotton Exchange, Riverfront Plaza encompasses 19th century warehouses that have been transformed into rows of shops, boutiques and restaurants. It’s located 40 feet below the city, so wear comfortable shoes if you plan to go there by foot. Or you can take the Dottie, Savannah’s bio-fuel streetcar that plies the area.
- Stroll along the River Walk – Between River Street and Savannah River is River Walk, a beautifully-landscaped stretch that offers breathtaking views of the water, as well as monuments to the city’s heroes, legends and significant events.
- Explore Factors Row and Factors Walk – Factor’s Row is a series of 19th-century red brick buildings constructed on a bluff above River Walk. The buildings used to house the offices of cotton dealers, or factors, in the heydays of the cotton industry. Factors Walk is a network of walkways in iron and concrete connecting the buildings to each other and to the bluff.
- Take part in Riverfront activities – River Street is the site of various festivals and events all year round, in addition to monthly fireworks and other regular activities.
