Allen Beatty Art Collections

Savannah

Never has a city owed so much to the vision of one person than Savannah owes to General James Edward Ogelthorpe. Given the mission by King George II of England to buffer Charleston's plantations from the Spanish, he had a sweeping vision in mind. Savannah would comprise a series of rectangular "wards," each built around a central square. As Savannah grew, each square took on it's own characteristics depending on who lived on the square and how they made their livelihood. It's this individuality that contributes to Savannah's inate charm and was so well documented in John Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The legacy of Gen. Ogelthorpe's plan lives on to this day and makes Savannah one of the most walkable of cities for the visitor. Add the the oak trees with the hanging moss, decorative wrought iron, beautiful restored homes, the parks, and of course Southern charm and you have Savannah, one of the more gracious cities you will find.