Historic Savannah has 22 lovely and historic piazzas, with Greene Square one of the prettiest. Visit to appreciate its quiet elegance and understated heritage. Avoid the crowds by relaxing at this neighborhood square, charmingly surrounded by 19th-century buildings. Learn about local history, enjoy the ample green space and relax on a park bench or picnic blanket under the shade of an oak tree.
Greene Square was established in 1799 and, like many of the city’s iconic squares, was named after a hero of the Revolutionary War. Reflect on the great skill and bad fortune of Nathaneal Greene, a Rhode Island native who led the Continental Army against the British in the South. After an illustrious career, he settled with his family at the Mulberry Grove estate near Savannah, but tragically died of sunstroke shortly afterward.
Watch local residents as they have an outdoor lunch or walk their dogs through the park. Enjoy the square’s calm ambiance and rich character, which is boosted by the attractive buildings lining the surrounding streets. Appreciate these structures, one of which is an 1801 wooden building that originally housed the Savannah Female Orphan Asylum.
In 19th-century Savannah, Greene Square was a vital center for African American life. Head to the square’s northwest corner to see the Second African Baptist Church. Admire the current church building, constructed in 1925, and consider the long history of worship at this site. The Reverend Henry Cunningham, a free African American and the church’s founding pastor, led the congregation here from 1803 until his death in 1842.
After visiting Greene Square, continue on to explore charming Columbia Square, home to the Davenport House Museum. Take a 0.6-mile (1-kilometer) walk to Johnson Square, where an imposing monument marks the final resting place of Greene and his son. Appreciate the square’s two lovely fountains and its bronze and marble sundial engraved with a historic city map.
Find Greene Square northeast of Savannah’s Historic District, just a few blocks east of Columbia Square. Park on the street or in a city-run garage nearby.
