Savannah was founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe. It was the first settlement in Georgia. The settlement was originally a haven for European Jews and non-European immigrants. The city was occupied in both The Revolutionary and Civil Wars, but was spared destruction (unlike Atlanta and Macon) during Sherman’s March to the Sea at the end of the Civil War in 1864.Today, Savannah is home to the nation’s most valuable collection of 18th and 19th century architecture. The city draws millions of visitors per year and its downtown area is the largest National Historic Landmark District in the nation. |
