History oozes from nearly every corner of Georgia’s oldest city, Savannah. According to Mindy Shea, the director of tour, travel and international sales with Visit Savannah, there are a number of diverse tour options—including the following five—that await school groups heading to her destination.
Walking the squares Home to one of the nation’s largest historical districts, Savannah was designed in a grid pattern with 24 park-like plazas. Groups can walk these squares and learn about the architecture of the buildings.
Checking out a historical home History is alive in many of the city’s house museums and cultural centers. Students can visit the Owens-Thomas House, see writer Flannery O’Connor’s childhood home and tour the birthplace of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low.
Taking a city tour Beyond the squares and mansions, visitors can absorb history via a guided tour on foot or aboard a trolley. The Massie Heritage Center offers special, grade-level-specific programs for students detailing the lives of children in the early 19th century.
Exploring aviation heritage Featuring more than 90,000-square-feet of exhibits and interactive displays, as well as an impressive collection of aviation art, the Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force teaches visitors about the science of flight behind World War II B-17s.
Visiting an Underground Railroad site The First African Baptist Church sheltered runaway slaves on their journey to freedom before the Civil War. It also was the site of weekly meetings held by early leaders of the Civil Rights movement in Savannah.
For more information, email Shea or go to visitsavannah.com.
Top photo: Savannah’s First African Baptist Church
Photo by Visit Savannah
