Savannah's Historic Waterfront An Architectural and Urban Tour
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- Опубликовано: 3 май 2020
- In this tour, Dr. Robin B. Williams takes viewers on a detailed exploration of Savannah's historic waterfront, a unique built environment of warehouses, cobblestone ramps, retaining walls and iron bridges.
Correction based on viewer feedback:
17:49 -- It was George Baldwin, not William Baldwin, who invited William Gibbons Preston to Savannah.
Excellent historical presentation of my favorite southern city's riverfront.
This is excellent. Thank you.
We just came back from our trip to Savannah. My wife planned the trip so well, we slipped right between allergy season (which put our airport cabbie in the hospital), and bug season (vividly described by a CVS clerk), not only that, but we caught a glimpse of Dr Robin B Williams in the wild, giving a walking tour in one of the squares.
All of that was pure luck, but what is true is that Savannah is an amazingly beautiful, and richly historical city. Pictures and Google street maps walk throughs cannot do it justice. It is a living feat of urban planning spanning nearly 300 years, whose lessons could benefit any town.
It has a vibe like Paris but with more trees, and it's own unique Southern vibe draped with Spanish moss and American history. And the food is good too. Leopold's is the best ice cream I have ever had in my life.
Wonderful presentation. Thank you Dr. Williams.
Wow what an amazing part of American history,only if the walls could tell the tales.imprrssive.thank you
I love the technical proficiency of the explanations. Thanks for introducing me to Savannah.
I would love to visit this place. It's not only beautiful but has such a rich history. ❤
Spent a lot of time on River Street when we lived there - my husband used to work for the Riverboat company. I knew all the sneaky parking spots under Factors Walk. ;-) But I still learned a LOT from watching this video! Thanks so much!
Growing up in Savannah in the 1950's and 60's I remember my mother taking me downtown and us sitting on the Customs House steps to watch the Saint Patrick's Day parade.
This presentation was Exquisite. thank you for showing us the history
Thank you Dr. Williams this is the best Savannah documentary on RUclips!
Thank you. I appreciate the positive feedback. I hope to make more videos in the coming months.
What an enthralling and enjoyable tour! It makes us eager to revisit Savannah and explore the waterfront in person, as well as indulge in the local cuisine.
Fantastic post Dr.Williams!
Thank you for the history of the savannah waterfront. Loved this video.
Excellent Broadcast! I will definitely reference next trip to Savannah! Thank You!
I LOVE TO WATCH THIS MAN. HE IS SO CHARMING AND GOOD LOOKING. AND SMART. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
Thanks for the memories! I retired from working for the City of Savannah after almost 20 years, and I learned a whole lot that I didn't know before!
I'm delighted to hear that Denise. What did you do with the city?
@@urbantraces9640 I started as a clerk typist for a temporary summer youth jobs program and moved over to the Water and Sewer Bureau as as admin. assistant at the President Street wastewater plant, moving up from there to become the senior admin. assistant to the Water and Sewer Bureau Chief (which later became the Public Works Bureau). Most of my years were spent on City Lot at Stiles and Gwinnett.
Thank you for posting this. Savannah is truly the most fascinating destinations I have traveled.
I’m excited to revisit!!
Well done!
Thank you !! Great video !! Just visited Savannah (March 2023). Will be going back in the future.
What an informative video about a part of the city I visited several times in childhood. My grandparents owned a beautiful house on Calhoun Square and I enjoyed my visits quite a bit. My grandfather being an architect in Savannah, I think he would have enjoyed watching this.
Thank you for your kind words. Who was your grandfather?
@@urbantraces9640 Sidney Porter Driscoll, Jr.. Attended Georgia Tech and immediately joined the army to lead a platoon of anti aircraft artillery in the campaigns of Algeria and Tunisia in World War 2.
I visited this area(s) and was amazed by the history....and beauty. This is a great video as well the guide and speaker. Thank you for your work, time, and historical background, which is sooo interesting. 😊
Awesome! This is very informative and presented in a very interesting manner. Thank you for you work on this.
Fantastic video- I'm so glad this knowledge is on youtube!
Your content has made a real impact on me.
Unbelievable that the entire video was recorded on a Samsung. Hats off to Odette Williams, great job and thanks to Dr. Williams for this awesome video.
Wish I had seen this piece BEFORE I visited Savannah! Well done!
I am visiting Savannah right now & I am so glad I saw this video ! I have a much better understanding /appreciation of the River Front at Savannah. Thank you for the interesting & expert narration .
What a rich presentation. Thankyou for the extensive research and filming that went into this work!.
Excellent tour! I was in Savannah last month and loved walking around the central city, with its historic character and Great architecture. I wish I had seen your video series before my visit, but learned a lot and hope to visit your beautiful city again!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Savannah needs multiple visits to appreciate.
Great tour. Thank you for taking the time to film this project! Looking forward to viewing each of your videos of Savannah.
Amazing job on doing this video and telling all these stories about Bay Street/River Street… 💯 👍🍾🇺🇸
excellent! i love love savannah.
I love places with differnt types of elevation like this, it adds so much character
We just made our first trip this week. Wish I had seen this before! But it was a fantastic way to tie everything together after the fact!! I’m a music major, with a deep fascination for architecture. Thank you!
Mr Williams, Professor Williams, Sir, “Range Markers” yes, that object which guided me in laying out my Hurricane Proffing Garden Tableau! The Yucca are breaching and in perfect alignment… for me…seeing markers in the night’s light guides me back into my inside spaces and then I can walk safely to my steps, door and tend my Protection Dogs! Savannah helped me envision what was done, folks like you stressed the contextual context, this video is fabulous! I took it and now must sit back water, mulch, spray and watch…thirty years… My Mini areas! No more golf court grass lands up against the Chesapeake Bay Bulk Head, Section E, Lots 3 and 4! Better professors guided me… Thank you! Stay beautiful! Nurse. Jane from Deale, Maryland
Loved the tour and all the historic knowledge you unloaded on us. Savannah is so beautiful. I was lucky enough to see it for myself one time over a year ago. Thanks for sharing with us 🙂
Just moved to Savannah. Love this detail and history!
Welcome to Savannah!
Good evening Dr Williams thankyou for the informative VLOG the historical and architectural information intriguing from a Rural Australian Resident 😊
Australia -- wow! Thank you for tuning in.
Amazing and so informative
Thank you for this video! Savannah has been my home since 2019, and besides the mosquitoes and humidity I love it! Other issue in Savannah is the filth in the streets, even, or specifically in downtown. I am guessing you gave the city advance notice because I see everything cleaned. The way it should be. Hopefully you have some connections in the local government to tell them to pay more attention to the way we present the city to visitors, they come here to spend their hard earned money. For locals, the taxes aren’t cheap, and we are forced to pay even for parking when visiting downtown, we also deserve a clean space, especially in downtown. Don’t get me started on the sad ornaments during the holidays! We need either SCAD or the new plant Riverside hotel to be in charge of the Christmas decorations for the city of Savannah! Thank you so much for these videos, there’s so much history in Savannah, and is a good thing to learn it!
Such an enjoyable tour. I love all things Savannah (a true Savannahian). Thank you so much for your knowledge and interest in our beautiful city.
My cousin John Stoddard built Stoddard's Upper Range and Stoddard's Lower Range in the 1850s as cotton warehouses and sales offices. Today they are occupied by Boar's Head Grill & Tavern, 208 Wine Bar and riverfront inns & shops.
How exciting to have a family relative whose work you can point to and say they built something. Does your family have any records relating to John Stoddard?
Fantastic! You have such an in-depth knowledge of the history, materials, the uses and how men progressed forward! I’ll be studying this for a couple days, cause now I must sleep! Thank you so very much! Stay safe
Wow, thanks!
I was their 4 times what a treat. Love this
Thank you for this excellent tour & explanation of my city.
Thank you for this very informative tour of the waterfront.
I loved this tour. I’m a native Savannahian as well, but sadly, now a Floridian. My grandfather was a self taught historian and taught me so much. I grew up in the era of the birth of Historic Savannah. The saving of Davenport house. Such a sweet childhood. But I have memories of Jim Crow practices, that didn’t impact me til decade later.it is wonderful to see that River Street is thriving, but I wish it didn’t have such a Bourbon Street vibe. Old fogey here.
And does Bay Street really run north of the river? I could have sworn it was south. 😉
Thank you for the kind words. I'll have to rewatch the video to see what I said about Bay Street. Thank you for alerting me.
Comeback to Savannah!
Very entertaining. I love the city of Savannah.
Love going there. Awesome city.
That was very well done !
Incredibly interesting and presented very well. Really enjoyed this! Making my first trip to Savannah this May.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Have a great visit next month. Be sure to check out Plant Riverside, which hadn't opened yet when I made this video.
Thanks for this fascinating tour of Savannah's waterfront. The preservation of the area is quite remarkable. The use of stone ballast to make beautiful and enduring retaining walls is particularly notable as is the way the formal city proper was structurally linked to the riverside commercial area and then through shipping, to the world. The Hyatt Regency is a crudely designed over-scaled intrusion -- hard on the eyes! The demolished buildings today would have been repurposed into something special, adding more to Savannah's historical allure...
Enjoyed this immensely! My one and so far only visit to Savannah featured this area. I stayed in a beautifully converted warehouse. The interior was gorgeous with the old brick, wood, brass and wrought iron features. I walked all over the city over the course of 4 days. I would love to come back one day. Thank you for the history and architecture tour. And yes, those historic steps are indeed steep...just had to go up them though.
Do come back! Savannah is a work in progress, with on-going restorations, some great new buildings, restaurants and an a widening circle of tours to offer varied perspectives.
Wonderful. Thank you.
He's so knowledgeable. I love historic architecture.
This video has a wealth of historical info. Also very interesting to see these sites completely empty from covid19 shelter in place requirements
Awesome job thank you 🙏🏼
Absolutely Excellent intro to Greek revival! Bravo! So nice to listen to Savannah’s waterfront again…last there…1981…Baltimore has a a nice Customs House in Fells Point. The difference between Savannah and Baltimore… my “Heart” was left in the Plantations of Beaufort S.C. And my fun times in Pirates House, as an example. Sir are you any relation to the late Jim Williams?
Lovew learning so much on my adoptive city!
Rousakis Plaza was largely designed by Gunn & Meyerhoff in Savannah. Bob Gunn's son was my childhood friend and I knew Mr. Gunn very well. He was just a wonderful, cool guy, who was very passionate about that project. I'm pretty sure he was a classmate of John Rousakis at Savannah High School.
Thank you for the comment and connecting the mayor to the architect. I wasn't aware that they had known each other previously, but not surprised.
Excellent video 😂
The fire he referred to at 41:40 happened in 1892. It started in the tidewater oil company consuming the entire East end of River Street. The oil company is now the olde harbor inn today
Thank you for sharing that info! I wasn't aware the fire was that early.
that hotel replaced an amazing warehouse that i would rather see than that. Savannah is a beautiful city - i've always said if i was to vacation anywhere down south it would b Savannah - so much history
Very reminiscent of how Seattle was built after our big flood! Love it!
When was the big flood in Seattle? Do you mean the roads having cobblestones?
I just can’t help myself. I remember when the Boars Head was, as far as I recall, the only eating and drinking establishment on the riverfront. There was a small branch library in one of the warehouses at the upper level. As a13 year old, I’d sit on a balcony overlooking the river to read and dream. Mayor Rousakkis and my grandfather were business associates. I know you focus on architecture and history. Can you direct me to a video on the many ethnic and religious groups from the early periods? Irish, Greeks, Jews, and so forth?
These insights mesh nicely with my research for my Healing Savannah trilogy
At the 6:41 mark...
the staircase resembles the Phoenix bird!
Intentional I’m assuming, givin’ Masons built the building!!
This was totally fascinating! Thank you very much! We are heading to HHI and will spend much time in Savannah. It will have a whole new meaning to me. I live near Portland, Maine and we have the same cobblestones from our days as a great harbor (which continues today) when they were ballast unloaded and used as a road. I don’t know if you have been to Portland, but there seem to be many similarities with Savannah with warehouses, brick, cobblestone, and a hill from the city to the harbor. However, we do have Lobsters…l’m just saying.
Thank you for the comment. I'm hoping to visit Portland this summer as I return to documenting historic street pavement in different parts of North America.
Do you do tours? I recently scheduled a tour through Airbnb but it is the usual “haunted” tour which I believe is interesting and essential, but I’m more interested in the architecture, masonry, and old world history of where this city actually came from. Thanks so much for this documentary as it boosted my interest ten fold!
And Yes SAVANNAH Has The SECONDED LARGEST 🍀🍀🍀🍀ST.PATRICKS DAY in The COUNTRY ,My last name is DAVIS and my family came from WALES 🏴🏴🏴🏴 Back in the mid 1820’s ! NYC has The largest ST.PATRICKS DAY !
Ive partied on River street on st paddys day many times.
Isn’t Charleston’s more rowdy and bigger?
Cochran GA Boy 😂
It’s actually not nyc, New Orleans has the largest, then Savannah.
Thats mardi gras @@Dad-979
We used the cluskys vaults as bathrooms during st. Party's day on River street.
So the granite used in Savannah's custom house was quarried in John Adams's home town.
Thank you so much. Savannah looks a lot like where I grew up: Boston. Cobblestones, greatly preserved history, lovely parks, etc. I'm looking for a move to warmer climes and Savannah is on my list. Walkable, historic, relatively affordable, relatively safe, decent culture, and not too many hurricanes or floods, hopefully, unlike Florida.
damn - thats messed up when u don't even know about your own columns and haven't changed your mistake yet!!!
I am So Very PROUD TO SAY MY FAMILY TREE🌲🌲🌲🌲 PREDATES THE CILVL WAR in SAVANNAH , If there’s anybody who knows This Beautiful City It’s ME ! I Know most of The People In The BOOK MIDNIGHT IN THE GUARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL ! I just wanted to know where was I in That BOOK ?
You should be justly proud. Where did you grow up in the city? Does your family have old photos or other documents of Savannah in your personal collection?
HELLO, DO YOU GIVE PERSONAL TOURS? THANK YOU BEST REGARDS
Yes, in Savannah at least.
Does anyone know where the British imprisoned Patriots in Savannah? We are planning a trip there b/c my Patriot 4th great granddaddy was in prison there. I want to see where he was.
That's an interesting question. I recommend you reach out to the Coastal Heritage Society. That is closer to their expertise.
@@urbantraces9640 Thank you.
Who BUILT it?
Why are they tearing down the retaining wall on the east end?
The last time I was on East Broad Ramp they had construction materials as a retaining wall for new construction beyond the wall. I doubt they will tear down any historic material of the walls, since they are protected structures.
please use microphone while on-cam in the future videos
Thank you for the feedback. I experimented with a wireless mic, but it frequently brushed against the fabric of my blazer, making loud noises that cancelled out my voice. I've begun using Airpods, which work well, for the live broadcast videos.
Such a tremendous loss, when the Hyatt property buildings were torn down.
The cobblestone streets was built by white indentured servants and slaves. Slaves was transferred from the ships and kept for a while in those chambers/vaults.
According to an archeological and archival investigation commissioned by the City of Savannah, no evidence was found to indicate that the Cluskey Vaults ever held enslaved people.
I'm curious to know where or how you learned who laid the cobblestones.
This is a great tour, but I am disappointed that Mr. Williams chose to perpetuate and emphasize the "Lost lover" myth popularly associated with the story of the Waving Girl . She represents much more that as a symbol of guidance, safe harbor, and hospitality and as a token espoused by the City of Savannah as the "Hostess City."
Thank you for your comment. You make a very good point. Are you saying that there is no credence to the "lost lover" narrative?
What about the John and Charles Wesley sites
Can you clarify? I'm not aware of any specific sites on the waterfront. There's a marker on the side of the Custom House where John Wesley delivered his first sermon.
@@urbantraces9640 where did they stay and the monument of John Wesley in a park
@@jeanettenfreeland1408 There is a monument to John Wesley in Reynolds Square, but that is not on the waterfront.
@@urbantraces9640 oh okay I heard it was haunted
Ah the port for slave ships?
Utilitarian. Utilitarian. Utilitarian.
Language has power. Use “enslaved Africans” not just “slaves” to identify human beings forced into bondage.
Thank you for noting this. I have been making a concerted effort, especially over the course of the past year, to be more careful in the terminology I use, particularly as I've been researching Savannah Grey bricks and their production by enslaved Africans at Hermitage Plantation. In looking back at this video, I definitely should have used "enslaved Africans" in discussing the Cluskey vaults. It's not always clear when the term "slave" is appropriate. The Owens-Thomas House is now officially the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters.
I was just thinking the same thing while watching this. :(
@@urbantraces9640 Thank you. Great video tour! Thanks for correcting. Yes, the youth are watching, learning, and listening.
Custom House. Collected duty on ENSLAVED, HUMANLY TRAFFICKED AFRICANS. YOU skipped that part. THE LARGEST MONEYMAKER IN THE USA.
They own people sold them…… 🤦🏻♂️
This guy has a face for radio and a voice for print
That Hyatt is an UGLY building.
I just can't dig it . I'm a gothic man . New York and Detroit look like they got things I would like .
But being European I can just look at the originals 🤷