A Black History Tour of Savannah, Georgia Quick & Dirty Guide

Savannah is known for dripping Spanish moss, live oak trees that arch above streets lined with antebellum architecture, and a southern drawl as slow as molasses. It’s a city of evocative beauty, rich in vivid cultural imagery and resonant of our nation’s shared memories.

Savannah is a travel destination that is growing in popularity. Travelers experience only a sliver of the regions’ true cultural landscapes, though. In Savannah, and many of our nation’s oldest cities, Black history is ignored, whitewashed, or buried beneath problematic plantation tourism. The Black history of the Lowcountry is not only fundamental to understanding this region but foundational to our nation’s history.

This is a guide to the Black history of Savannah. This guide will provide you with resources to give your trip to Savannah essential context that is necessary to truly see the region you’re exploring. This guide will introduce you to Black heroes like Robert Smalls, who commandeered a Confederate ship and freed himself and the crew. You’ll learn about the Gullah and Geechee cultures, descendants of Africans who strove to preserve their heritage in this region. And, you’re gonna get to experience incredibly sacred places, like the very spot where the Emancipation Proclamation was first read in the South.

What You’ll Get

• Black-owned Restaurant Recommendations

• Black-owned Walking Tour Suggestion

• A Guide to 8 Historical Places in Savannah, GA

• A Guide to 3 Historical Places in Beaufort, SC

• Suggested Reading List

• Google Map with all locations pinned

• Spotify/Apple Music Playlist