Savannah True History Tours

11/11/2024

By coincidence, my alma mater, the Virginia Military Institute, celebrates its birthday on Veterans Day. 185 years ago today, Cadet John Strange assumed sentinel duty from the militia that had previously guarded the former Lexington Arsenal.

Its graduates include 266 General or Flag Officers, seven Medal of Honor recipients, and the man who arguably saved the world: George C. Marshall.

Happy Veterans Day to all!

10/30/2024

We have quite a variety of tours this week, including two rarities: A daytime Dark History Tour and a Civil War Tour!

Full schedule:

10/30: Dark History at 6:30
10/31: Dark History at 2:30 and 7:00
11/1: Savannah History Walk at 10:00, Dark History at 7:30
11/2: Savannah History Walk at 10:00 and 2:00, Civil War Tour at 1:00, Dark History Tour at 6:30

Come out and enjoy the beautiful weather with tours that are both enriching and entertaining!

10/26/2024

We’re offering a rare (for us at least) Sunday tour this weekend! Our Revolutionary War Tour covers the before, during, and after the War of Independence. You won’t be surprised to learn that the guide, a former National Park Service Ranger who worked on battlefields, ends this tour on a battlefield!

Come out for a Sunday stroll and learn about the bloodiest hour of the American Revolution that happened right here in our backyard.

10/17/2024

A big thank you for selling out Saturday’s Colonial Park Cemetery Tour! We’ve added a new tour for this Sunday at 1:30 PM. Our October 25 tour still has some availability, and we plan to add a few more before month’s end.

Thank you!

10/16/2024

UPDATE: The 10/19 tour is sold out. We've added an additional tour this Sunday (10/20) at 1:30 in addition to the 10/25 Tour. We'll be releasing some additional dates soon!

Thank you for your patronage!

You’ve heard the stories. You’ll hear them over a dozen times a day in October if you stand outside long enough. “There are mass graves in Colonial Park Cemetery.” Oh yea? “Exactly 666 people died from the 1820 Yellow Fever outbreak.” No, it was actually more. “Button Gwinnett and Lachlan McIntosh are buried the same distance apart as they stood during their famous duel, which was fought behind the cemetery.” Here’s a better question: Is Gwinnett even in Colonial Park? Oh, and they didn’t duel there.

If you want to know the truth, then we cordially invite you to the city’s only fact-based tour of Colonial Park Cemetery. Want to actually view the infamous vandalized stones? We got you. Who are the oldest and most recent burials? We’ll meet them, too.

Tours are currently scheduled for 10:30 AM on Saturday, October 19 and 10:00 AM on Friday, October 25. Additional October tours will be added soon! Best part: These tours are limited to only 15 guests, thus preserving an intimate experience and allowing the opportunity for any questions.

10/09/2024

Max has an announcement for our Florida friends! If you were forced to evacuate your Florida home (or leave your Florida vacation early) due to Hurricane Milton, we’d like to offer you any of our tours for half-price. Just send us a message on Instagram, Facebook, or email us at [email protected]. This offer is good for all public tours through this Sunday (10/13). If nothing else, we can hopefully distract you with history and a few laughs for a couple hours.

We wish the best to all our friends down in Florida this week.

09/17/2024

in 1862, the United States experienced its deadliest day. Savannahians were not immune. Brigadier General Alexander Lawton’s Brigade was fiercely engaged as the Battle of Sharpsburg (called Antietam north of the Potomac) opened. Lawton’s Brigade, numbering 1,150 men that morning, lost 554 that day. Five of his six regimental commanders were casualties.

In the photo accompanying this post, you see the D.R. Miller Cornfield and a touch of the East Woods. If that photo was taken at 10 AM on September 17, 1862, you’d see nearly 8,000 killed and wounded Americans. Nearly 23,000 would become casualties across the full battlefield.

Lawton was seriously wounded and fortunate to escape with his life. He would not fully recover until 1863, and he never again held field command. He returned to Savannah after the war and was selected as the fifth President of the American Bar Association. He continued in public service with his appointment as Minister to Austria-Hungary. Lawton died in 1896 at the age of 77 and is buried in his beautiful family plot in Bonaventure.

Lawton receives mentions on both our Civil War and Dark History Tours. Because we’re geeks of the geekiest variety, we’d even be happy to show you his house - Just ask!

08/30/2024

Another big THANK YOU is in store! You voted us Savannah’s Best Group Activity and Brandon as Savannah’s Best Tour Guide in Savannah Magazine's annual poll! Savannah, you’ve embraced us from day one, and we’re so lucky to live in this amazing city. We’ll never stop researching and telling the TRUE history of Savannah, Georgia!

And by the way, it’s Labor Day Weekend! A huge weekend ahead full of family time and college football. If you’d like to get some exercise in while learning a little something, we have some great tours this weekend, including Savannah History Walks, Civil War Tours, and Dark History.

Thank you and have a great long weekend!

08/18/2024

Always happy to see my former colleagues at RNBP talking Savannah history!

Happy Birthday to Phoebe Yates Pember, born on August 18, 1823. As a "matron" at Chimborazo Hospital, she played a vital role in overseeing the care of thousands of Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. At a time when few women held leadership positions, Pember, in her role as matron, attended to day to day soldier care in Division 2 (of 5) at Chimborazo. Her memoir, "A Southern Woman's Story," offers a glimpse into her remarkable life and provides valuable insight into the struggles of Southern women during the war. After the war, Pember traveled extensively across the United States before passing away from breast cancer on March 4, 1913. She is buried at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. Today, we honor her legacy as a trailblazing woman in history.

(Public Domain Photo, Courtesy of UNC Chapel Hill Libraries)

08/10/2024

Tondee’s plays a major role in Georgia’s Revolutionary story. It’s a stop on our Revolutionary War Tour!

08/09/2024

August 9, 2021: The day we got a new roommate. Three years with Max the dog! Many of y’all have met him and know just how lucky we are to have found this guy. He’s beloved by our entire family (and many patrons of The Original Pinkie Masters, The Wayward, Savannah, GA, and Clary's Cafe). Happy Gotcha Day to Max!

If you see him out today, he’ll gladly accept a pet, and of course, a Cheerio.

08/06/2024

This week’s weather caused us to do some digging: What was the wettest day in Savannah’s history? Answer: September 16, 1924 when Savannah received 9.02 inches of rain in 24 hours. Before hurricanes were named, they were numbered. Hurricane 5 formed in the Gulf of Mexico, marched its way across the Florida Panhandle, then tore through Georgia. This resulted in Savannah’s wettest day.

Once ol’ Debby finally moves out, we have a HUGE tour schedule this week, including our Savannah History Walk, Savannah History 101, Dark History, Civil War, Revolutionary War, and our brand new Savannah Orientation Tours. There’s something for everyone this week!

Stay safe and dry, y’all!

08/03/2024

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and donated on our tour today! Together, we raised $820 for Children Exceeding Expectations! We’re so appreciative to live in such a generous community. Thank you all!

08/02/2024

Sleep well tonight because tomorrow’s the day! Big shout out to everyone who RSVP’ed. We still have EIGHT spots available for tomorrow’s inaugural Savannah Orientation Tour benefiting Children Exceeding Expectations. If the tour doesn’t fill up via pre-tour email reservations, walk-ups will be welcome. Again, no fee for this tour. We merely ask for a donation to Children Exceeding Expectations.

If you need a history fix before then, we have both Dark History and Savannah History tours stepping off at 7:30 tonight.

See y’all soon!