Buildings Of Savannah

The most comprehensive, authoritative and up-to-date guide to the city's architecture covering some 350 buildings, landscapes, monuments, squares and parks, enhanced by 175 photographs and 21 maps makes this title the essential resource for tourists, architects and residents alike.

Savannah's distinct architecture has been studied and admired by scholars, builders, and tourists from all over the world, and the history of its most prolific period of expansion and development is explored in this photographic essay. A city that was spared the wrath of the Union forces, Savannah emerged from the Civil War psychologically defeated but still physically intact. During the second half of the nineteenth century, this picturesque Georgia city enjoyed tremendous growth in a booming economic environment. Building Savannah chronicles this period in the city's history with photographs, sketches, maps, and advertisements, many culled from the archives of the Georgia Historical Society. Coupled with informative research, these images illustrate every aspect of the building industry that thrived in Savannah. Local architects and builders embraced the transformation that was sweeping the entire country and used both natural resources and technical innovation to create a unique built environment. The building industries once fueled by the virgin resources of the South would be exhausted by the end of the Second World War. As modern materials became popular, the lumber mills withered, old foundries closed, and the industry was forever changed. What was left in Savannah was the indelible mark of the building era, seen in the careful craftsmanship and ornate design of its homes and businesses.

Taking an architectural walking tour of Savannah is a great way to learn about the buildings and history of the city. This book, composed of three self-guided walking tours, takes you on a journey through Savannahs past and introduces you to the citys magnificent, historic architecture. Whether you have all day to spend on each tour or only an hour to quickly walk one route, these paths allow you to focus your sightseeing. If you cannot make it to Savannah in person, the 131 beautiful color photos give you a deeper understanding and appreciation of the city and its architecture.\nMeet the major architects who gave this city its distinctive look, including William Jay, John Norris, and William Preston, who were drawn to Savannah in its most prosperous eras to translate the popular styles of the time into Savannahs urban language. There is no better introduction to the welcoming city of Savannah, Georgia.

In December 1817, the English architect William Jay arrived at the busy port of Savannah, Georgia. In the coming four and a half years, he designed several public buildings and private residences in Savannah and a few structures in Charleston, South Carolina. All of his work was remarkable; yet, soon after his departure in 1822, only vague recollections of Jay survived in Savannah, and in Charleston he was forgotten altogether. Early in the twentieth century, Jays work was observed by a few prominent architectural historians, and accounts of his life and labors began to appear. This new biography of Jay describes his place in a vibrant but volatile world. Jays father, the most popular preacher of the day, was a leader in evangelical campaigns to bring relief to the poor, to foster universal literacy, and to abolish slavery. William Jay suffered many disappointments, but he gained remarkable achievements, not least of which was his lasting imprint on showy Savannah.