Savannah's 22 Squares: A Complete Guide to the Historic District

A walking guide to Savannah's 22 historic squares, complete with history, landmarks, and cross streets in the Historic District

How many squares does Savannah have, and where are they?

Savannah has 22 historic squares remaining from an original 24, all packed into less than half a square mile of the downtown Historic District. General James Oglethorpe laid out the first four — Johnson, Wright, Ellis, and Telfair — in 1733, and the city added the rest through 1851. Each square anchors its own "ward," lined with live oaks, monuments, and some of Savannah's best-known homes and churches.

By Liza DiMarco | July 20, 2026

If you've spent any time picturing Savannah — Spanish moss draped over live oaks, wrought-iron benches, a fountain tucked behind a church steeple — you've probably pictured one of its squares. General Oglethorpe designed the city in 1733 around a grid of public squares, originally meant for militia drills and community gathering. Today they're the reason Savannah's Historic District is one of the largest in the country, and walking between them is still the best way to see the city. Here's a square-by-square guide, grouped the way most people actually walk them.

The Crown Jewels: Bull Street's Five Squares

The five squares running down Bull Street — Johnson, Wright, Chippewa, Madison, and Monterey — were designed as Savannah's grandest public spaces and are still the ones most visitors see first.

Johnson Square (1733) is the oldest and largest of the 22, named for South Carolina governor Robert Johnson. It sits at Bull and St. Julian Streets and doubles as Savannah's financial district — Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene is buried beneath the monument at its center, and Christ Church, "the Mother Church of Georgia," stands on its northeast corner.

Watch: A tour of Johnson Square

Wright Square (1733) at Bull and President Streets was originally named Perceval Square before being renamed for Georgia's last royal governor, James Wright, in 1763. Creek leader Tomochichi, a close ally of Oglethorpe, is buried here.

Chippewa Square (1815) at Bull and McDonough Streets is probably Savannah's most photographed square — the Daniel Chester French statue of James Oglethorpe stands at its center, and it's where the "park bench" scenes from Forrest Gump were filmed. First Baptist Church and the Savannah Theatre both face the square.

Madison Square (1837) at Bull and Macon Streets is sometimes called Jasper Square, after the William Jasper Monument at its center honoring the Revolutionary War sergeant. The Green-Meldrim House — General Sherman's headquarters after Savannah's surrender in 1864 — sits on its northwest corner.

Watch: A tour of Madison Square

Monterey Square (1847) at Bull and Wayne Streets is the southernmost of the five and the site of the Casimir Pulaski Monument. It's also home to Mercer House, made famous by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and Congregation Mickve Israel, one of the few Gothic-style synagogues in the country.

Watch: A tour of Monterey Square

The Original Six: Where It All Started

Beyond the Bull Street squares, four more make up Oglethorpe's original 1730s plan.

Ellis Square (1733), at Barnard and West St. Julian Streets, was Savannah's original marketplace and was paved over for a parking garage in the 1950s — it wasn't restored until 2010. Today it anchors City Market and holds a bronze statue of Savannah-born songwriter Johnny Mercer.

Telfair Square (1733) at Barnard and West President Streets was originally St. James Square before being renamed for the Telfair family in 1883 — the only square named for a family rather than an individual. The Telfair Academy of Arts & Sciences overlooks its west side.

Watch: A tour of Telfair Square

Reynolds Square (1734) at Abercorn and East St. Julian Streets holds a statue of Methodism founder John Wesley and sits beside The Olde Pink House and the Lucas Theatre.

Oglethorpe Square (1742) at Abercorn and East President Streets is named for the city's founder, though his statue actually stands in Chippewa Square. The Owens-Thomas House borders its northeast corner.

The 1790s Expansion: Northeast Squares

Warren Square (1791), at Habersham and East St. Julian Streets, is one of the few squares without a monument or fountain — just live oaks and a quiet patch of grass favored by locals.

Watch: A tour of Warren Square

Washington Square (1790) at Houston and East St. Julian Streets sits on the site of the old Trustees' Garden and was one of only two squares ever named for a then-living person.

Columbia Square (1799) at Habersham and East President Streets holds a fountain relocated from Wormsloe Plantation, decorated with vines and woodland motifs.

Watch: A tour of Columbia Square

Greene Square (1799) at Houston and East President Streets honors General Nathanael Greene and borders the historic Second African Baptist Church.

Liberty Square (1799) is largely gone — it was paved over for Montgomery Street improvements, and only a small "Flame of Freedom" sculpture near the Chatham County Courthouse remains.

The Western Squares

Franklin Square (1790) at Montgomery and West St. Julian Streets is named for Benjamin Franklin and sits beside the First African Baptist Church, the oldest Black church in North America.

Watch: A tour of Franklin Square

Elbert Square (1801) has almost entirely vanished — it was paved for Montgomery Street and today is a small grassy strip near the Savannah Civic Center.

Orleans Square (1815) at Barnard and West McDonough Streets commemorates the Battle of New Orleans and includes a fountain honoring Savannah's early German immigrants.

Pulaski Square (1837) at Barnard and West Macon Streets is known for some of the city's best live oak canopy — and, notably, has no central monument at all.

Chatham Square (1847) at Barnard and West Wayne Streets is now home to a Savannah College of Art and Design building, locally called Pepe Hall.

Watch: A tour of Chatham Square

The Southeast Squares

Lafayette Square (1837) at Abercorn and East Macon Streets sits beside the twin-spired Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and is a focal point of Savannah's St. Patrick's Day celebrations — the square's fountain runs green for the occasion.

Watch: A tour of Lafayette Square

Troup Square (1851) at Habersham and East Macon Streets has one of the more unusual monuments in the city: a cast-iron armillary sphere balanced on six small turtles. There's also a dog-height fountain, the site of an annual Blessing of the Animals.

Watch: A tour of Troup Square

Crawford Square (1841) at Houston and East McDonough Streets is the only square that's still fenced and the only one to retain its original fire-fighting cistern.

Watch: A tour of Crawford Square

Taylor Square (1851, renamed from Calhoun Square in 2023) at Abercorn and East Wayne Streets now honors Susie King Taylor, the first Black Civil War nurse and educator in the country. It's the only square with all of its original surrounding buildings intact.

Whitefield Square (1851) at Habersham and East Wayne Streets was the last square built, in 1851. Its central gazebo makes it a popular spot for small weddings.

Quick Reference: All 22 Squares

Map of All 22 Squares

From Johnson Square in the north down to Whitefield Square, all 22 sit within Savannah's Historic District and are walkable in a single afternoon. Tap any square below to view it on Google Maps.

A Few Fun Facts

• Forrest Gump's bench was filmed on the north side of Chippewa Square — the actual prop bench is on display at the Savannah History Museum, not in the square itself.
• "Jingle Bells" is believed to have been composed by James Lord Pierpont while he was music director at the Unitarian Universalist Church, which faces Troup Square.
• Monterey Square was the real-life setting for John Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and Mercer House still anchors the block.
• Crawford Square is the only fenced square left in the district and still has its original 19th-century cistern, built after the Great Savannah Fire of 1820 for fire-fighting.
• Forsyth Park, just south of the squares, was never one of the 24 — it was built separately once the city outgrew Oglethorpe's original grid.

Tips for Walking the Squares

• Start on Bull Street. Johnson, Wright, Chippewa, Madison, and Monterey run in a nearly straight line, making it easy to see five of the best squares in one walk.
• Go early or late. Savannah's squares are shaded by live oaks but can still get warm midday, especially April through September.
• Wear real shoes. Much of the district is brick sidewalks and cobblestone streets — comfortable, sturdy footwear makes a real difference.
• Look up, not just around. Many of the historic homes bordering the squares — the Green-Meldrim House, the Mercer House, the Owens-Thomas House — are as much a part of the experience as the squares themselves.

Whether you're touring for an afternoon or thinking about what it would be like to live a few blocks from one of these squares, walking the district is still the best way to understand why Savannah's downtown has stayed one of the most preserved — and most livable — historic neighborhoods in the country. If you're picturing life on one of these squares rather than just visiting them, that's exactly the kind of conversation I have with buyers every week.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many squares does Savannah have today?

Savannah has 22 squares remaining from an original 24. Ellis, Elbert, and Liberty Squares were lost or altered in the 20th century for road and parking projects; Ellis Square was fully restored in 2010, while small markers remain at the sites of Elbert and Liberty.

Which Savannah square is the oldest?

Johnson Square, laid out in 1733, was the first square built and remains the largest of the 22.

Which square is famous from Forrest Gump?

Chippewa Square, on Bull Street between State and Perry Streets, is where the "park bench" scenes were filmed.

Which square inspired Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?

Monterey Square, home to the Mercer House, is the real setting behind John Berendt's novel and its 1997 film adaptation.

Can you walk all of Savannah's squares in one day?

Yes — all 22 squares sit within less than half a square mile, and most visitors can comfortably walk the full historic district, including stops, in a single day.

How far apart are Savannah's squares?

Most squares sit roughly two to three blocks apart, laid out on a grid — close enough that walking between any two typically takes just a few minutes.

Can you buy a home directly on one of Savannah's squares?

Yes, though homes fronting the squares are some of the most sought-after property in the Historic District and turn over less often than homes a block or two away. Availability varies square by square and season by season.

Is Forsyth Park one of Savannah's 22 squares?

No. Forsyth Park is a separate, larger green space built after the city outgrew Oglethorpe's original grid of squares — it was never one of the 24 original squares.

Spent the afternoon picturing yourself on one of these squares rather than just walking through it? That's usually where the real conversation starts — I'm happy to talk through what living in the Historic District actually looks like.

Liza DiMarco | Compass Savannah

About Liza DiMarco Marketing Specialist

Liza is a dedicated, passionate, and market-savvy professional who puts her clients' satisfaction before all else. Her attention to detail, superior people skills, and broad knowledge of the real estate industry as a whole, along with her pure determination to indulge her clients with first-class service sets Liza apart from the rest of the Real Estate Agents.

Liza is the Savannah and coastal Georgia Network Partner in The Private Client Network — an invitation-only collective of 300+ top-producing Compass advisors across 80+ luxury markets nationwide. For clients buying or selling across state lines, it means one trusted relationship that follows them anywhere.