Step into a world where history comes alive before your eyes. At the Savannah History Museum, you can touch, feel, and experience the vibrant past of coastal Georgia. From the revolutionary cotton gin to a piece of Hollywood magic, this museum is a treasure chest of stories waiting to be discovered. Are you ready to embark on a journey through time?
Key Takeaways
– The Savannah History Museum is located in a historic train station from the 1850s and 1860s, offering a unique glimpse into Savannah’s past.
– The museum features a display on the cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney near Savannah, highlighting its impact on agriculture and society.
– Visitors can see a 1902 Crestmobile, showcasing the early days of the automobile industry and Savannah’s role in it.
– A replica of the famous bench from the movie Forrest Gump is on display, illustrating Savannah’s connection to the film industry.
– The museum houses the carriage of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts, emphasizing her influence on American society.
– An 1890 steam locomotive from the Central of Georgia Railroad is featured, demonstrating the significance of trains in Savannah’s development.
– Exhibits include artifacts from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, as well as displays on Savannah’s cultural and fashion history.
– Interactive exhibits allow visitors to engage with Native American culture and other historical elements.
– The museum is part of Tricentennial Park, which includes other historical attractions like the Georgia State Railroad Museum and Battlefield Memorial Park.
– The museum is open daily with affordable admission, providing an educational experience for families and history enthusiasts.
A Journey Through Time: The Museum’s Setting
The Savannah History Museum is housed in an old train station that’s a piece of history itself. The museum is in the Central of Georgia Railway passenger shed, a special building from the 1850s and 1860s. This place has strong brick walls and high ceilings that make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
When you walk in, you can almost hear the sounds of old-time travelers. The museum’s home in this historic building makes everything inside feel more real. It shows how Savannah cares about keeping its old buildings while using them in new ways. Just a short drive from here, Spacious Skies Savannah Oaks offers a similar blend of history and modern comfort, providing a perfect base for exploring the area’s rich heritage. The old train station is the perfect place to show off all the interesting things from Savannah’s past.
Cotton’s Kingdom: The Economic Backbone
One of the most important things to see in the museum is about cotton, a plant that changed the South’s money-making ways. The star of this show is the cotton gin, a machine made by Eli Whitney. This machine had a big impact on Savannah’s history and the whole American South. Whitney created this amazing machine near Savannah at a place called Mulberry Grove Plantation. It changed farming and business in the area forever.
The museum doesn’t just show how the cotton gin worked. It also talks about what happened because of it. You can learn how this machine made growing cotton very profitable. This led to more big farms. But it also made more people want to use slaves, which was a very bad thing. The museum doesn’t shy away from talking about this dark part of American history. Through displays you can touch and informative signs, you can learn all about how cotton shaped Savannah’s economy and society.
Wheels of Progress: The 1902 Crestmobile
After learning about farming, the museum takes you to the early days of cars. One of the coolest things to see is the 1902 Crestmobile. This old car is from before the famous Ford Model A. It’s been kept in great shape and shows us what cars were like when they were first invented.
The Crestmobile in the museum isn’t just about car history. It also shows how Savannah was part of the new car industry. You can look at how this old car was made and compare it to cars today. It’s amazing to see how much cars have changed in just over 100 years. The display around the Crestmobile tells you about how excited people were about early cars. It also talks about the challenges, like building roads and how cars changed the way people lived.
Hollywood in Savannah: The Forrest Gump Bench
Moving from old things to movie stuff, the museum has a copy of a famous movie prop: the bench from Forrest Gump. This bench from the beloved movie is something that movie fans and regular visitors love to see. When you sit on the bench, you might imagine hearing Tom Hanks talking about life being “like a box of chocolates”.
This piece of Hollywood isn’t just for fun photos. It also shows how important Savannah has been in making movies. Many movies and TV shows have been filmed in Savannah because it’s so pretty. The city has beautiful squares, old buildings, and Spanish moss that looks great on camera. The Forrest Gump bench helps visitors learn about how Savannah has been in many movies and how this has helped the city’s economy.
Empowering Women: Juliette Gordon Low’s Carriage
Another great thing to see is the carriage that belonged to Juliette Gordon Low. She started the Girl Scouts USA. This fancy carriage isn’t just an old way to travel. It shows how women can do great things and how one woman from Savannah changed the lives of millions of girls and women across the country.
Low was born in Savannah, and her birthplace is a very important historic site. Having her carriage in the museum helps connect visitors to this important person from history. The display around the carriage tells you about Low’s life, what she wanted to do with the Girl Scouts, and how the group has changed American society. It shows how one person’s ideas can grow into something big that lasts for generations and spreads around the world.
Riding the Rails: The 1890 Steam Locomotive
Since the museum is in an old train station, it’s fitting that there’s a big steam locomotive from 1890. This huge train is from the Central of Georgia Railroad. It shows how important trains were in the past and how Savannah was a big transportation hub. You can get close to this giant iron machine and imagine what it was like in a busy train station in the 1800s.
The locomotive display isn’t just about the big machine. It also tells you how important trains were for Savannah’s growth and for the whole American South. Through displays you can interact with, you learn about how train technology got better over time. You also find out how trains changed society by letting people travel more easily. The display shows how trains created new ways for people to make money in the region.
From Battlefields to Ballrooms: Military and Cultural Exhibits
The Savannah History Museum doesn’t just talk about transportation and business. It also shows you a lot about the city’s military history and culture. There are displays with things from the Revolutionary War and Civil War. These help you understand how Savannah was involved in these big conflicts. You can see old uniforms, weapons, personal letters, and diaries. These items help bring the story of wartime Savannah to life.
The museum also shows off Savannah’s culture. There are displays about local businesses and how clothes have changed over time. You can see old-fashioned clothes that show how styles and social rules have changed in Savannah’s past. These displays not only show how pretty and well-made old clothes were, but also help you understand why fashion trends changed over the centuries.
Hands-On History: Interactive Exhibits
The best way to learn about history is often by doing things yourself. That’s why the Savannah History Museum has many displays where you can touch and interact with things. One of the most popular is about Native American culture. Here, you can explore the rich history of the native people who lived in coastal Georgia long before Europeans came.
These interactive displays aren’t just in the Native American section. Throughout the museum, you can find things to touch and do that make history come alive. You might try on copies of old clothes or work simplified versions of old machines. These hands-on stations make the museum fun and educational for visitors of all ages. They turn the museum from a place where you just look at things into a place where you can actively explore Savannah’s past.
Beyond the Museum Walls: Tricentennial Park
The Savannah History Museum is part of a bigger historical area called Tricentennial Park. This 25-acre site has many places to learn about history. Visitors can dive even deeper into Savannah’s rich past here. The park includes not just the History Museum, but also the Georgia State Railroad Museum and the Savannah Children’s Museum. Together, these places give you a full picture of different parts of the city’s history.
One of the most important areas in Tricentennial Park is the Battlefield Memorial Park. This place marks where the Siege of Savannah happened, a big battle during the American Revolutionary War. The park is a quiet place where visitors can think about the sacrifices made in the fight for independence. All these attractions in Tricentennial Park work together to bring Savannah’s history to life in many different and interesting ways.
Plan Your Visit: Practical Information
If you want to explore this amazing place full of coastal history, the Savannah History Museum is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It doesn’t cost much to get in. Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for kids aged 2-12. This makes it easy for families, history lovers, and curious travelers to visit.
You can park your car easily near the museum. The first hour is free, and after that, it costs $1 per hour. This fair pricing lets visitors take their time in the museum without worrying about expensive parking. If you want to visit other places in Tricentennial Park, you might want to buy a combination ticket. This can save you money on getting into multiple sites.
When planning your visit to the Savannah History Museum, try to set aside at least a couple of hours. This will give you enough time to really enjoy all the exhibits and interactive displays. For an even better experience, you might want to spend a whole day exploring the museum and the other attractions in Tricentennial Park. Whether you’ve lived in Savannah for a long time or you’re visiting for the first time, the museum offers a unique and enriching journey through the city’s exciting past.
As you leave the Savannah History Museum, you’ll carry more than just memories of fascinating artifacts. You’ll take with you a deeper understanding of the city’s rich tapestry of history. From cotton fields to silver screens, from battlefields to fashion runways, Savannah’s story is now a part of your own. So why not start your adventure today? And when you’re ready to rest after a day of exploration, consider staying at Spacious Skies Savannah Oaks, where you can continue to soak in the area’s natural beauty and historical charm. The echoes of the past are calling, and they have so much to teach us about our present and future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Savannah History Museum?
A: The Savannah History Museum is a place where you can learn about the history of coastal Georgia. It’s located in an old train station and has many interesting exhibits about the past.
Q: What can I see at the Savannah History Museum?
A: You can see many things at the museum, like the cotton gin, a 1902 Crestmobile, the bench from the movie Forrest Gump, and a carriage that belonged to Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts USA.
Q: Why is the old train station important?
A: The old train station is important because it is a historic building from the 1850s and 1860s. It helps make the museum’s displays feel more real and shows how Savannah cares about preserving its history.
Q: What is special about the cotton gin exhibit?
A: The cotton gin exhibit is special because it shows how this machine changed farming and business in the South. It also talks about the impact on slavery and the economy.
Q: How does the museum make history fun and educational?
A: The museum has interactive displays where you can touch and explore things, like trying on old clothes or using simple versions of old machines. This makes learning about history fun for everyone.
Q: What is Tricentennial Park?
A: Tricentennial Park is a 25-acre historical area that includes the Savannah History Museum, the Georgia State Railroad Museum, and the Savannah Children’s Museum. It offers a full picture of Savannah’s history.
Q: How much does it cost to visit the Savannah History Museum?
A: Tickets cost $7 for adults and $4 for kids aged 2-12. Parking is free for the first hour and then costs $1 per hour. You can also buy combination tickets to visit other sites in Tricentennial Park.
Q: How long should I plan to visit the museum?
A: It’s a good idea to set aside at least a couple of hours to enjoy all the exhibits and interactive displays. You might even want to spend a whole day exploring the museum and other attractions in Tricentennial Park.