The city of Savannah is literally built on its dead. Cemeteries were built on the edge of the settlement and as the colony grew into a port city, the cemeteries were absorbed and homes and businesses were built on former burial sites. Welcome to “America’s Most Haunted City!”
First stop: The Savannah Visitor Information Center and Savannah History Museum showcase the city’s history from its founding in 1733 to the present day. Inside, you can see exhibits about the Revolutionary War Battle of Savannah, rare dugout canoes from the 1800s and a changing exhibit of women’s fashions from the 19th and 20th centuries. The museum is also home to Forrest Gump’s bench, one of Johnny Mercer’s Oscar Awards and a carriage owned by the family of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low. Other exhibits include weapons and military uniforms, as well as items from Savannah’s railway history. Visitors may also enjoy our plush theatre and film presentation, "Savannah the Survivor."
Lunch: Savannah has several dining establishments to tempt your visitor’s taste buds. Catch the beautiful views from River Street, enjoy the quirky charm of the City Market or choose one of the many restaurants nestled along the quiet streets of the city’s Historic District.
Explore Savannah’s Most Haunted Cemetery: Bonaventure Cemetery was made famous by the book and movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Sometimes spelled “Bonadventure,” this is a large, eerie cemetery at the banks of the Savannah River. Bonaventure is the resting ground of fallen soldiers as well as many others, including Pulitzer Prize winning poet Conrad Aiken and song writer Johnny Mercer, who wrote many timeless classics including "Moon River," "Jeepers Creepers" and "Fools Rush In.” It has many stories of hauntings and is a favorite of Savannah ghost hunters!
Dinner: Your group covered a lot of ground on their first day and they may want to have a casual bite to eat. Savannah’s historic River Street and City Market have all types of casual and upscale dining options, many with their own creepy stories! Among our most haunted spots are The 17 Hundred 90 Restaurant, The Olde Pink House and Moon River Brewing Company.
Ghost Tours Galore: Night falls and it’s the perfect time to explore Savannah’s ghostly haunts! For those with more than just a passing interest, there are several ghost tour companies that offer ghost hunting investigations, complete with the latest scientific tools. There are many ways to get up close and personal with our ghosts. Options include trolley tours, walking lantern tours, carriage tours and even a tour conducted in an open-topped hearse!
Visit Savannah’s Beach: Just 20 minutes from Savannah lies Tybee Island, a uniquely charmed island that offers a change of pace and taste. While there, your group will enjoy a trip to the Tybee Light Station which has a long history of paranormal activity and is the site of regular investigations. After the lighthouse, head to nearby Fort Pulaski National Monument, reportedly haunted by its long-dead prisoners. Built in 1829, the fort, which was under Robert E. Lee’s command, came under a 30-hour siege by Union forces. Today you can still see the holes from that long-ago bombardment.
Lunch: Take a break from your ghostly adventures to have lunch on Tybee Island. Tybee has several local restaurants that will give you the energy to continue ghost hunting.
History with a Twist: Some of our most beautiful museum homes come furnished with something a little extra, their own ghosts! The Sorrell Weed House was the focus of an investigation by the Sci Fi Channel’s popular Ghost Hunters and the spirit of Juliette Gordon Low is said to linger at her famous birthplace. The Davenport House also has a long history that includes appearances of a spectral cat that cannot be explained and other houses have given birth to even more amazing stories.
Drink with Our Dead: Think ghost stories are just for kids? Think again. Take one of Savannah’s Haunted Pub Crawls while licensed guides will take your guests on an informative and scary walking tour of Savannah’s pubs and taverns. They’ll enjoy our strange history and both types of local “spirits” as they explore two types of Savannah’s time-honored traditions: ghost stories and alcohol. They’ll no doubt remember this spooky yet lighthearted look at the “Most Haunted City in America!”
