Tag: savannah

Fort James Jackson, Savannah, Georgia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The city of Savannah in the U.S. state of Georgia is a city that has much history.  Fort Jackson, located on the Savannah River east of the historic downtown area is a big part of that history.  It was the second defense from an attack from the Savannah River after Fort Pulaski, and the fort played a role in the War of 1812.  The fort is named after, of course, James Jackson, a British born officer who served in the American Revolutionary war and was later the governor of the U.S. state of Georgia.  It is the oldest standing brick fort in the state of Georgia and one of the oldest on the East Coast of the United States.  If you are ever visiting Savannah, you will want to make some time to visit this National Historic Landmark.

Now some of you are saying, “You know.  I am amazed to hear about Fort Jackson.  You see the history of the fort as a fortification for battle, and I see how it helped defend the ships going in and out of Savannah, but I am wondering where the railroads are at this fort.”

Fort Jackson was a fort built to defend Savannah from a sea attack.  It has much history as a fort itself, but you will not find any railroad history here at all.  In matter of fact, the fort itself has no history with the railroad at all.

Why visit Fort James Jackson if it has no history with the railroad?  You will see the answer to the question as soon as you arrive.

The first thing you will see when you arrive at Fort Jackson is the Visitor Center.  What is so special about the Visitor Center?  Many historic sites have visitor centers that show the history of the particular site.  What is special about the Fort Jackson Visitor Center?  The answer is that before it was the Fort Jackson Visitor Center, the structure was called the Tybee Depot.  Yes, it was located in downtown Savannah.  (This train depot was separate from the main train station that is now the Savannah Visitor Center.)  The Central of Georgia Railroad ran passenger trains from downtown Savannah to Tybee Island, an island on the Atlantic Ocean that was a resort town.  When the railroad no longer served Tybee Island, the depot was preserved and eventually brought to Fort Jackson to become the visitor center.

You now have a reason to visit Fort Jackson.  Once you see the visitor center, you will want to see the fort as well.  The fort is located at 1 Fort Jackson Road just minutes from the historic district.  It is a place worth seeing.

The Savannah History Museum, Savannah, Georgia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The U.S. state of Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River.  It is famous for many things to include its state capital, Atlanta, and it is home to the ‘Masters’ golf tournament in Augusta.  Another treasured city in the state is Savannah.  Located a short distance inland from the Atlantic Ocean, it is a major port city with much history that includes the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War.  The downtown area includes glorious town squares with spectacular fountains.  A visit to the Savannah History Museum tells the story of a city that has so much.  When you visit the city of Savannah, Georgia, you must make a visit to the Savannah History Museum.

Some of you are saying, “That is amazing.  I have driven down Interstate 95 many times while on my way to Florida passing by Savannah.  I have heard about the great architecture of the city.  However, there is a big problem.  It is called the Savannah History Museum.  It is not a railroad museum.  Therefore, I am not making a history of visiting this museum.”

So, that is your reason to not visiting this museum.  Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves for a Savannah history lesson.

As mentioned, Savannah is a major port city.  Two forts, Fort Jackson and Fort Pulaski, were built to protect the city.  The city is home to the birth home of Juliette Gordon Lowe, the founder of the Girls Scouts of America.  The city of full of great architecture and great town squares and their fountains.  What most people do not know is that Savannah is a big railroad city.  It is the home of the Georgia State Railroad Museum.

What about the Savannah History Museum?  Well, the museum itself is part of railroad history.

What is the first thing you will see when you arrive at the Savannah History Museum?  Well, you will immediately discover… that it is located inside the Savannah Visitor Center.

Some of you are saying, “Well that is no big deal.  There is nothing special about that.”

Oh yes it is.  The Savannah Visitor Center is located in the old train station.  Yes, it is inside the old passenger train terminal that was built by the Central of Georgia Railway.  When passenger service ceased in 1971, it was eventually converted into the visitor center it is now.

Some of you are saying, “Well, that is all.”

Nope.  We now enter the Savannah History Museum.

The story begins with the Indian tribes that once occupied the land to the colonial era and the American Revolutionary War to the present day, and the bench used in the famous movie ‘Forrest Gump’ which featured Tom Hanks is on display here.  (Sadly, you cannot sit on the bench.)  One of the main centerpieces of the museum is the Central of Georgia Railway Locomotive Number 403.  Yes, a steam locomotive is a centerpiece of the museum.  Other features include railroad lanterns and a model train from the Central Railroad of New Jersey on display.

Now you have a reason to visit the Savannah History Museum.  When you drive along Interstate 95, it is truly worth a detour.

The Savannah History Museum is located inside the Savannah Visitor Center, which is located at 303 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard just blocks from Interstate 16 and U.S. Route 17.  Parking is on the north side of the visitor center.  It is owned and operated by the Coastal Heritage Society.  It is open seven days a week from 9:00am to 4:00pm.  Admission is $10.00 from adults.  The museum is wheelchair accessible.  You can get more information at https://chsgeorgia.org/SHM. No more excuses.  Savannah, Georgia is a town full of railroad history.  The Savannah History Museum is a history museum with the history of the railroad.

The Savannah Visitor Center, Savannah, Georgia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

When you think about the city of Savannah in the U.S. state of Georgia, the last thing you will think about is the city’s railroad history.  Yet, the Savannah Visitor Center was once a railroad station.  This is not one of those tiny depots made into a visitor center.  This was a major passenger terminal for the Georgia Railway until 1972.  Today, it is the first place you will want to visit when you arrive in Savannah.

As you arrive, you can see a structure preserved with some old passenger cars and a caboose in the areas where the passengers boarded the trains.  Inside, you will see the information desk, a gift shop, a café, and the Savannah History Museum.  Across the parking lot, you will find old warehouses that were served by freight trains.  The structure is now part of the Savannah College of Art and Design.

The Savannah Visitor Center is located at 301 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard across the street from the Georgia Railroad Museum, and it is the first structures you will see as you arrive in Savannah from Interstate 16.  You can also park your car here and take a beautiful walk through this very his very historic and lovely city.

This is amazing.  You come to Savannah today, and you first see the Visitor Center.  This is no different that the visitors who arrived here before 1972 by train.

Georgia State Railroad Museum, Savannah, Georgia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

When you think about Savannah in the U.S. state of Georgia, you think about a city rich with history.  You see its many historic structures to include the birthplace of Juliette Gordon-Low, the founder of the Girls Scouts of America.  You see the many city squares.  You walk by the moss trees.  You cannot overlook the great waterfront.  Considering that this is the oldest city in the state of Georgia, it has many historic sites to see here.  It will take you more than a week to see everything.

Now some of you are saying, “Wow!  That is so cool to see how there is so much to do in Savannah.  The only problem is that the city of Savannah has no railroad history whatsoever.  Therefore, there is no reason for rail fans to visit Savannah.”

To those who just said that quote, you are so sadly mistaken.  Savannah does have many historic sites, and some of those sites… are railroad sites.

Welcome to the Georgia State Railroad Museum.  As you make your way to downtown from Interstate 16, it will be the very first site you see.  Yes, it is that easy to find.  The museum is housed in one of the oldest still standing roundhouses in the United States, and it has a working turntable.

Now some of you want to mention that there are many working turntables in the country.  That is true, but this turntable is very interesting.  There will be more on that later.  To answer your question, there is rolling stock on display to include many box cars, cabooses, locomotives, and a Pullman Car.  You can also tour the old shops where the workers worked to maintain the rolling stock.  Oh, if you have a little time, you can even operate a hand car.

Now some of you are saying, “That is so nice.  We get to go to a railroad museum and see rolling stock and run a hand car.  What would make this place worth visiting is if they had train rides.”

Ladies and gentlemen, they do have train rides.  They are short rides, but these rides are special.  How often do you get to take a train ride through an operating turntable?  You have read correctly.  You ride through the actual turntable.  It is a great experience for any rail fan.

The Georgia Railroad Museum is located at 303 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard just blocks from all of the historic area, and it is across the street from the Visitor Center which was once a passenger train station.  You can learn more at www.chsgeorgia.org.

The next time you think about Savannah, Georgia and its history, you will now have a new historic place to think of: the Georgia Railroad Museum.