Any one interested in visiting the Cemetery during the day? I would like to visit it maybe Thurs or Fri. I do not know how one gets there if they do not have a car, (any suggestions?)as it is out of the city. Just seeing pictures of it, I would love to have a chance to visit and photograph there, with all the live oak and the hanging spanish moss.
Sandra, it does look beautiful, doesn't it? I am going to defer this question to Leslie Erickson, as she is quite familiar with Savannah (she used to live there) and may be able to steer you in the right direction. Perhaps there are others who would be interested in visiting the cemetery also.
I am uncertain, at this point, of what my schedule will be, but if I can fit it in, I would love to go, too.
Thank you Terry, I hope maybe we could fit it in, I know there is a lot going on, but I will be arriving early Thurs morn, and I have not signed up for anything Fri during the day as yet.
We went out to the Bonaventure Cemetery a few years ago as part of a "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" bus tour. It was really the highlight of the tour... very interesting and definitely unique. The cemetery is about 4 miles from Bay Street and the Savannah River. There are a few tours that include Bonaventure Cemetery on their route. (Just google "Tour Bonaventure Cemetery" and a couple will come up.)
I looked at the bus routes and it seems there is one bus that might go there from the Historic District. I sent an e-mail to the transit system to see if it goes right to the cemetery and how often it runs. We'll see if I hear back and I'll post any info here.
You could also take a cab, and if a couple of people went in together, I don't think it would be that expensive. We took a cab from Bay Street to the Mansion on Forsyth Park last January and it was very reasonable-- and our driver gave us his card so we could call and he could come back and get us.
Is anyone else feeling like there's way too much to do in Savannah for just a long weekend???
Sandra, I desperately want to go to Bonaventure and see the beauty of the cemetery. I've asked a lot of questions about tours to Bonaventure, as I was going to post that as a choice of something interesting to do on this weekend, but I didn't because as Kathy says, there's too much to see and do and not enough weekend! I didn't want to clog up the weekend with more things that we all might want to do.
So, here's what I know: The Bonaventure Historical Society are doing what they can to preserve the cemetery and control, in a good way, the traffic to it.
Mildred T. Hill is the chairwoman of the Bonaventure Historical Society, and the address for the society is: Bonaventure Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 5954, Savannah, Georgia 31414 This link has some great photos of the Bonaventure Day this past year, as well.
The Savannah Homes and Gardens Show is on from March 27th - 30th, and one of those days, the Bonaventure Historical Society is conducting a tour of the cemetery...I'm taking it! It seems like it's meant to be.
One of my contacts in Savannah, Jean from Ghost Talk Ghost Walk, told me that the society is doing their best to protect and preserve the cemetery and the memorials, the monuments and the landscaping. Things like the midnight ghost tours to the cemetery are not allowed now, and I think that's a good thing...seems like all of the tourist-y stuff was becoming a hazard to the delicacy of the cemetery, the monuments and greenery. So, good for them...protecting it and preserving it is a good thing, I think.
Classic Caddy Tours has a Bonaventure tour offered. Here is that company's home page...fun to 'drive' the caddy online! Click on any tour, then turn on the radio, put the keys in the ignition and cruise down the streets of Savannah, Tybee Island...a fun website!
Hope this helps!
"On March 10, 1846, Commodore Josiah Tattnall III, the final son to own Bonaventure Plantation, sold the 600 acres to Peter Wiltberger, a prominent businessman in Savannah. Wiltberger agreed to pay five thousand dollars for Bonaventure. The sale agreement excluded the lot of land used as the burial ground of the Tattnall family, but Wiltberger agreed to maintain the plot. Seventy acres of the northeastern corner of the Bonaventure tract were designated as a public cemetery. Seven years later, Peter Wiltberger was buried at Bonaventure." ~ Bonaventure Historical Society Brenda
Kathy and Brenda, Thank you for all your information. Please believe me, I did not want to interfer with all the plans that have been made. I was just hoping maybe someone would know how I could possibly get to see it, and if anyone else, did not have plans already made, that would want to join me. I hope I have not stepped on any ones toes, that was not my intention.
Sandra, you absolutely did not step on any toes or interfere with any plans!! I think the idea to visit Bonaventure Cemetery is a great one!
There are three "events" during the Gathering weekend that (hopefully!) will involve everyone: Friday night at the Gingerbread House; Saturday night at Old Fort Jackson; and our Sunday brunch. Outside of that, several people have initiated a variety of small group activities and invited others to join. We may even have some of these activities that overlap or happen at the same time, and that's perfectly fine.
Let's see how this thread develops. Maybe others will post that they'd like to make a trip out to the cemetery, and all of you can figure out how best to do that and when. I think it's a great idea--
Sandra, No toes have been stepped on, none at all! I wanted only to share with you the information that I've collected and the ideas that I have for seeing Bonaventure myself. Hopefully, it gives you more information about that amazing cemetery.
Because the weekend was already so-so-so full, I didn't add in a trip to Bonaventure. I thought it would have been a great thing to do, but the weekend is really packed full of lots of other great things for everyone and I didn't want to stuff it any fuller!
So, no tender toes here, Sandra. I'm definitely making a trip to Bonaventure while I'm in Savannah, because I'll be there a few days early
Kathy's great idea to leave this idea open and see how many people want to join in is perfect! You might have more company than you expected!
There aren't a lot of companies that give tours of the cemetery anymore, because of the conservation goals of the society. If you want more help with this, let me know and I'm happy to post more goodies about this historic place!
Savannah's less than 3 months away!
99 Rules of living in Savannah: 2007 edition ~ The rest of the world calls it "The Civil War." Here it's "The War of Northern Aggression" or "The Recent Unpleasantness." Brenda
Thank you, I feel better I did goole tours and there are 5 or 6 listed. I plan to call and see if they are still giving the tours, since what Brenda had said about limiting the tourist. Which I can certainly understand. If I find any that are still offering a tour I will let you know.
Where will you be staying? And, will you be in Savannah all day Thursday? We'll be at the Staybridge Suites on E. Bay St., and will be arriving Tuesday with a car. We may very well be interested in going to Bonaventure Cemetery on Thursday, either with our car or on a tour.
I am staying at the Old Harbour Inn with Barb Cabot. It is about 2 blocks down from where you are staying( I think , by looking at the map) It is at 508 E Factors Walk. I will be arriving on Thurs 9:30 AM. Our hotel said we could leave our luggage at their desk, if we wanted to go out until check in time. I would love to go with you on thurs, either in your car or on a tour!! I was going to look into tours this week. I really want to visit Bonaventure and take as many photographs as I can. Let me know .
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I did goole tours and there are 5 or 6 listed. I plan to call and see if they are still giving the tours, since what Brenda had said about limiting the tourist. Which I can certainly understand. If I find any that are still offering a tour I will let you know.
