Less than twenty four weeks until many of us meet in Savannah for the first-ever Great Slow Travel Gathering! That means we've got twenty three more Countdown posts, and we still have much of Savannah to explore.

In a couple of the remaining Countdown posts we’ll visit some of Savannah's famous squares in more detail. Today we’ll focus on Washington Square, one of Savannah’s most beautiful garden squares. Several Slow Travelers are staying in the area around Washington Square for the Gathering weekend.

Washington Square is in the northeast corner of the historic district of Savannah, in the row of squares closest to Bay Street and the river. It’s a quiet square in a residential area, but an easy walk to many of Savannah’s main points of interest. Developed in 1790, Washington Square was named after George Washington, the first president of the United States. It is one of only two squares named to honor a then-living person.

In its early days Washington Square was also called “Eastern Common,” since it was at the eastern edge of the city and adjacent to an agricultural area called Trustees Gardens. The original colonists grew experimental crops in these gardens,

“Virtually every home on Washington Square and the immediately surrounding streets has been owned by a person or family of historical interest or has some unique attribute, such as having been moved from another location or rebuilt in the late 1900s in order to preserve it.” The most notable buildings on Washington Square are The International Seaman’s House, the Mulberry Inn, and the Hampton Lilliford House.

The International Seaman's House at 25 Houston Street is operated by the Port Society to serve the needs of visiting seaman. The Mulberry Inn built in the 1860's, was originally a cotton warehouse and then a Coca-Cola bottling plant before being converted to an inn. The Hampton Lillibridge House at 507 East St. Julien Street was built in 1796 and is considered to be one of the most haunted houses in Savannah. In 1963 the Bishop of Georgia even performed a rite of exorcism at this house. (For more information about the “haunted” aspects of this house, scroll down on this webpage.)

For many years, until the 1950’s, Washington Square hosted New Year’s Eve celebrations, including huge bonfires, often taller than the houses around the square. Today Washington Square is better known as a special site for outdoor weddings. And the first weekend of April 2008 I'm sure Slow Travelers will be sitting on the benches at Washington Square, under the trees dripping with spanish moss, enjoying a beautiful spring day with friends.

Take a virtual tour of Washington Square here.

Learn more about Washington Square here.

Join us for The Great Slow Travel Gathering - Savannah, Georgia - April 4 to 6, 2008.

Kathy

I know of two Slow Travel groups who have rented houses on Washington Square. (Hotels and B&Bs like the Green Palm Inn, Staybridge Suites, Hampton Inn, East Bay Inn, and the Presidents Quarters are just a few minutes away.) This is a lovely area, and it would be fun if a lot of us were staying close to each other.

In the process of writing this Countdown piece, I came across a couple of other rentals (most-- I think-- available for less than a week) in the Washington Square area. I thought I'd post them for anyone who hasn't yet confirmed their accommodations:

Wakefield House - 2 bedrooms/2 bath

Lillian's Cottage - 2 bedrooms/1 bath

St. Julien condominium - 2 bedrooms/2 bath

Washington Square "town home suite" - 2 bedrooms/1 bath

And I had previously posted about three cottages called the Pomegranate.

Kathy

For those who are interested in "Haunted Savannah"-- (Brenda, are you reading this??)

Here's another (longer) piece about the Hampton-Lillibridge House on Washington Square. Be sure to click at the bottom to read the next chapter. AND you can also watch a video about the house.

Kathy