Savannah is the oldest city in Georgia state, established in 1733 on the Savannah River. Its long and colorful history, cobblestone streets, parks, and historic buildings attract millions of visitors every year. During the Civil War, the city suffered severely from the sea blockades, and the economy crumbled. After the end of the Civil War, the Reconstruction period began in Savannah. At the turn of the 20th-century agriculture and cotton were primary industries that supported the economy. The city became a maritime centre and several new industries were also constructed that include aircraft, shipbuilding, chemicals manufacturing, and the export of resin and lumber.
The boll weevil outbreak of the 1920s destroyed the cotton, and the Great depression further slowed down the growth. In the 1930s and 1940s, several historic buildings and landmarks were also demolished to build high-rise buildings, parking, road widening and to make downtown Savannah competitive with commercial development in the emerging suburbs. During World War II, Savannah manufacturing aided the war effort through the construction of Liberty ships and the economy and growth were back on track.
Take a look at these spectacular rare historic photos of Savannah from the early 20th century that show streets, roads, landmarks and everyday life.
#1 Bull Street at Liberty Street, and City Hall, Savannah, 1906
#2 Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia, 1901
#3 The whole black family at the Hermitage, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1907
#4 DeSoto Hotel and Jasper monument, Madison Square, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1910
#5 Broughton Street from Bull, Savannah, 1907
#6 Georgia Central Railway Bridge, Railroad Street, 1939
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The toilets from the Roundhouse complex used to go directly into this canal.
#7 Old house on Fahm Street, West Side, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1939
#8 Davenport tenement, small dwelling, 1939
#9 38 Price Street, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1937
#10 Broughton Street from Bull, Savannah, 1907
#11 Union Station, Savannah, Georgia, 1906
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terminal of the Seaboard Coast Line RR, W Broad St. where I-16 now enters/exits.
#12 DeSoto Hotel, Savannah, Georgia, 1908
#13 Stoddard’s Lower Range from Factors Walk, River Street, Savannah, 1937
#14 Note cotton-themed fountain landscaping and juvenile welcoming committee, Savannah Cotton Exchange, 1904
#15 Broughton Street, looking east, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1905
#16 Vicinity of Savannah, Georgia, 1864
#17 Stone monuments and brick vaults in Colonial Park, formerly South Broad Street Cemetery, Savannah, 1939
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Right behind the police station on Habersham. Button Gwinette and alotta Spanish flu (1917) victims here.
#18 Seaboard Air Line Railway docks, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1910
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Former Sheriff Carl Griffin (Griffith)’s father had a coal company on the docks back then. I had a huge photo of it which I donated to The Ships of the Sea Museum, although they lost it.
#19 Davenport house, Columbus Square, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1937
#20 Stoddard’s Upper Range, Savannah, 1937
#21 Yamacraw Market, Fahm Street, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1939
#22 View of Fort McAllister on the Ogeechee River, Savannah, 1864
#23 Bull Street and Johnson Square, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1906
#24 Colonial Park, Savannah, Georgia, 1907
#25 Row of houses on East Charlton Street, Savannah, April 1941
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very similar to where I lived in 1979, 116 E. Hall St, just off Drayton.
#26 National Bank of Savannah, Bull Street, 1907
#27 Savannah, Georgia, circa 1906. “Loading a phosphate schooner.”
#28 Georgia Central Railway Bridge, Railroad Street, Savannah, 1939
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This photo is probably taken on W. Boundary St. There used to be a huge century plant against the pillar behind.
#29 Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1901
#30 38 Price Street, Savannah, 1937
#31 Broughton Street, Savannah, Georgia, 1905
#32 Hotel DeSoto, Savannah, 1900
#33 Detroit Publishing glass negative, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1905
#34 Interior of Fort McAllister, Savannah, 1865
#35
#36 Colonial Park Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia, 1904
#37 Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, 1901
#38 The docks at Savannah, 1905
#39 Naval stores, Chesnutt & O’Neill, Savannah, 1904
#40 Fahm Street, west side, Savannah, 1939
#41 Fahm Street, west side, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1939
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before Yamacraw Village, which was probably built in the 30’s or right after WWll. In remembrance of Officer McPhall.
#42 Chatham County, Georgia, circa 1937
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under the Cotton Exchange area.
#43 The reservoir, Savannah, Georgia, 1865
#44 312 Gaston Street West, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1939
#45 Down the river, Savannah, Georgia, 1906
#46 Pulaski House, Bull and St. Julian streets, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1906
#47 117 Jones Street West, Savannah, 1939
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I stayed in a basement apartment, when I first came to Savannah, December 1976, at Senator Reiley’s house which was just east of Abercorn, on E. Jones, also the 100 block.
That would be the Juliette Gordon Lowe house on the right, and on the left, the building where Bull Street Station was in the 1990’s, sans porch.