Greene Square - Savannah, GA

The Squares of Savannah are our city's most defining aspect.  Urban planners from around the world marvel at the grid system layout of Savannah, designed by James Oglethorpe nearly 3 centuries ago.  The grid system includes a series of town squares, of which there are 22.

Many of the squares feature monuments to heroes of the past and these are a magnet for tourists enchanted by Savannah's rich history. While all of the squares are in the Savannah Historic District, some are without monuments featuring only beautiful green grass or other landscaping. Locals tend to be drawn to these squares while tourists visiting Savannah are attracted to the squares featuring impressive celebrations of the past in the form of spectacular monuments.

One of the squares without a monument, but equally charming with its peaceful setting, is Greene Square.  You can arrive at the square by driving north or south on Houston Street. Greene Square is named for the Revolutionary War hero who served as 2nd in command under George Washington -- Nathanael Greene. 

Greene Square is similar to Washington Square, which is 2 blocks due north. Both are "green spaces" that are situated in more residential sections of downtown Savannah. Very much worth a visit, Greene Square today is shaded by large oak trees and surrounded by old homes -- some dating back to the early 1800s. This square is popular with locals to enjoy lunch or walk their dogs.  As it lacks a large historical monument and is mostly green space, Greene Square draws fewer tourists that many of the others but its certainly worth a visit.

Also facing the Greene Square is the Second African Baptist Church -- a historically significant congregation. The current church building, erected in 1925, faces Greene Square. It replaced the original which dates back to 1802. The Rev. Henry Cunningham was the first pastor of this African American church and led it for 40 years until his death in 1842. 

A visit to Greene Square offers an opportunity to remember the heroes of the American Revolution. The Continental Congress entrusted George Washington to choose the man who would lead the Continental Army in the south -- which had suffered many defeats. Both Charleston and Savannah had fallen to the British. General Washington quickly appointed Nathanael Greene. 

Most of his battles were fought in the south and after the war he moved to land just outside of Savannah. However, what the British Army could not do, the heat of the south did. General Greene died of a heat stroke at the age of 43 at Mulberry Grove Plantation. He is buried in Savannah's first square -- Johnson Square.