Historic River Street situated along the Savannah River, where the colony of Georgia was founded in 1733, and the location of the original port. Many of the 4 and 5 story buildings along River Street were cotton warehouses, and by the mid-1800’s Savannah was the leading exporter of cotton in the world. The last cotton office on the waterfront closed in 1956.
Located between River Street and Bay Street running parallel at the top of the bluff were a series of iron and concrete walkways known as Factors Walk connecting the waterfront buildings to the bluff. Factors were the people who set prices for cotton and other exports.
In the early 1900’s many of the streets connecting River and Bay Streets were still unpaved. The cobblestones forming much of River Street were originally used as ballast on many of the ships that sailed into Savannah Harbor.
The large steepled building in the center is the City Exchange building on Bull St., built in 1799 and demolished in 1904 to make way for the current domed City Hall building completed in 1906. The City Exchange Building tower & fire bell was manned every night due to the ever-present threat of fires. A small replica of the Savannah Exchange Tower & Bell is currently located in a park on E. Bay St.
Historic River Street situated along the Savannah River, where the colony of Georgia was founded in 1733, and the location of the original port. Many of the 4 and 5 story buildings along River Street were cotton warehouses, and by the mid-1800’s Savannah was the leading exporter of cotton in the world. The last cotton office on the waterfront closed in 1956.
Located between River Street and Bay Street running parallel at the top of the bluff were a series of iron and concrete walkways known as Factors Walk connecting the waterfront buildings to the bluff. Factors were the people who set prices for cotton and other exports.
In the early 1900’s many of the streets connecting River and Bay Streets were still unpaved. The cobblestones forming much of River Street were originally used as ballast on many of the ships that sailed into Savannah Harbor.
The large steepled building in the center is the City Exchange building on Bull St., built in 1799 and demolished in 1904 to make way for the current domed City Hall building completed in 1906. The City Exchange Building tower & fire bell was manned every night due to the ever-present threat of fires. A small replica of the Savannah Exchange Tower & Bell is currently located in a park on E. Bay St.