Haunted Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia is considered by many the most haunted city in America. It was named so by Fox Television's Scariest Places on Earth television series and there is enough history and legend permeating the old town to fill hundreds of books. Its colorful and legend-filled past enthralls visitors to this day; its streets are filled with the shadows and ghosts of bygone days, perhaps still waiting to greet the inquisitive traveler. "Savannah was built on its dead," pays homage to its grave beginnings.
The city's founding father, Englishman James Edward Oglethorpe, was so enthralled with the areas lush tropical shoreline and very mild climate that when he landed on the shores of the Savannah River in 1733 he chose to remain. Shortly after his arrival, Oglethorpe chartered the great city of Savannah in what was to become the final New World Crown Colony of England's King George II.

Much of the original, dreamlike beauty that Oglethorpe experienced over two centuries ago endures to this day. Spanish moss still hangs low from the spreading oak trees, the deep waters of the Savannah River still lazily pass by, and the sea breezes still waft in from the open ocean waters. The classic beauty of this old Southern bastion has inspired writers and artists alike over the centuries. Many films have used Savannah as a backdrop, most notably the movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."

But many residents and visitors insist that Savannah really does have a "midnight side" and that it is a city still holding onto its past with a strong grip. In fact, many believe that some of of its citizens still feel the tug of this gentle city even from beyond the grave.

In Savannah you can hear chilling, ghost-filled tales on historical walks into the city's storied past; or you can experience first hand the "midnight side" of this Old Southern Lady in one of her haunted cemeteries or historic residents. There is a haunted train ride and a horse-drawn trolley tour through the dark streets; or visit a haunted plantation and historic locations where soldiers of the Civil War still plan battles or stand guard despite the long passage of time. You may even want to experience a ghost tour from the seat of a real hearse!

Savannah's Fort Jackson is the oldest standing fort in Georgia. The site where the fort now stands has been used since the 1740's, and has a rich history relating to the defense of Savannah from earliest days to the end of the 19th century. The site was fortified during the Revolutionary War as an earthen fort. The original brick fort was begun in 1808 and was manned during the War of 1812. During the Civil War, Fort Jackson was held for a time by Confederate forces until the Old Southern Lady made the acquaintance of one W.T. Sherman. Union soldiers took the old fort and held it until the end of the war. The fort is one of Savannah's most popular haunted tourist attractions with unmatched daytime educational and historical programs and "after hours" programs for ghost hunters of all ages.