Meet the Belles!

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Savannah Belles photo

The Savannah Belles Ferry fleet includes four very distinct vessels; each named for noteworthy women of Savannah’s history. We have the Juliette Gordon Low, the Susie King Taylor, the Florence Martus, and our newest Belle, the Mary Musgrove.

 

Juliette Gordon Low

Juliette Gordon Low (1860-1927) founded the first American Girl Scout troops in 1912, in her hometown of Savannah, GA. The Girl Scouts are committed to promoting strong leadership and decision-making skills among young women.

 

Susie King Taylor

Susie King Taylor (1848-1912) lived in Savannah and gained her freedom from slavery at the age 14. She contributed to Civil War efforts by serving as a nurse to the black soldiers and by teaching them to read and write. She opened one of Savannah’s first schools for African-American children.

 

Florence Martus

Florence Martus (1868-1943), known in Savannah as the ‘Waving Girl,’ was the daughter of an ordnance sergeant at Fort Pulaski who took it upon herself to become the unofficial greeter of ships into Savannah. Legend has it that not a single ship came in to port without her waving her white handkerchief or lantern at it during a 44 year span. Her statue continues to greet visitors to the port from Morrell Park on the riverfront.

 

Mary Musgrove

Mary Musgrove (1700-1765), a Native American, served as an interpreter for General Oglethorpe during the founding of Savannah. She played a crucial role in negotiations with Tomochichi and the Creek Indians, convincing them to peacefully accept the new colony in their territory.

 

Ferry Quick Facts

  • Modern, passenger-only ferries, reminiscent of vessels seen in the harbor a century ago
  • Named for Savannah’s “Belles”— strong women who shaped the city’s history
  • Connects downtown with Hutchinson Island and the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center
  • Operates 7 days a week, from 7:00 AM to 12:00 midnight
  • Docks at (1) Trade Center Landing, (2) City Hall Landing below City Hall adjacent to Hyatt Regency Hotel, (3) Waving Girl Landing in Morrell Park adjacent to the Marriott Riverfront Hotel

 

via Chatam Area Transit

Embracing the Cobblestone Streets of Savannah

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If you’re considering a night out on the town in heels, reconsider.

Historic River Street is paved with 200-year-old cobblestones and runs along the length of the Savannah River. Once lined with warehouses holding King Cotton, the neighborhood never fully recovered from the the yellow-fever epidemic and subsequent quarantine of 1818. Abandoned for over a century, it was rediscovered in the 1970s and now boasts antique shops, galleries, brew pubs, restaurants, unique nightspots, and more.

Savannah also boasts numerous other cobblestone streets such as Jones and Bay Street. All of these beautiful cobblestone streets have been around since the mid 1700’s. Once sandy or wooden, the cobble streets resulted from abundant sources of river cobble and quarried stone being easily available through shipping to the city’s port. Today’s the cobblestones are used for pavement and construction along River Street as well as around Savannah. You can see the beauty and magic of the cobblestones streets and buildings with many walking tours including the famous Cobblestone Tours that put an interesting touch on the city’s history.