Savannah : Crown of the Colonial Coast

Marha Giddens Nesbit

Published by Towery, hardcover with dustjacket, illustrated

Savannahians "take pride in the city's history and the fact that so much of it can be experienced by visiting museum houses, monuments, churches, and forts. They never tire of showing off the city squares, spacious and green, which are part of a unique plan that has survived 250 years. Environmentalists baast of the barrier islands, of the abundant wildlifè and sea creaturen, and talk of the delicate balance of nature that must be maintained in our marshes."

The pride of Savannah encompasses many things: hospitable people, a rich history, a diverse economy, and a glorious natural setting. So says award-winning journalist Martha Giddens Nesbit, who has been reporting on the Coastal Georgia city for 17 years. In Savannah: Crown of the Colonial Coast, Ms. Nesbit shares that point of view in a lively and affectionate look at one of America's oldest cities and the breath-taking coastal area that surrounds it. With the aid of more than 100 colorful photographs, Ms. Nesbit guides us through downtown's stately Historic District, an area of more than 2,300 architecturally and historically significant buildings. We tour the bustling riverfront and thriving outer neighborhoods until venturing out to "a heavenly strip of asphalt bordered on either side by rippling creeks, swaying marsh, drifting shrimp boats, and dramatic islands of oaks, cedars, and palms."

The view beyond the borders of town reveals the fascinating grasslands from which the city took the name "savanna." The islands, rivers, and marshes produce an environment teaming with wildlife—an area protected by inhabitants who are as determined to preserve their natural heritage as their cultural heritage.
Savannahians are proud of their roots which stretch back to the city's founding in 1733. But they are equally inspired by the challenges of modern metropolitan life. When Savannah was designated hostess city for the yachting events of the 1996 Olympic Games, its vision for the future was fulfilled.

The city is excited but composed about greeting thousands of Olympic visitors and millions of television viewers, because, after all, Savannah has always opened her arms to company.
Welcome to Coastal Georgia. Welcome to Savannah.