From the cotton boom after the Civil War to Savannah's economic decline around the middle of the 20th century, the city's streetscapes were crowded with signs. In a time before strict sign regulations, business owners embellished building facades and and rooftops with extensive signage to catch the eye of pedestrians and motorists. The abundance of advertising was symbolic of Savannah's rapid growth and prosperity, but the majority of these signs were discarded over the years, and only a few remain. Photographs and postcards from the past survive, however, and images of historic signs serve as reminders of these lost commercial relics. Such signs give the bricks and mortar of the past another dimension by identifying their social purpose. Through vintage images of Savannah signage, this volume provides a history of the city's businesses and industries. Included are local landmarks like Levy Jewelers, the Globe Shoe Company, the Lucas Theatre, the Marshall House, and Johnny Harris Restaurant.

Since its founding over 250 years ago, Savannah, Georgia has become a historic preservation gold mine, exhibiting a variety of architectural styles. However, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the area experienced heavy economic growth, during which numerous buildings were demolished regardless of age or condition to make way for newer and supposedly better structures. The community lost many important landmarks, architectural masterpieces, and a piece of its history. Lost Savannah takes a close look at these vanished buildings to document their existence and role in Savannah's past. Drawing on collections of the Georgia Historical Society, a rich presentation of Savannah's public, private, and commercial architecture has been brought together in this unique photographic volume. Through vintage images, one can see the city's development and growth as well as its subsequent decay prior to the preservation movement. Lost Savannah examines individual buildings, such as Union Station and the Bulloch-Habersham House, as well as the evolution of Savannah's architectural landscape, including West Broad Street and Elbert Square.

Savannah is as Southern a place as has ever existed, and the Savannah River Plantations were the pinnacle of Southern heritage. Place names such as Richmond Oakgrove, Mulberry Grove, Drakies, Whitehall, and Colerain signified extensive land holdings, moss-draped oaks, and a culture not found anywhere else in the world.

Your eyes will tell you lies. So listen to your heart. But if you cant handle the truth... Stay closed minded. (SaVannahs Testament)

Mention Savannah, and most people will think of moss-draped oaks, genteel Southern charm, excellent cooking, and beautiful scenery. Not many would associate Savannah with goggle-clad, helmetless race car drivers roaring past crowds of nattily dressed onlookers from the early 1900s. Yet, from 1908 to 1911, the wonderful landscape, architecture, and atmosphere of Savannah was home to the predecessor of the most famous race in the world, the Indianapolis 500. The wonderfully quirky early race cars of those years sped past onlookers, old graveyards, and Southern mansions. Their drivers hobnobbed with the upper crust of Savannah society, as well as movers and shakers in the world of politics. In all, the races represented a fascinating time of change in Savannah's history.

Covering just less than two-and-a-half square miles, Savannah's Historic District is a steadfast remnant of the Old South-even in times marked by fast-paced technology and bustling growth. The city air is still sweetened by the scent of tea olives and jasmine, her streets are still lined with the rich palettes of azaleas and camellias, and her people are generous and welcoming. Savannah has enchanted residents and visitors alike for more than two-and-a-half centuries with a rich architectural heritage and a remarkable natural beauty. Founded on February 12, 1733, by Gen. James E. Oglethorpe, Savannah has played an active role on the American stage, in times of war and hardship, as well as in times of peace and prosperity. The city's location at the mouth of the Savannah River created one of the largest seaports on the east coast, and her history is as colorful and varied as the numerous industries that made their way to her banks. Within these pages readers will visit Savannah's signature squares and parks, including Forsyth Park and Colonial Park Cemetery, as well as buildings long since vanished from the city's landscape, such as the old DeSoto Hotel and the City Market. Also showcased are some of Savannah's private homes and public buildings, such as the Telfair Museum of Art, the Chatham County Courthouses, and Christ Church, and such memorable events as the fire of 1889.