Located on Houston St. in between East Congress and East Bryan, you’ll find Washington Square. It’s an idyllic green space with verdant vegetation and statuesque trees providing ample shade. Vibrant shell ginger and lush leopard plants are among the greenery that make Washington Square so inviting. It’s surrounded by beautiful historic homes, which further add to the square’s allure and charm. 

As you can likely guess, the square was named after President George Washington, who paid a visit to the city in 1791, one year after the square was built. It’s one of just two squares that were named after a person who was alive at the time of its creation. The other is Troup Square, which was named after former Georgia governor, George Troup. 

In the square, you’ll find a small column made from Savannah gray bricks topped with a bronze plaque. The structure is a monument to the Washington Fire Company No. 9, which was a volunteer fire department that served from 1847-1875. The monument honors the firefighters of the Washington Fire Company as well as the Savannah Fire Company No. 1. It was erected in 2007. 

Washington Square is a picturesque park perfect for a nice stroll with your four-legged friend. With several benches available throughout the square, it’s also a great place to enjoy your lunch on a warm day or relax beneath the trees with a good book. 

If you find yourself downtown in the Historic District’s northeast end, be sure to stop by Washington Square. And if you like this kind of content, check out our last spotlight on what might be Savannah’s most beautiful square.