City Market, Savannah

City Market, Savannah (must see)

Originally centered on the site of today's Ellis Square, from 1733, Savannah's main marketplace was established as a wooden building where locals gathered for their groceries and services. By 1755, the market had turned into a center of local commerce and hub of all activity downtown; a place where fishermen and farmers would bring their goods to sell.

Over time, the building survived two fires (in 1796 and 1820) which ultimately destroyed it, and was replaced the following year with a single-storey structure. The latter was torn down also, shortly after the Civil War, and its place was taken by a brick building, erected in 1876, by architects Augustus Schwaab and Martin Phillip Muller.

Albeit praised as "roomy (the structure encompassed 33,000 square feet), and capable of being kept in the highest condition of cleanliness, with ample ventilation", the cost of construction "vastly exceeded expectations". Later excavations revealed weakened arches in the basement floor that required them to be replaced.

The market suffered severe damage from a hurricane in 1896, and was even closed at one point, in 1954. But today it thrives once again, stretching for a good two blocks between Ellis and Franklin squares.

The old 19th-century cotton warehouses, once fallen into disrepair, have been restored and renovated, and turned into bistros, art galleries, casual and upscale restaurants, antique stores, jewelry shops, bakeries, sweets and candy parlors, and other specialty outlets (there's even a daiquiri dispensary and a specialty coffee joint).

The newest attraction in the market complex is the American Prohibition Museum, which has 6,000 square feet of exhibition space, housing 13 galleries.

During the day and at night the historic place offers totally different experiences. In the evenings, visitors can enjoy jazz at local nightclubs or otherwise discover the "art and soul" of Savannah while being serenaded by local musicians.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Savannah. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Download 'GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities' app for IOS   Download 'GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities' app for Android

City Market on Map

Sight Name: City Market
Sight Location: Savannah, USA (See walking tours in Savannah)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Savannah, Georgia

Create Your Own Walk in Savannah

Create Your Own Walk in Savannah

Creating your own self-guided walk in Savannah is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Houses Walking Tour

Historical Houses Walking Tour

From the cobblestone alleyways to the quaint squares dotting the city, Savannah indeed breathes history. An enchanting walk through the heart of the city's Historic District (one of the nation’s most carefully preserved) highlights its most beautiful historic homes – prime examples of architecture spanning two centuries.

Gorgeous as they are, these structures really catch the eye....  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Family Entertainment Tour

Family Entertainment Tour

If you are looking for some entertainment for your entire family, there are many interesting places for a family to visit in Savannah. Together you can visit the beautiful parks, historic monuments, galleries and other interesting and informative places. We have planned such a tour for you family and, of course, it includes a couple of nice surprises for your children!

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
River Street Sightseeing and Shopping

River Street Sightseeing and Shopping

The story of Savannah's River Street begins in 1733 with General James Edward Oglethorpe's landing on the bank of the Savannah River and founding the British colony of Georgia. Today, the cobble-stoned River Street caters to a variety of interests, combining the rustic beauty of the past with the energy of the present.

The half-mile-long promenade is one of the city's major...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.7 Km or 0.4 Miles
Savannah's Top Religious Sights

Savannah's Top Religious Sights

Remarkable and conspicuous Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Unitarian and Methodist Churches dot the cityscape of Savannah and are interesting places to visit. You may even have the chance to take part in parish services that are held weekly. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful architecture of Savannah's religious buildings and the peace that a church service may...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
African-American Heritage Tour

African-American Heritage Tour

Savannah – whose African-American population makes up about 60 percent of total residents – is integral to a full understanding of the experience of African Americans in the South, including the great heritage they left in its culture, politics and art. Don't miss the chance to visit such significant places as the First African Baptist Church, the First Bryan Baptist Church, and the Ralph...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
Savannah Introduction Walking Tour

Savannah Introduction Walking Tour

Savannah may not be the whole of Sweet Georgia, but no Georgia is complete without Savannah, that's for sure.

This coastal city is named after the river upon which it stands, whose name is likely to be the variant pronunciation of “Shawnee”, the Native American tribe which inhabited the area in the 1680s. Alternatively, it could have derived from the Spanish “sabana”, referring to...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles