Adventures in Savannah

THIS is why I came on this trip. So far, I have had two types of experiences. One where we take guided tours by knowledgable historical experts. As a teacher, this is obviously valuable. I’m learning new facts and details that are simply not included in our text books. Again – this is why I wanted to take this journey. Can one easily google search Noble Jones? Absolutely. But after teaching colonial history for six years, I didn’t know to do that. After this trip, I not only plan to research him in more detail, I walked his estate – Wormsloe Estate – and learned from an expert about the role he played in the Revolution and the founding of Georgia. And now my students will learn about him too.

I have had the type of experience where we immerse ourselves in the cities, to walk the streets, observe the architecture and the citizens – their interactions and ways of life. As an LA girl, born and raised, who has spent very little time anywhere else, the vast cultural differences between Los Angeles and the Southern cities is fascinating. Southern hospitality is real! Everyone we have encountered has been genuinely kind, and gone out of their way to be hospitable and friendly.

And then there’s the land and the visual differences between Los Angeles and the south. Trees, forests, rivers, swamps, marshy swampland. I’ve never really seen land like this before. Houses that include acres and acres of green property and are acres apart from each other. American flags hang from nearly every home. Rocking chairs are commonly positioned on the porches of storefronts and homes. The colonial architecture blends in with the greenery. Without the paved roads and modern cars, the setting could be right out of the 18th century. It’s fun seeing names on signs for roads, highways, and stores with historical significance: Oglethorpe Mall and Fort Caroline Monument.

Today we toured Wormsloe Estates and spent time in the Historic District of Savannah. The sights were stunning. The entrance to the Wormsloe Estate itself is one I will never forget. Walking the streets of historic Savannah was beautiful as well. There’s something about the combination between the old and the new that is quite a sight to behold. We enjoyed the afternoon in Forsythe Park. Tonight we drove two hours to Charleston, where we will spend two days. Stay tuned! Thanks for reading!

Viewing the beautiful entrance at Wormsloe Estate

Running through the woods at Wormsloe Estate!

The former home of Noble Jones

Touring the grounds at the Wormsloe Estate

A house that an ordinary colonist would call home

A British soldier giving a musket demonstration

A house that an ordinary colonist would call home

Swampland at the Wormsloe Estate

A house that an ordinary colonist would call home. The only difference between the colonial regions is the wood and resources used to make the houses.