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Forsyth Park, Savannah (Georgia), photo by Jtesla16 at wts wikivoyage.

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Forsyth Park

Forsyth Park is considered as the heartbeat of Savannah, Georgia. Like with most major cities in the USA, Savannah is full of small squares and parks filled with benches, fountains, lawns and more, Forsyth Park is just the same. The most known icon of the park is the beautiful Forsyth Park fountain located on the north end of the park.

The fountain is also one of the most photographed places in Savannah and is often the site of proposals, engagement photo shoots and weddings due to its romantic aura. Apart from the fountain, the civil war monument is also a known feature of the park. The Monument was introduced in Forsyth Park in 1879, located in the center of Forsyth Park. The Confederate Monument is a large ornate column with a bronze soldier on top.

The park is filled with Lush greenery and Spanish moss-draped live oaks that surrounds the perimeter of the fountain. The fountain is also surrounded with many park benches conducive for picnics. Here are top 10 amazing facts about Forsyth Park‘s fountain.

1.The History of Forsyth Park

Forsyth Park was laid out when William Hodgson donated the land for the original space. At the time, Forsyth Park occupied 10 acres in the 1840s which is much smaller than it is today. John Forsyth, the 33rd Governor of Georgia donated an additional 20 acres in 185.

With the additional 20 acres, the total size of Forsyth Park got to 30 acres which is the current size of the park. It followed that the Park was then named after John Forsyth.

2.Forsyth Park gardens

Forsyth Park, photo by Jessica Furtney jessicamaephotographyga.

From the history of the park, Forsyth Park was created in the 1840s with only ten acres and by 1859 it was expanded by 30 acres. The beautiful Victorian gardens and walking paths, including many of the shaded picnic areas are mainly located at the north end of the park where the original ten acres were first donated.

The gardens are green and conducive for picnics. In the late afternoon, the gardens have the best lighting and visitors can catch the sunlight streaming through the Spanish moss covering the live oaks and magnolia trees.

3.The Forsyth Park iconic two-tiered cast-iron fountain

Forsyth Park fountain, photo by Bubba73 (Jud McCranie).

The fountain was first constructed in 1858 with a number of modifications and remodelling, the latest being in 1988. The fountain is the most well-known feature of Forsyth Park that sits at the north end of Forsyth Park. The inspiration of the fountain is hilarious as it was simply ordered from an iron foundry catalogue.

4.The fountain is the most photographed place in savannah

The fountain is also one of the most photographed places in Savannah and is often the site of proposals, engagement photo shoots and weddings due to its romantic aura. The Forsyth Park Fountain is surrounded with benches that people lounge while taking in the scenery such as the Lush greenery and Spanish moss-draped live oaks that surrounds the perimeter of the fountain.

5.Picnics at Forsyth Park

The Forsyth Park is the best place for picnics especially with its large open space of 30 acres. Visitors have the option of bringing their own picnic supplies or book a fancy picnic and have it set up done by a picnic company. Picnic companies vary depending on their menus and complexity, examples include the Savannah Picnic Company and Scenic.

6.The Forsyth Park fountain is over 150 years old

The fountain has aged extremely well with a few renovations and remodelling. The fountain was built in 1858 making it over 150 years old. Forsyth Park was first designed after the French ideal of having a central public garden. The fountain is seen as the garden’s centre piece even though it was ordered from a catalogue.

7.The park is a hub for social interaction

Forsyth Park is a hub of social interaction for both locals and tourists from all over the world. There are various activities such as concerts, recreation sports, people watching, sunbathing, reading, and relaxing that locals and tourists can participate in. During the day, most people play Basketball and Tennis on the courts at the South end of the park. In addition, there is a great Farmer’s Market that takes place every Saturday.

8.The Greening of the Waters

The Forsyth Park fountain always celebrates in style. Every year on St. Patrick’s Day, the city of Savannah goes an extra mile and dyes the water in the fountain green. Hundreds of people, sometimes thousands of local Savannahians flock to celebrate the ceremony and witness the event when the water is dyed. The St. Patrick’s Day Ceremony is normally hosted by the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and it became popular with time after its first practice in the 1980s.

9.The Confederate/Civil War Monument

Image of Savannah, Georgia, photo by Daniel Mayer.

Apart from the fountain, the civil war monument is also a known feature of the park. The Monument was introduced in Forsyth Park in 1879, located in the center of Forsyth Park. The Confederate Monument is a large ornate column with a bronze soldier on top.

The location of the Monument is perfect as many of the men who went off to fight for the South drilled in Forsyth Park before being sent to war. David Richards, a sculptor from New York City, sculpted the monument which was dedicated to all of the men who fought on behalf of the Confederacy during the American Civil War.

9.Forsyth Park at night

Forsyth Park is extremely beautiful after the sun goes down. The fountain lights up making a light show with water and light beams dancing across the fountain. . In the late afternoon, the gardens have the best lighting and visitors can catch the sunlight streaming through the Spanish moss covering the live oaks and magnolia trees.

10.Similar fountains exist in New York, Peru and France

Image of Savannah, Georgia, photo by Daniel Mayer.

Considering the origin of the fountain being a catalogue, other countries must have seen the same and mimicked it. There are three other fountains just like it in New York, Peru and France.  

In Poughkeepsie, New York has the same white version, and then Madison, has a green patina version, while Cuzco, Peru has one that’s painted green and white with a different figure on top.

The park is indeed beautiful with sights such as the fountain, playgrounds, historic monuments, fragrant garden and acres of green space. With a space of 30 acres, the Forsyth Park is the best place for picnics. The civil war monument is also a known feature of the park with deep history in Savannah.