Building Savannah

Savannah's distinct architecture has been studied and admired by scholars, builders, and tourists from all over the world, and the history of its most prolific period of expansion and development is explored in this photographic essay. A city that was spared the wrath of the Union forces, Savannah emerged from the Civil War psychologically defeated but still physically intact. During the second half of the nineteenth century, this picturesque Georgia city enjoyed tremendous growth in a booming economic environment. Building Savannah chronicles this period in the city's history with photographs, sketches, maps, and advertisements, many culled from the archives of the Georgia Historical Society. Coupled with informative research, these images illustrate every aspect of the building industry that thrived in Savannah. Local architects and builders embraced the transformation that was sweeping the entire country and used both natural resources and technical innovation to create a unique built environment. The building industries once fueled by the virgin resources of the South would be exhausted by the end of the Second World War. As modern materials became popular, the lumber mills withered, old foundries closed, and the industry was forever changed. What was left in Savannah was the indelible mark of the building era, seen in the careful craftsmanship and ornate design of its homes and businesses.