Savannah Civil War Walking Tour: Sherman's March & Reconstruction

Two Hours Through 150 Years of Savannah's War and What Came After

You meet your guide at Reynolds Square and spend two hours walking through Savannah's historic district, learning how the city moved toward secession, what Sherman's arrival meant, and how Reconstruction played out on these streets. The tour includes entry to the sites you visit and covers the political, cultural, and human dimensions of the Civil War through the eyes of Savannah's citizens and soldiers. No separate transportation needed. Everything is on foot.

Step-by-step itinerary

Savannah Civil War history walking tour

• Meet guide at Reynolds Square
• Walk through Antebellum historic district
• Learn about Savannah's secession reasons
• Explore Sherman's March to the Sea
• Discuss Special Order No. 15
• Visit Sherman's headquarters
• See Robert E. Lee's Savannah locations
• Learn roles of Generals Geary and Howard
• Walk through Savannah's historic squares
• Discuss Reconstruction versus Retribution

The experience

The cobblestones still echo with footsteps: soldiers, politicians, enslaved people whose names were never recorded, and the generals who marched through these squares. A Savannah Civil War walking tour starts at Reynolds Square and moves through the Antebellum section of the historic district, where the decisions that split the nation were made in drawing rooms and public rallies. Your guide walks you through the cultural and political leanings that pushed Savannah toward secession, the cornerstone speech, and the first secessionist rally that set the tone for what came next.

The tour covers Sherman's March to the Sea (the moment General William Tecumseh Sherman's army reached Savannah and changed everything), and Special Order No. 15, the military directive that promised formerly enslaved people land and autonomy, a promise that Reconstruction would largely undo. You'll see where Robert E. Lee visited during his trips to Savannah, stand at Sherman's headquarters, and walk past Colonial Park Cemetery, where the city's dead rest under live oaks and Spanish moss. The guide doesn't shy away from slavery as the focus of the war. The tour asks the hard questions about why secession happened and what Reconstruction meant: retribution or recovery, depending on who you ask.

The walk takes two hours and covers over 150 years of history. You move through several of Savannah's beautiful squares (Forsyth, Chippewa, Madison), and past Factors Walk, the riverfront where cotton merchants built their fortunes on enslaved labor. It's not a sanitized version. It's the war as Savannah lived it, before, during, and after, told by someone who knows the streets and the stories.

What’s included

Your tour includes a professional guide who leads the two-hour walk through Savannah's historic district, all taxes and fees, and comprehensive Civil War history covering secession, Sherman's March to the Sea, Special Order No. 15, and Reconstruction. You visit Factors Walk, Colonial Park Cemetery, and several of Savannah's squares, and see sites including Sherman's headquarters and locations visited by Robert E. Lee.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30 and 13:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (15 to 85 years) · Child (10 to 14 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Noble Jones Tours, LLC

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand the Civil War through Savannah's streets and stories without arranging a guide yourself: the two-hour format fits the main sites into a single morning or afternoon, and the guide handles the history so you don't have to piece it together from plaques.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (10 to 14 years). Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Savannah Civil War walking tour?

Two hours, covering the Antebellum section of the historic district and several of Savannah's squares.

Where do I meet the guide?

At Reynolds Square, at your selected start time.

What does the tour cover?

Secession, the cornerstone speech, Sherman's March to the Sea, Special Order No. 15, Reconstruction, and the role of slavery in the war. You'll see sites including Factors Walk, Colonial Park Cemetery, and Sherman's headquarters.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed.

What's included in the price?

A professional guide, all taxes and fees, and Civil War history of Savannah. No additional entry fees are required for the sites visited.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it's suitable for all physical fitness levels. It's a walking tour, so comfortable shoes are recommended.

Can I use public transportation to get to Reynolds Square?

Yes, public transportation options are available nearby, and they are wheelchair accessible.