Why Is Bull Street Important to Savannah?
Bull Street is one of the most historically and visually important streets in Savannah, Georgia.
Running through the center of the Historic District, it connects public squares, monuments, churches, government buildings, Forsyth Park, Victorian neighborhoods, local businesses, and the Starland District.
A walk along Bull Street is more than a route through downtown. It is a timeline of Savannah’s growth from an 18th-century colonial settlement into a modern Southern city.
Who Was Bull Street Named After?
Bull Street was named for Colonel William Bull, a South Carolina official and surveyor who assisted James Oglethorpe during the early development of Savannah.
Oglethorpe established Savannah in 1733 on a bluff overlooking the Savannah River. The settlement was organized using a repeating system of wards, streets, house lots, and public squares.
Although the precise authorship of every part of the city plan remains debated, historical records establish that Oglethorpe led the effort to put it into practice.
Bull Street became the central north-to-south corridor running through several of Savannah’s most significant squares.
Which Savannah Squares Are on Bull Street?
Walking south from the Savannah River, Bull Street passes through five historic squares.
Johnson Square
Johnson Square was one of Savannah’s original squares and developed into an important center of commerce and civic life.
Wright Square
Laid out in 1733, Wright Square is one of Savannah’s oldest public squares. It is located on Bull Street between State and York streets.
Chippewa Square
Chippewa Square is known for the monument to Georgia founder James Oglethorpe and for its association with the opening bench scenes in Forrest Gump.
Madison Square
Madison Square contains a monument to Sergeant William Jasper and is surrounded by notable historic architecture.
Monterey Square
Monterey Square is home to the Mercer Williams House, one of the locations most closely associated with Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Together, these squares demonstrate how Savannah’s city plan used public green spaces to organize neighborhoods and create shared civic centers.
How Did Savannah’s Squares Shape Bull Street?
Savannah’s squares were originally practical as well as decorative.
They provided:
- Community gathering space
- Military assembly areas
- Land for churches and civic buildings
- Open space within residential neighborhoods
- Organizational centers for surrounding wards
Oglethorpe initially laid out six squares. Later city leaders continued using the same planning system until Savannah eventually contained 24. Twenty-two remain today.
Bull Street allows visitors to experience several of these squares in a nearly continuous walking route.
What Historic Sites Can You See Along Bull Street?
A walk along Bull Street and its surrounding blocks reveals many of Savannah’s best-known landmarks.
Depending on the route, visitors can see:
- Savannah City Hall
- Johnson Square
- Wright Square
- The Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
- The Savannah Theatre
- Chippewa Square
- The Oglethorpe Monument
- Independent Presbyterian Church
- Madison Square
- The Green-Meldrim House
- Monterey Square
- The Mercer Williams House
- The Armstrong Kessler Mansion
- Forsyth Park
The street combines civic, residential, religious, commercial, and cultural history within one walkable corridor.
How Does Bull Street Connect to Forsyth Park?
Bull Street continues south toward the center of Forsyth Park, one of Savannah’s most recognizable public spaces.
Forsyth Park began as a 10-acre public area in the 1840s and later expanded to approximately 30 acres. Its best-known feature is the fountain installed at the park’s northern end in 1858.
The fountain sits directly along the continuation of the Bull Street corridor, creating a visual endpoint for visitors walking south through the Historic District.
Past Forsyth Park, Bull Street continues into Savannah’s Victorian District and toward the Starland District, showing how the city expanded beyond its original colonial boundaries.
Is Bull Street Still Important Today?
Yes. Bull Street remains one of Savannah’s principal cultural and commercial corridors.
The street now connects the historic core with independent shops, restaurants, galleries, coffee houses, creative businesses, and the growing Starland District.
Visit Savannah describes Bull Street as extending from the Historic District through the Starland area, where it serves as a center for local businesses and Savannah’s contemporary creative community.
This mix makes Bull Street unusual: visitors can begin among colonial squares and finish among modern restaurants, studios, and neighborhood shops.
What Is the Best Way to Walk Bull Street?
A complete Bull Street walk can begin near Savannah City Hall and proceed south toward Forsyth Park.
A simple route includes:
Start near the Savannah River
Walk south toward Johnson Square.
Continue through Wright and Chippewa squares
Pause at the Oglethorpe Monument and nearby historic buildings.
Walk through Madison Square
Explore the surrounding architecture and churches.
Continue to Monterey Square
See the exterior of the Mercer Williams House.
Finish at Forsyth Park
Walk beneath the live oaks and visit the fountain.
The route can be completed in a few hours, but visitors should allow more time for museum tours, shopping, photographs, coffee, and meals.
Where Should You Stay Near Bull Street?
Hamilton-Turner Inn is located on Lafayette Square, just east of the Bull Street corridor.
Its central location allows guests to reach Bull Street, Forsyth Park, Monterey Square, Chippewa Square, and many other Historic District destinations on foot.
Built in 1873, the mansion offers 17 individually designed rooms and a guest experience centered on Savannah’s history and hospitality.
Guests can begin the morning with a chef-prepared Southern breakfast, spend the day exploring Bull Street, and return for evening wine and hors d’oeuvres in the parlor.
FAQ
Why is Bull Street famous?
Bull Street is Savannah’s central historic corridor, connecting several major squares, monuments, churches, Forsyth Park, and the Starland District.
Who was Bull Street named after?
The street was named for Colonel William Bull, who assisted James Oglethorpe during Savannah’s early development.
Which squares are located on Bull Street?
Bull Street passes through Johnson, Wright, Chippewa, Madison, and Monterey squares.
Does Bull Street lead to Forsyth Park?
Yes. Bull Street runs directly toward the northern end of Forsyth Park and aligns with its famous fountain.
Can you walk Bull Street from the river to Forsyth Park?
Yes. The route is walkable and passes many of Savannah’s most recognizable historic landmarks.
Is the Mercer Williams House on Bull Street?
The Mercer Williams House overlooks Monterey Square near Bull Street.
Does Bull Street continue beyond the Historic District?
Yes. It continues south through the Victorian District and toward Savannah’s Starland District.
Where should you stay near Bull Street?
Hamilton-Turner Inn is located nearby on Lafayette Square, placing guests within walking distance of Bull Street and its historic squares.
