THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Step beyond Savannah’s familiar historic façades with the "Rising Voices" walking tour, where untold stories of black, Native American, queer, and female pioneers come to life. Explore a two-hour route that reconnects this iconic city to its underrepresented past, revealing a history shaped by often overlooked heroes.
Step beyond Savannah’s familiar historic façades with the "Rising Voices" walking tour, where untold stories of black, Native American, queer, and female pioneers come to life. Explore a two-hour route that reconnects this iconic city to its underrepresented past, revealing a history shaped by often overlooked heroes.
As the sun filters through historic oak canopies in Franklin Square, a distinctive narrative unfolds—one often omitted from Savannah’s celebrated chronicles. The "Rising Voices" walking tour by Walk With Me Savannah Tours invites travelers to trace the footsteps of black, Native American, queer, and female figures whose lives shaped the city in profound but frequently overlooked ways.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Walk with Me Savannah Tours · Savannah, Georgia
As the sun filters through historic oak canopies in Franklin Square, a distinctive narrative unfolds—one often omitted from Savannah’s celebrated chronicles. The "Rising Voices" walking tour by Walk With Me Savannah Tours invites travelers to trace the footsteps of black, Native American, queer, and female figures whose lives shaped the city in profound but frequently overlooked ways.
Beginning at the Haitian Monument in Franklin Square, the tour immediately sets a tone of reclaiming history. Here, guides share how Haiti’s revolutionary support echoed in Savannah’s own fight for freedom, alongside tales of clandestine schools where black students defied laws forbidding their education. The First African Baptist Church, the nation’s oldest African Baptist congregation, stands as a living monument to resilience and was a key stop on the Underground Railroad.
Winding through the stone-paved streets of historic Savannah, the path moves past places like City Market and Club One, uncovering stories behind Lady Chablis, an iconic LGBTQ figure, and a market that painfully once fueled the slave trade, later transformed into a school by newly freed people. The tour pauses outside landmarks such as the Telfair Academy—highlighting Mary Telfair’s groundbreaking role in heritage preservation—and Monterey Square, anchored by the monument to Count Casimir Pulaski, whose legacy includes a recent revelation about his intersex identity.
Indigenous narratives receive meaningful attention as well, centering on Tomochichi, Yamacraw chief and city co-founder, and Coosaponakeesa (Mary Musgrove), a Creek woman instrumental to colonial diplomacy. Alongside these, pioneering women like Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts, emerge not only as historical figures but as trailblazers who challenged societal roles and expectations.
The tour’s engaging storytelling draws you into Savannah’s layered past, balancing the weight of its complexities with moments of hope and transformation. Practical for all fitness levels and wheelchair accessible, this two-hour journey offers a valuable perspective for those who want more than a typical sightseeing stroll.
Visitors should arrive 10-15 minutes early to meet in front of the Haitian Monument in Franklin Square. Comfortable walking shoes and hydration suffice, with the route traversing mostly flat, well-paved city surfaces. Tours accommodate groups up to twenty, providing a personal and interactive experience with historians dedicated to inclusivity.
Savannah’s historic district is more than squares and antebellum architecture—it’s a living archive of humanity’s many voices rising together. This tour is essential for travelers eager to understand the city’s true fabric beyond its postcards and guidebooks, empowering them to connect deeply with the past that still shapes the present.
easy.
2 hours.
Suitable for all fitness levels, including casual walkers and wheelchair users.
Meet in Franklin Square in front of the Haitian Monument at the intersection of Montgomery St and W St Julien St, at least 10 minutes before the tour begins.
Yes, the tour is accessible for all ages and fitness levels, including wheelchair users and families with strollers.
Tours operate in all seasons but check availability online, as weather conditions may affect scheduling.
Yes, the tour is fully narrated and interactive, encouraging questions and engagement throughout.
Well-behaved service animals are allowed, but pets are generally discouraged on this walking tour.
The approximately two-hour route covers mostly flat, paved urban streets within Savannah’s historic district.
Savannah’s formation included critical contributions from Native American leaders like Tomochichi and Mary Musgrove, whose diplomacy shaped early colonial relations.
The tour promotes awareness of local historical preservation efforts, emphasizing respect for historic sites and support for ongoing inclusivity in storytelling.
Walk with Me Savannah Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
As the sun filters through historic oak canopies in Franklin Square, a distinctive narrative unfolds—one often omitted from Savannah’s celebrated chronicles. The "Rising Voices" walking tour by Walk With Me Savannah Tours invites travelers to trace the footsteps of black, Native American, queer, and female figures whose lives shaped the city in profound but frequently overlooked ways.
As the sun filters through historic oak canopies in Franklin Square, a distinctive narrative unfolds—one often omitted from Savannah’s celebrated chronicles. The "Rising Voices" walking tour by Walk With Me Savannah Tours invites travelers to trace the footsteps of black, Native American, queer, and female figures whose lives shaped the city in profound but frequently overlooked ways.
Beginning at the Haitian Monument in Franklin Square, the tour immediately sets a tone of reclaiming history. Here, guides share how Haiti’s revolutionary support echoed in Savannah’s own fight for freedom, alongside tales of clandestine schools where black students defied laws forbidding their education. The First African Baptist Church, the nation’s oldest African Baptist congregation, stands as a living monument to resilience and was a key stop on the Underground Railroad.
Winding through the stone-paved streets of historic Savannah, the path moves past places like City Market and Club One, uncovering stories behind Lady Chablis, an iconic LGBTQ figure, and a market that painfully once fueled the slave trade, later transformed into a school by newly freed people. The tour pauses outside landmarks such as the Telfair Academy—highlighting Mary Telfair’s groundbreaking role in heritage preservation—and Monterey Square, anchored by the monument to Count Casimir Pulaski, whose legacy includes a recent revelation about his intersex identity.
Indigenous narratives receive meaningful attention as well, centering on Tomochichi, Yamacraw chief and city co-founder, and Coosaponakeesa (Mary Musgrove), a Creek woman instrumental to colonial diplomacy. Alongside these, pioneering women like Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts, emerge not only as historical figures but as trailblazers who challenged societal roles and expectations.
The tour’s engaging storytelling draws you into Savannah’s layered past, balancing the weight of its complexities with moments of hope and transformation. Practical for all fitness levels and wheelchair accessible, this two-hour journey offers a valuable perspective for those who want more than a typical sightseeing stroll.
Visitors should arrive 10-15 minutes early to meet in front of the Haitian Monument in Franklin Square. Comfortable walking shoes and hydration suffice, with the route traversing mostly flat, well-paved city surfaces. Tours accommodate groups up to twenty, providing a personal and interactive experience with historians dedicated to inclusivity.
Savannah’s historic district is more than squares and antebellum architecture—it’s a living archive of humanity’s many voices rising together. This tour is essential for travelers eager to understand the city’s true fabric beyond its postcards and guidebooks, empowering them to connect deeply with the past that still shapes the present.