Savannah True History Tours

Savannah True History Tours We provide walking tours of beautiful historic Savannah. Voted Savannah's Best in 2022, 2023, 2024, & 2025

There are three kinds of tours in Savannah: Trolley tours, ghost tours, and the truth. Savannah is full of amazing history - There's no need to make it up! Our guide spent well over a year researching and writing our Historic Savannah Walking Tour. We take history seriously, and we guarantee you'll learn something new! Voted 2022's Best Walking Tour and Best Tour Guide by Connect Savannah's readers.

Finally, the conclusion of 36-day Civil War Battlefields Cruise came at Gettysburg. We began with a four-hour tour of ...
06/11/2025

Finally, the conclusion of 36-day Civil War Battlefields Cruise came at Gettysburg.

We began with a four-hour tour of . Our guide, Larry, was superb. From there, it was off to the stellar museum.

The next day, we spent more time on the battlefield. I walked folks around Seminary Ridge, then Little Round Top. After lunch, I led a few brave souls across the muddy fields of Pickett’s Charge. There’s no better way to experience a battlefield than walking it.

We put a bow on the cruise with an excellent dinner at . The guests were even awarded with custom challenge coins after a job well done. 36 days, 12 states, and countless battlefields: An absolute whirlwind of American history!

It was truly an honor to serve as the cruise’s chief historian. The cruise returns in Spring of ‘26! Speaking of 2026, that marks the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence. Wouldn’t it be neat if ACL offered an extended Revolutionary Cruise to accompany the Civil War Battlefields Cruise? Stay tuned…

Our final driving portion of the Civil War Battlefields Cruise took us into Maryland for stops at and Antietam. Our to...
06/11/2025

Our final driving portion of the Civil War Battlefields Cruise took us into Maryland for stops at and Antietam. Our tour at Monocacy, led by Ranger Matt, was outstanding. This may be one of the most underrated battles of the Civil War. Now known as the Battle that Saved Washington, history may have been quite different had Lee Wallace’s men not held off Old June’s Confederates in July, 1864.

The afternoon was spent touring Antietam, site of the bloodiest single day in US history. This year, we were able to get down to Burnside’s Bridge and see where about 500 Georgians held off a much larger Union force for hours.

That night, we arrived in Gettysburg…

Last Friday, I flew up to DC to rejoin the Civil War Battlefields Cruise for its final leg. The boat was docked in beau...
06/11/2025

Last Friday, I flew up to DC to rejoin the Civil War Battlefields Cruise for its final leg. The boat was docked in beautiful Alexandria, VA, and I rushed over to meet the group at the Smithsonian. From there, it was a short jaunt over to Ford’s Theatre. We were lucky to have an after-hours tour that allowed us to peer into the Presidential Box.

Before meeting the group, I noticed there was no line at the National Archives. Something that rare presents a mo-brainer: Go in and see the Declaration and Constitution! No matter how many times I’ve viewed those documents, they never get old. Well, not old to me at least. They’re old. We know that.

The next morning, it was off to Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Final post of the day, I promise!We were recently contacted by a production company shooting a few pilot episodes for a ...
06/05/2025

Final post of the day, I promise!

We were recently contacted by a production company shooting a few pilot episodes for a travel show focusing on waterside cities. We spent the day showing the folks around Savannah. I wanted to highlight some of my favorite local stories, so of course, I took them to the Revolutionary War battlefield. Caitlin handled the “Girls’ Weekend” duties with a discussion of the Design District centered around Whitaker and Jones.

will make an appearance, as will the fresh seafood from . And of course, we showed off Oglethorpe’s famous Squares.

If you want to learn Savannah in and out, there’s only one choice for tour company.

Civil War Battlefields Cruise, Overland Portion, Part 2From Andersonville, we drove down to Olustee, scene of Florida’s ...
06/05/2025

Civil War Battlefields Cruise, Overland Portion, Part 2

From Andersonville, we drove down to Olustee, scene of Florida’s biggest battle. Brandon gave a tour there, contrasting leadership decisions between two generals who entered the battle with near identical numbers. We stayed the night in Fernandina, then visited the next morning. We boarded the American Liberty just before lunch and were soon headed up the Intracoastal Waterway to Georgia.

Brandon continued the tour duties, giving a walking tour of Darien. We focused on the burning of the city in 1863. Brandon also was thrilled to provide a walking tour of Civil War Savannah. From Savannah, we anchored off Hilton Head Island, took a tender to the island, then hopped on a bus bound for the Honey Hill Battlefield. Scene of the Confederacy’s final major victory of the war, this site is in a state of near pristine preservation. The Friends of Honey Hill Battlefield are cutting trails through the site. Please support them and their efforts to open it to the public.

The next day, Brandon gave a walking tour of Beaufort, focusing on the homes of the city’s major antebellum and Civil War players. Brandon handed over duties to another historian in Charleston, but not before snapping a few pictures from the Ashley River.

Tomorrow, Brandon rejoins the final leg of the cruise. He’ll meet the group in Washington, DC for an after-hours exploration of Ford’s Theatre. Saturday morning, the group will board a bus for Monocacy, Antietam, and three nights in Gettysburg.

If you’re interested in learning more about 36-day Civil War Battlefields Cruise or the just announced 32-day Revolutionary War Cruise, just shoot us a message or check out their website!

What a whirlwind the Georgia leg of the Civil War Battlefields Cruise was! We began at Chickamauga with an excellent R...
06/05/2025

What a whirlwind the Georgia leg of the Civil War Battlefields Cruise was! We began at Chickamauga with an excellent Ranger led tour. For those of you who don’t know, this was the second bloodiest battle of the entire war. From there, it was off to . A Georgia State Park, the battlefield has miles of trails and some passionate rangers who gave us the full story of the battle. I had a pretty sweet room in Buckhead that night. The three photos feature Stone Mountain, Midtown Atlanta, and Kennesaw Mountain, scene of Sherman’s worst defeat during his Atlanta Campaign.

The next day, we visited with its Civil War exhibits and famous Cyclorama. The museum contains some effects of Maj. Gen. James McPherson who was killed during the Atlanta Campaign. McPherson was one of the two highest-ranking Union generals killed during the war. From Atlanta, it was off to Griswoldville. Brandon gave a brief walking tour of the battlefield where Union veterans defeated Confederate militia consisting mainly of old men and teenaged boys. We ended the day with a visit to the in Macon.

We were up early the next morning for the ride to . This remains one of the most poignant units of the NPS. We spent additional time walking the National Cemetery. This was even more appropriate as our visit fell during Memorial Day Weekend.

Next up, the Florida, second Georgia, and South Carolina leg!

Tonight, we remember George Wendt, AKA Norm Peterson. Norm was the most famous barfly in American history. Who doesn’t...
05/20/2025

Tonight, we remember George Wendt, AKA Norm Peterson. Norm was the most famous barfly in American history. Who doesn’t want every bar patron to yell their name when they walk in? But more importantly, who could ever compete with those Norm one-liners?

Sam Malone: “What’re you up to, Norm?
Norm: “My ideal weight if I were eleven feet tall.”

Woody Boyd: “Can I pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: “A little early isn’t it, Woody?”
Woody: “For a beer?”
Norm: “No, for stupid questions.”

The greatest ever. We’ll miss him, but we’re better for knowing him. And if you’ve never seen his talk with Sam in the closing moments of the final Cheers episode, you owe it to yourself. He got it.

Cheers, friends.

!

Our final days in Louisiana consisted of stops at plantations and battlefields. Near Vacherie, we visited and its stel...
05/19/2025

Our final days in Louisiana consisted of stops at plantations and battlefields. Near Vacherie, we visited and its stellar museum, as well as beautiful . The next day unfortunately brought an unending deluge of rain, which made battlefield tramping quite difficult. The Battle of Baton Rouge visit was practically a washout, but some brave souls chose to tag along to hike the trails at . This is the site of the longest true siege during the Civil War, and the preserved areas are in pristine condition.

Tomorrow, Brandon rejoins the cruise in Chattanooga. He’ll take the guests through Georgia by bus, then up the coast on the American Liberty from Fernandina Beach to Charleston.

If you’re interested in next year’s cruise, we’d be happy to put you in touch with ACL!

Today’s edition of “Lies Told by Savannah Tour Guides” involves the beloved William Jasper Monument in Madison Square. ...
05/13/2025

Today’s edition of “Lies Told by Savannah Tour Guides” involves the beloved William Jasper Monument in Madison Square. While giving a Civil War Tour today, I heard a guide say “This monument was unveiled in 1879.” Was it? No, not really. Right on its front, the dates 1779-1879 are given. What does 1879 signify? The 100th anniversary of his death AND when the cornerstone was laid, not when it was unveiled. It took years to finally purchase and install the monument - It wasn’t officially dedicated until 1888. It was a big deal! Famous people were there for the dedication: GA Governor (and former Confederate General) John B. Gordon gave a speech. President Grover Cleveland was there!

To find the truth, sometimes you have to actually perform some research. While that may be lost on many Savannah tour guides, we assure you that’s not the case here.

Upcoming public tours this week:

Savannah History Walk Wednesday and Friday.

Dark History tonight, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

After this weekend, it’s back to the Civil War Cruise! We still owe you some posts from Louisiana!

The first couple days in New Orleans blew by! There were walks through the French Quarter and Garden District, museum v...
05/08/2025

The first couple days in New Orleans blew by! There were walks through the French Quarter and Garden District, museum visits, po’ boy devouring, and maybe a libation or two. In the Garden District, we viewed the homes where two very important Confederates, President Jefferson Davis and Gen. John Bell Hood, died. We also saw the home of the legendary Manning family. This Tennessee fan spent a little too much time gazing into the small front yard, picturing a young Peyton honing his future skills.

We began the official cruise today with a return visit to the Confederate Memorial Hall, Louisiana’s oldest museum. Among its exhibits are the uniforms of Generals Beauregard, Bragg, and Gardner, as well as a painting of Stonewall Jackson, Richard Ewell, and Turner Ashby that once hung in Jefferson Davis’s office in the Confederate White House.

We concluded our first day on the Mississippi with Brandon presenting on the 1862 Battle of Baton Rouge.

Next up: Vacherie, Louisiana and its plantations.

Tomorrow, Brandon heads down to New Orleans to serve as lead historian for American Cruise Lines’ 36-day Civil War Battl...
05/05/2025

Tomorrow, Brandon heads down to New Orleans to serve as lead historian for American Cruise Lines’ 36-day Civil War Battlefields Cruise. He’ll depart a few times, turning Historian duties over to renowned professionals like Tim Smith, Wade Sokolosky, and Rodney Steward (Yes, the one who’s also a True History Tours guide). For the legs Brandon is onboard, he’ll make daily posts covering the sites visited. The next month will be a great time to follow along on our social media!

And yes, tours will still be operating here in Savannah!

The Revolution was Savannah’s true brother against brother war. Families were split. Some even wished violence upon on...
05/02/2025

The Revolution was Savannah’s true brother against brother war. Families were split. Some even wished violence upon one another. With last month marking the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolution, numerous events will be popping up across the country over the next eight years. The Battles of Lexington and Concord traditionally mark the start of the war, but did you know the GA Sons of Liberty drowned a British sailor two months before the Shot Heard ‘Round the World? Come join us on Savannah’s only Revolutionary War Tour Saturday at 2:00!

Full weekend schedule:

Friday:

Dark History Tours at 7:00 & 7:30

Saturday:

Savannah History Walk at 10:00 & 2:30
Rev War Tour at 2:00
Dark History at 6:30

Have a great Derby Weekend, Savannah!

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