The Waving Girl statue, Savannah, Ghid vizitatori și ce de văzut în apropiere

The Waving Girl statue in Savannah, Georgia, is a bronze memorial to Florence Martus, who according to local legend greeted every ship entering the port for 44 years. It stands on the riverfront, looking out over the Savannah River where cargo ships still glide past, and it is one of the best-loved pieces of public art in the city.

The story behind it

Florence Martus lived downriver from the city, and the story goes that she waved to arriving and departing ships for 44 years, using a white cloth by day and a lantern at night. Sailors came to look out for her. They answered with blasts of the ship's horn and, so the tale goes, sometimes brought her gifts from distant ports. Her fame was great enough that a Liberty ship, the S.S. Florence Martus, was named after her in 1943.

The legend gives her a reason: she is said to have fallen in love with a sailor who sailed away and never came back, and she kept waving in case he was aboard one of the ships. Historians treat the romance as folklore, but it is the version Savannah tells. The statue, made by the sculptor Felix de Weldon, was unveiled in 1972 near the stretch of river she watched.

What to look for

• The figure's raised arm, caught mid-wave, with the cloth in her hand, which turns a quiet gesture into the whole story.
• The dog at her side, a detail that makes the scene feel like a real person on a real waterfront.
• The view across the water, where you can watch container ships and other vessels pass, just as she did.
• The plaque and inscription nearby, which sum up the legend in a few lines.

Tips for your visit

• The statue is outdoors and is a quick stop. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for photos and a look at the river, longer if a big ship is passing.
• Go early in the morning for fewer people, or around dusk when the light on the water is softest and the legend feels more fitting.
• It sits close to River Street, so it is easy to combine with a walk along the cobblestones, the shops and the riverfront cafes.
• Wear comfortable shoes, since the riverfront paving is uneven, and check current conditions if you plan to visit in bad weather.

See it on a quest

Captured by Pirates in Savannah is a good way to see the Waving Girl as part of a longer walk through the area. You reach it on foot as one stop on the route, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Ghosts of Savannah: Haunted City suits this statue well, since the legend of the woman who kept waving is exactly the kind of tale Savannah loves to tell after dark. You walk between the stops, hear about each place as you get there and work out a puzzle in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.