Madison Square, Savannah, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Madison Square is one of the historic squares of Savannah, Georgia, laid out in 1837 on Bull Street and named for President James Madison. It is centred on a monument to Sergeant William Jasper, a Revolutionary War soldier mortally wounded in the 1779 Siege of Savannah. Shaded by live oaks and surrounded by notable old houses, it is also known for its ghost stories.

The story behind it

Savannah's squares were part of the city's plan from its founding, and Madison Square was one of the later additions. Its monument honours William Jasper, remembered for his bravery during the 1779 Siege of Savannah, when American and French forces tried and failed to retake the city from the British. The fighting took place around the edge of the town, and that history is the root of many local tales.

Those tales have made the square a favourite on ghost walks. Storytellers say restless soldiers linger nearby and that a dark, shadowy figure resembling the Jasper statue has been seen moving around the streetlamps at night. These are legends, not documented events, but they are part of the fun of being here after dark. The square is also tied to the Civil War, since the nearby Green-Meldrim House served as General Sherman's headquarters after Savannah fell in 1864. On the corner stands the Sorrel-Weed House, built in the 1840s for Francis Sorrel, which has appeared in paranormal television programmes. Its darker household stories are folklore, and historians treat the details with caution.

What to look for

• The monument to William Jasper at the centre of the square, which is the focal point of the whole space.
• The Green-Meldrim House, a Gothic Revival mansion on the square with decorative ironwork, next to St. John's Church.
• The Sorrel-Weed House, an elegant Regency-style home that is now a stop on many ghost tours.
• The streetlamps and spreading oaks around the monument, which look their most atmospheric at dusk.

Tips for your visit

• The square is a public green space you can walk through for free, and ten to twenty minutes is enough to take it in.
• Late afternoon into early evening gives you softer light and the best mood for the ghost stories.
• Some of the surrounding houses offer tours, but check current opening hours before you plan to go inside.
• Forsyth Park is a short walk south along Bull Street, and Chippewa Square is a short walk the other way, so it is easy to combine them.

See it on a quest

On Ghosts of Savannah: Haunted City you reach Madison Square on foot as one stop of a longer route through the historic centre. The app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look closely at the monument and the houses instead of just passing by. It suits the square's ghostly reputation, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join. One ticket covers the whole group.