Chippewa Square

Updated June 11, 2025

Chippewa Square – Savannah, GA | Savannah.com

## Chippewa Square, Savannah: History, Movie Lore, and a Perfect Pause in the Historic District

Chippewa Square is one of Savannah’s most recognisable public spaces: a compact green square framed by live oaks and historic buildings at the intersection of Bull and McDonough Streets in the heart of the Historic District. Laid out in 1815 and named to honor American soldiers who fought in the Battle of Chippawa during the War of 1812, it’s one of Savannah’s 22 formal squares and sits right in the middle band of the city’s famous grid.

Today, major review aggregators consistently rate Chippewa Square around 4.7 out of 5 based on several thousand visitor reviews, which tracks with what you’ll feel on the ground: this is a small but high-impact stop that belongs on any Savannah walking route.

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## A Square Built to Remember a Different Battlefield

Despite its Hollywood fame, Chippewa Square’s story starts long before the cameras arrived.

– Year created: 1815, as part of the 19th-century expansion of Savannah’s original Oglethorpe Plan.
– Namesake: The Battle of Chippawa (also spelled Chippewa), a War of 1812 engagement in present-day Ontario. The square’s name specifically commemorates American soldiers who died in that battle.

This means that when you sit here today, you’re in a space that ties together early American expansion, military history, and the design logic of one of the best-preserved planned cities in the United States.

Architecturally, the square still follows the classic Savannah pattern: a central green space surrounded by “tything” and “trust” lots. To the north sits Bull Street, a key spine that runs through several of Savannah’s most important squares.

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## The James Oglethorpe Monument: Savannah’s Founder in Bronze

At the center of Chippewa Square stands the James Oglethorpe Monument, one of the most significant statues in Savannah.

– Who he was: James Oglethorpe founded the colony of Georgia and established Savannah in 1733. Historical Society
– Statue details: The 9-foot bronze figure was designed by noted American sculptor Daniel Chester French, with the granite pedestal and base by architect Henry Bacon—the same duo who later collaborated on the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
– Dedication: The monument was unveiled in 1910 after nearly a decade of fundraising and planning.

Oglethorpe is portrayed in full military dress, facing south with sword in hand. That orientation is deliberate: it symbolically faces toward Spanish Florida, reflecting the tension between the British colony of Georgia and Spanish expansion to the south at the time. Historical Society

Look closely at the base and you’ll notice sculpted details—including four lions—rather than a simple plinth. It’s easy to rush past in search of movie moments, but this monument is a key piece of Savannah’s civic identity.

> Context note for inclusive travel:
> Oglethorpe is often highlighted for his role as a social reformer and critic of debtors’ prisons, and early colonial Georgia initially banned slavery. However, that ban was later overturned and the colony became deeply entwined with enslaved labor. Any visit to Savannah’s monuments sits against this broader reality of colonization and slavery in the region. Savannah

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## Forrest Gump and the Missing Bench

For many visitors, Chippewa Square is synonymous with Forrest Gump.

– The bus-stop scenes from the 1994 film—where Forrest shares his now-famous box of chocolates—were filmed on the north side of Chippewa Square, with the camera facing south toward the Oglethorpe statue and Bull Street.
– The bench itself was never a permanent fixture. Several fiberglass benches were installed just for filming. After production, at least one of these benches was donated and can now be seen inside the Savannah History Museum, not in the square. Historic Savannah Theatre

On site today, the exact spot where the bench stood is now part of a small garden strip and pathway. You’ll still see people lining up to photograph that perspective shot: Oglethorpe framed by trees, Bull Street receding in the background.

Important for expectations: if you’re planning a pilgrimage purely to “sit on the Forrest Gump bench,” know in advance that the original prop is indoors at the museum and that current benches in the square are not the screen-used versions. Visitor reviews highlight this as a common surprise.

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## What to See Around Chippewa Square

### 1. Savannah Theatre

On the east side of the square, along Bull Street, you’ll find the Savannah Theatre, which dates to 1818 and is often cited as one of the oldest continually operating theatres in the United States, though it has been rebuilt and renovated multiple times after fires and storms.

Today it hosts stage shows and performances geared to visitors and locals. Even if you don’t step inside, the marquee and façade are a strong visual anchor for the square.

### 2. Historic Churches and Townhouses

Within a short walk of Chippewa Square, visitors can see notable churches and 19th-century townhouses:

– First Baptist Church and other historic congregations sit within easy walking distance, adding steeples and classical facades to the skyline around the square.
– The surrounding streets feature brick and stucco townhomes typical of the district, showing how residential and civic life were designed to cluster around these green spaces.

When you’re building a walking loop, Chippewa makes a logical midpoint between Wright Square to the north and Madison Square just to the south.

(Great place to internally connect to your broader Savannah Historic District walking guide.)

### 3. Everyday Square Life

Despite its film fame, Chippewa Square still works as a neighborhood park:

– Shaded benches under live oaks draped with Spanish moss
– Paved pathways that cross the square on a grid
– Occasional performers or small tours pausing in the center

Because it sits slightly off the River Street / waterfront axis, it can feel calmer than some of Savannah’s other big-ticket stops, especially outside peak midday hours. Recent traveler feedback calls out the square’s “peaceful and charming” ambiance and highlights it as a good place simply to decompress between museum or food stops.

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## Practical Tips for Visiting Chippewa Square

### Best Time to Visit

Recent travel platforms that aggregate visitor data suggest weekday mornings as an ideal time frame: fewer crowds, cooler temperatures for much of the year, and better light for photography.

Chippewa Square also plays a role during Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade; some reviewers specifically recommend it as a vantage point near the later part of the route, though crowd levels are significantly higher then.

### Getting There and Orientation

– Location: At the intersection of Bull Street and East/West McDonough Street in Savannah’s Historic District.
– On foot: The square is easily reached from other Bull Street highlights—Wright Square to the north and Madison Square further south—making it a natural stop on any DIY walking tour.
– By trolley or tour bus: Several hop-on, hop-off and guided city tours list Chippewa Square or its immediate surroundings as a stop, which can be useful if you prefer to limit walking distances in the heat or humidity.

(This section pairs nicely with an internal link to your “Top Things to Do in Savannah” overview.)

### Accessibility and Inclusive Travel Notes

For wheelchair users and travelers with mobility needs, Chippewa Square is generally considered more accessible than many older urban parks, but there are caveats:

– Paved paths: The central walkways are paved and navigable by wheelchair or mobility scooter.
– Surrounding sidewalks: Some of Savannah’s historic sidewalks can be uneven or cracked, which may pose challenges in certain spots.
– District-wide context: Recent accessible-travel guides highlight Savannah’s squares (including Chippewa) as workable for mobility scooters and wheelchairs, but experiences can vary depending on weather, construction, and individual tolerance for bumps or slopes. the World Blog

> Outdated-data flag:
> The most detailed accessibility write-ups for Savannah’s Historic District and Chippewa Square currently date from 2019–2025. Curb cuts, paving, and nearby restroom access can change with city works, so it’s worth checking the latest information from Visit Savannah or recent accessibility blogs before planning if step-free access is essential. Savannah

### Safety and Etiquette

Savannah’s Historic District is heavily visited and Chippewa Square is usually busy with foot traffic during daylight hours. Standard city travel habits apply:

– Keep valuables out of sight and avoid leaving bags unattended on benches.
– Respect the monument and plantings—climbing on statues or fencing is discouraged.
– Early mornings and early evenings offer a calmer atmosphere; late at night, treat the area like any urban park and stay aware of your surroundings.

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## How to Slot Chippewa Square Into Your Savannah Itinerary

Chippewa Square works best as part of a half-day Historic District loop:

1. Start near the riverfront, then walk south through a sequence of squares on Bull Street.
2. Pause at Chippewa Square for photos of the Oglethorpe Monument and the famous Forrest Gump film perspective.
3. Duck into the Savannah Theatre if timings and programming line up.
4. Continue toward Madison Square and onward to Forsyth Park, a route echoed in several self-guided audio tours that begin or pass through Chippewa Square.

If movie history or colonial history is a core interest, you can deepen the experience by pairing the square with:

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