George Washington sent a pair of bronze six-pounder cannons to Savannah after he visited the city in 1791 as part of his so-called “Southern Tour” following his inauguration. Affectionately called “George” and “Martha” after the nation’s first president and his wife, the guns — one British and one French — were given to the Chatham Artillery. In 1825, there was a push to send the guns to Augusta, but they remained in Savannah. According to one account, the guns were buried in 1861 uncovered in 1872.
Savannah’s Waving Girl Statue is a tribute to Savannahian Florence Martus. Between 1887 and 1931, Martus would wave a cloth at ships approaching Savannah from the lighthouse on Cockspur Island. She did this in hopes of catching a glimpse of her long-lost lover. Although she was not well known in her community, her fame spread worldwide among maritime communities. Ships passing through the area would return her greetings by sounding a blast from their horns. Even today, many ships still pay tribute to her statue.