Historic Site and Monument Commission

Savannah has a long history and tradition of erecting markers, monuments and public art in its public spaces. Oglethorpe’s original design for the city, which included the repeated ward pattern with a central square, has provided the City with a number of ideal locations for public monuments and art as focal points in the squares. Additionally, the grid pattern, key building placement, and development have provided the city with a natural hierarchy of streets. This is most apparent in Bull Street, whose sight line starts at City Hall, runs through Johnson Square (the financial center of the city), Wright Square, Chippewa Square, Madison Square, Monterey Square, and through to Forsyth Park. These public spaces have consistently been very desirable for monuments because of their high status, and by 1910, the centers of these spaces were filled with significant monuments.

Markers, monuments and public art have served a wide variety of purposes in Savannah’s history, including honoring military heroes or events, remembering significant historical events, recognizing the contributions (civic, humanitarian, artistic, etc.) of particular people or groups of people, and generally enhancing public spaces.

The purpose of the Savannah-Chatham County Historic Site and Monument Commission is to ensure that existing markers, monuments, and works of art are restored and/or repaired, and that new appropriate markers, monuments, and works of art are erected in the City of Savannah. The Commission reviews all applications for new markers, monuments and works of art erected on public property within the City of Savannah and makes recommendations to the Mayor and Aldermen regarding their appropriateness. The Commission also reviews and makes decisions regarding all markers, monuments, and works of art (as defined as being greater than 27 cubic feet) erected on private property, visible from the public right-of-way and located within a locally designated historic district.

The Commission has a standing Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) which consists of ten members or their designees, representing various institutions within the City. This Committee was established in 1990 by the Mayor and Aldermen to assist the Commission in review proposals for new monuments and public art.

The Review Process

The Site and Monument Commission has adopted a Master Plan and Guidelines to assist applicants, staff, the Commission, and City Council when evaluating new markers, monuments and pubic art. A complete copy of the Master Plan and Guidelines is available by clicking here.

Markers: The process begins with an Application. Submit a Historical Marker Application to the MPC. The Site and Monument Commission will review the application and either make a decision (if proposed marker is to be located on private property in a local historic district and visible from the public right of way) or make a recommendation to City Council (if proposed marker is to be located on public property within the city limits).

Monuments and Public Art: The first step is to meet with staff to discuss the viability of the project. If the monument or work of art is to be located on public property, verify whether or not the proposed site is an "Available Site" (see Chapter 4 of the Master Plan and Guidelines). If the proposed site is not an Available Site, submit a Request for Site Evaluation. The site must be approved by the Site and Monument Commission and its TAC before proceeding (this step may be skipped if the proposed monument or work of art is to be located on private property). If the site is on private property, already listed as available, or the Site and Monument Commission approves the site, submit Part 1: Theme and Location Application. This will be reviewed by the TAC, who will make a recommendation to the Site and Monument Commission. If the proposed monument or work of art is located on public property, the Site and Monument Commission will make a recommendation to City Council and City Council will make the final determination. If the proposed monument or work of art is located on private property, the Site and Monument Commission will make the final determination. After approval of Part 1, the applicant may submit Part 2: Design and Funding. The review process will be identical to that of Part 1. After approval of Part 2, the applicant will be notified of the Escrow Payment required. Once submitted, the monument or public art erection may occur.

NOTE: The Historic Site and Monument Commission will not consider applications for monuments which have already been fabricated prior to the review process.

News and Updates

Master Plan and Guidelines : The Mayor and Aldermen adopted the Master Plan and Guidelines on March 1, 2007.

Click here to read "Markers, Monuments, and Public Art Master Plan and Guidelines for the City of Savannah".

The Historic Site and Monument Commission meets on the first Thursday of every month at 4:00 PM. The TAC meets on an as needed basis. Meetings are held in the Metropolitan Planning Commission's Arthur A. Mendonsa Hearing Room (112 East State Street) and are open and the public is welcome to attend and comment.

 

For more information please contact Ellen Harris at 912.651.1482.