12/16/2025
🧭 Discover Savannah at ASHHRA26! 🧭
Five facts about Savannah you may not have known:
🌳 America’s First Planned City
Founded in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe, Savannah stands out as one of the earliest planned cities in the United States. Its original design featured a unique grid pattern of 24 public squares—22 of which still grace the historic district today.
🥤 To-Go Drinks in the Historic District
Savannah offers a rare treat: you can enjoy a drink and continue exploring—to-go cups are allowed within the historic district! Simply ask your server, and stroll through the charming streets with your beverage in hand.
🎄 Sherman's "Christmas Gift" to Lincoln
During his infamous March to the Sea in 1864, Union General William T. Sherman spared Savannah from destruction. He famously telegraphed President Lincoln, offering the intact, beautifully preserved city as a Christmas gift.
🍍 Spanish Moss Isn’t Moss
The iconic Spanish moss draping Savannah’s live oaks isn’t actually moss at all—it’s an epiphyte, a plant related to pineapples! It draws nutrients from the air, adding that hauntingly beautiful Southern charm without harming the trees.
🙏 Oldest Black Church & Underground Railroad Legacy
The First African Baptist Church, founded in 1777, is one of the oldest Black churches in North America. Its historic sanctuary served as part of the Underground Railroad, with hidden floorboards that concealed enslaved individuals seeking freedom.
Join us in Savannah for the ASHHRA26 Annual Conference and Exposition (May 17-19) and discover more about this historic city. Register today! https://ow.ly/uW0c50XK4FR