On the west side of City Market is Franklin Square, right in the middle of the downtown bustle.
Franklin Square is surrounded by some of the liveliest night scenes in the city.
It was designed in 1790 in honor of Benjamin Franklin, who was an agent for Georgia in London. It was once known as “Water Tower Square,” because it was home to the city’s water supply in the mid to late 19th century. The square was restored in the late 20th century after the square’s dissection due to Federal Highway 17.
In the middle of the square is the Haitian Monument. The monument pays tribute to the Haitian soldiers who fought for American Independence during the Siege of Savannah in 1779. Sculpture James Mastin created this work, which demonstrates the “Les Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue,” or Freedom Fighters. The boy is 12-year-old Henri Christophe, who became the commander of the Haitian army and King of Haiti.
