Savannah marks America’s 250th anniversary with Declaration of Independence re-enactment

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The Fourth of July has passed, but the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary continues in Savannah.

Crowds gathered in Johnson Square on Monday were transported back to 1776 to experience a pivotal piece of local history.

Re-enacting a historic moment

On the cusp of the Revolution, residents of a newly independent Savannah gathered to hear the words of the Declaration of Independence for the first time. Two-and-a-half centuries later, historians re-enacted the historic speech originally delivered by the president of Georgia’s Provincial Council, Archibald Bulloch.

“Well it’s surreal, I mean it really makes you think back reading the historical accounts understanding about how this country came about of this idea of doing something different that had not been done before,” said Savannah’s Mayor Van Johnson.

Organizers said that single document entirely changed the course of history for the city.

“Bringing in that history to life to our youth and our younger generations that are learning about the nation and Georgia’s history by bringing them here to actually experience that reenactment in person. I think that really helps them connect to that history in a different way,” said Luciana Spracher, City of Savannah Archives and History Officer.

A march through Georgia’s oldest square

The living history event began with a processional march to Johnson Square, which stands as Georgia’s oldest and largest historic public square.