Super Sunday Immersed in Savannah History
The state of Georgia experienced two Super Sundays this February. Atlanta played hosted the Super Bowl on February 3, and the Georgia History Festival sponsored Super Museum Sunday on February 10, where participating museums across the state waived their admissions fees for a day. For the second year in a row, Honors students attended the Super Museum Sunday, learning more about the region at historic sites throughout Savannah.
This year’s itinerary began with the Wormsloe Historic Site. This interactive exhibit delves into colonial life in the mid-late 1700s. Students enjoyed walking through the scenic trails that wound throughout the colonial estate of Noble Jones, a member of the first group of Georgia settlers led by James Oglethorpe.
The historic site not only offers insight into Jones’s life and impact on Georgia history, but also into life in the newly-settled American colonies in general.
Nick Wright (rehabilitation sciences ‘20) explained he “felt like just that one site gave so much of the history of Savannah and even a lot of the South during that time period… including the way the site was set up with different aspects of colonial life: the ink and quill lessons, the apothecary, the cannon and musket demonstrations, and the Native American teepees.”
Other attractions enjoyed by the Georgia Southern students included the tomahawk-throwing lessons, cricket games, and cooking tips and tricks of the 18th century (spoiler alert: the English loved nutmeg). The interactive nature of this historic site made it a unanimous favorite this year.
After a trip around Wormsloe, students set sails for a site closer to the heart and spirit of downtown Savannah: The Girl Scout First Headquarters building. Here, students were able to immerse themselves into the timeline of events that took the first ever and longest serving Girl Scouts Headquarters to the national and even world scene – and it all began in Savannah, Georgia.
From downtown, the students made their way out to the coast to visit Fort Pulaski and the Tybee Island Light Station and Museum where students learned about coastal Savannah’s unique history and strategic significance. Unlike the previous year, students had the privilege of walking all 178 steps to the top of Georgia’s oldest and tallest light station, which was ordered by James Oglethorpe, coinciding with the establishment of Wormsloe.
For many students, Super Museum Sunday was an enriching experience. Wright said that the “experience allowed [him] to learn more about the city he grew up in” and “why it was and [still] is such an important area.”
Fellow student Brian Kohler (biology ’20) echoed Wright’s sentiments but added an important perspective: “I don’t always have a car or access to transportation, so [this event] gave me the chance to see the city of Savannah, specifically from a historical perspective.”
In addition to the opportunity to see the city beyond the campus, Kohler, who is a Resident Assistant on the Armstrong campus, appreciated the opportunity to get know his fellow Honors Program students better.
Kohler shared, “The event gave me a chance to talk to Jordan Davis (biology ’22), who is one of my residents, and I got to learn more about what he thought about our campus and why he wanted to become part of the Honors Program.”
It’s clear that this event caters to more than just the history majors. With something for everyone – from trips to downtown, to fostering friendships – this year’s journey through historic Savannah cemented our students’ appreciation for the event, and many are already excited for next year’s trip.
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