Central of Georgia Railroad: Savannah Shops and Terminal Facilities

The Central of Georgia Railroad is a 33-acre complex with buildings from the 1800s, including a roundhouse, machine shops, and administrative buildings in downtown Savannah. The site features preserved industrial structures such as a 123-foot smokestack, a 40,000-gallon water tank, and extensive brick buildings along Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard.

The complex began operations in 1836 to connect the port of Savannah with Macon and became a major transportation hub for cotton exports by 1843. This growth period led to the expansion of workshops and infrastructure that strengthened the city's economic importance.

The railroad facilities now host several museums and art institutions that tell the story of transportation and industry in the region. These spaces show how the railroad shaped daily life and commerce in Savannah for generations.

The complex stretches along Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and features several separate buildings that visitors can explore on foot. The best time to visit is during daytime hours when the museums are open and the buildings are visible from the outside.

The site contains Georgia's oldest standing railroad bridge and America's oldest surviving railroad shed with a truss roof, built in 1876. These two structures showcase the engineering innovations that railway builders employed in the late 1800s.

Location: Savannah

Inception: 1989

GPS coordinates: 32.07580,-81.09970

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:06