Visitors to Savannah are mesmerized by the huge southern magnolias, and majestic live oaks containing Spanish moss. They’re enchanted by the tour able historic homes, Savannah’s iconic Forsyth Park fountain, as well as River Street where the port was located and Georgia’s exportation of cotton began.
But many ask, where is the oldest house in Savannah? Many say it’s The Herb House, located at the Pirates' House and said to be built in 1734, however it’s doubtful as the brick on that house didn’t exist during that time period.
To find the real ‘hidden gem’ (oldest colonial urban home in all of GA), you can stroll down to 122 East Oglethorpe.
Christian Camphor Cottage
This home was built between 1760-1767, and it was raised onto its brick foundation in 1871. The upper story is wood frame and the roof features two dormers on its salt box frame. The current porch was remodeled in 1907. Amazingly, most of the wood on the house is original to the building.
The house, like many of the early first permeant dwellings in Savannah reflected the colonists’ memories of their English homes (side gabled houses with a chimney at one end or a New England salt box style, with the side gabled roof extending at a gentle pitch above an attached rear shed.)
The name of the House is ‘The Christian Camphor Cottage’ and why that name? If you can find an answer to that question you will be considered a true Savannahian historian!