Venturing along Bluff Drive, whether by foot, bike or car, one is certain to be mesmerized by its canopy of great oaks laden with Spanish moss and its bright splashes of flowering azaleas and camellias that beckon one to explore what lies ahead. As the drive winds along the water’s edge, one can glimpse scenes of recreational and commercial activity that have enlivened the bluff, in various forms, for over two centuries. The dappled light of a spring morning flickering through the trees and glistening off of the river have long drawn residents, visitors, and fisherman alike to experience the natural beauty and relaxation offered along Bluff Drive.
View along Shore, Isle of Hope, Savannah
From Bluff Drive, one has a continuous view along the snaking Skidaway River, which is part of the 3,000-mile-long Intracoastal Waterway, an inland water route connecting the eastern and gulf coasts of the United States.
Scene at Isle of Hope, Savannah, GA
The ‘Scene at Isle of Hope’ postcard captures a quintessential view of Bluff Drive at the turn of the 20th century, with young live oaks dotting its edges and giving a hint of the grand canopy to come.
Midst the Oaks and Palms, Isle of Hope, Savannah
In the midst of the oaks and palms that border Bluff Drive, blossoming azaleas and camellias add bright bursts of color punctuating the view.
Driveway at Isle of Hope, Savannah, GA
The Good Roads Movement of the late 1800s was greatly expanded in the early 20th century with the advent of the automobile; it brought with it, a new impetus for improving rural roads, like Bluff Drive, and providing a faster, safer and more enjoyable driving experience.
Shell Road, Isle of Hope, Savannah, GA
With an abundance of oyster shells available during the mid-19th and early 20th centuries, came an inexpensive, visually attractive and much less dusty alternative to replace the sandy roads of the past.
Savannah, GA, Shell Road, Isle of Hope
Driving or walking along the shell road that was Bluff Drive in the early 1900s, one would have seen a variety of picturesque homes nestled amongst the oak trees, including those featured in this postcard: 63 Bluff Drive in the background and 67 Bluff Drive in the foreground.
Oaks at Isle of Hope, Savannah, GA
Bluff Drive has gone through several transformations and name changes over the centuries. Originally referred to as ‘the road along the bluff’, it was eventually given the apt name of River Road in the early 1900s.
Isle of Hope located on the Skidaway River, Savannah, GA
Venturing along Bluff Drive, whether by foot, bike or car, one is certain to be mesmerized by its canopy of great oaks laden with Spanish moss and its bright splashes of flowering azaleas and camellias that beckon one to explore what lies ahead.
Isle of Hope, Savannah, GA
There was a time when the entire stretch of Bluff Drive wasn’t always accessible to take in the views by horse drawn carriage or motor.
Isle of Hope, River front, Savannah, GA
The riverfront stretch of land resting between Bluff Drive and the Skidaway River was an important hub of recreational and commercial activity, attracting many a fisherman, oysterman and crabber to its abundant waters full of local catch.
Along the Road, Isle of Hope, Savannah, GA
Bluff Drive offered an unparalleled vista for taking in the graceful rowers coasting along the Skidaway River.
Views North and South from Barbee and Sons Restaurant
Waterfront View Isle of Hope Savannah
Whether enjoyed by a meandering stroll, through the lowered window of a car or in the open air of a bateau, a sunrise, a sunset, or a moonrise along Bluff Drive is magical.