Clermont Lee and the Fight for Savannah's Squares — HSF Lecture at 323 E. Broughton Street

Savannah's squares are both public rooms and arguments; on March 19 the Historic Savannah Foundation brings a focused evening on one of their stewards. HSF Lecture: “Clermont Lee and the Fight for Savannah's Squares” takes place at the Murray C. Perlman and Wayne C. Spear Preservation Center inside the Historic Kennedy Pharmacy at 323 E. Broughton Street in Savannah, Georgia. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a wine reception and the lecture begins at 6:00 p.m.

Landscape architect Clermont Lee is often remembered for the simple, practical act of rounding the corners of Savannah’s squares to discourage vehicular shortcuts, but her influence goes deeper. This illustrated lecture traces Lee’s campaigns in mid-twentieth century Savannah, her advocacy for Troup Square in particular, and the network of neighbors, planners, and politicians she mobilized to protect the city's public green rooms. Expect archival photos, plans, and close readings of the live oak-canopied plazas that define downtown Savannah.

For visiting outdoor lovers, the talk is more than history; it is context for the city’s unique urban landscape. Savannah’s grid of squares—laid out in the eighteenth century as part of James Oglethorpe’s original plan—creates short, walkable blocks framed by historic facades, Spanish moss, and brick paths. Troup Square, with its unusual corner treatments and layered plantings, becomes a case study in how design decisions shape how people move through and care for green space.

Practical details matter: the program is free for HSF members; $15 for non-members. Space is limited (45 seats), and reservations are recommended via www.myhsf.org/events/lecture-series/. For questions, contact Kendall Graham at [email protected]. The reception beforehand offers a chance to meet local preservationists and scout nearby alleys and facades for evening photographs.

Beyond the lecture, plan a short walking loop after the event. Photograph the Preservation Center’s historic storefront at 323 E. Broughton Street, step into Troup Square to study Lee’s rounded corners, and look up at the live oaks for context. The evening is ideal for travelers who want to pair urban wandering with a sharper understanding of how civic design and advocacy keep public landscapes intact. Whether you’re a preservation-minded visitor, an architecture student, or someone who appreciates quieter city parks, this program provides a precise, insider view of why Savannah’s squares remain central to the city’s identity.

Historic Savannah Foundation has anchored preservation work in neighborhoods, making the Murray C. Perlman and Wayne C. Spear Preservation Center a hub for learning and action. That connection between advocacy and everyday use makes this lecture a standout: it's timed to an urban stroll, pairing indoor storytelling with outdoor exploration of plantings, curb details, and pedestrian patterns showing how residents and visitors use Savannah’s greenspaces. The event turns preservation into a practical guide.