Things to do nearFirst African Baptist Church

First African Baptist Church holds the distinction of being one of the oldest African American congregations in the United States, with roots tracing to 1773 when Reverend George Liele, a formerly enslaved man, began organizing a congregation in Savannah, Georgia. The current building on Franklin Square dates to 1859 and was constructed in large part by the hands of enslaved people who donated their earnings from weekend labor to fund its construction, a fact that gives the physical structure an extraordinary moral and historical weight. Inside, visitors find a sanctuary of quiet dignity, with original wooden pews, stained glass that filters soft light across the interior, and details that reward close attention.

Among the most quietly remarkable features are the hand-drilled holes in the floor beneath the pews, carved in patterns drawn from African cultural traditions and believed to have provided air to freedom seekers sheltering in a hidden basement space below during the era of the Underground Railroad. The church remained an active center of community life through Reconstruction, the Jim Crow era, and the Civil Rights Movement, hosting gatherings that shaped the civic and spiritual life of Savannah's Black community across nearly two and a half centuries.

Guided tours are available and offer a thoughtful, grounded account of the congregation's journey, led by people with genuine ties to the church and its legacy. The surrounding Franklin Square itself has been restored and provides a calm setting that complements a reflective visit. First African Baptist Church rewards visitors who come with curiosity and patience, offering a rare opportunity to stand inside a place where American history was not only witnessed but actively made.