Abstract
In 1882, electricity came to Savannah, Georgia. Like most American cities, Savannah modernized with technologies that provided more opportunities for social and entertainment venues and increased options for recreation outside of the city center. This paper explores how electricity altered both physical and social aspects of Savannah’s built environment. It will show that, due to the qualities of the humid climate combined with its Southern regional culture, Savannah underwent a localized electrification that specifically influenced social changes and the physical expansion of the metropolitan area. Various social activities could be enjoyed in the now-illuminated evening air or within the air-conditioned comfort of the market or the newly formed theatre district. Electrification further encouraged suburban growth with transportation connecting downtown Savannah to its periphery and causing a simultaneous transformation of leisure as the city expanded away from the Savannah River. In Savannah, these new areas of leisure, with their novel technological innovations, eased the harsh climate, yet also changed social behavior.
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