Nature and regional history are among Screven’s defining themes: the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area borders the Savannah River, while Sylvania’s city plan and historic landmarks tell further chapters of the area’s story.
Nature and History in the Tuckahoe Area
The Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area covers 15,100 acres in Screven County and borders the Savannah River. At 15,100 acres, it is considerably larger than the Hiltonia Wildlife Management Area, which covers 500 acres, and the Dixon Bay Wildlife Management Area, which covers 300 acres. Dixon Bay is also characterized by hardwood and pine forests in Georgia’s coastal plain region. Most of the Brier Creek Battlefield lies within the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area, bringing nature and history together in one specific place.
Sylvania’s Cityscape and Orientation
Sylvania retains the spacious, symmetrical city plan designed by surveyor Azariah Enneis. In the downtown area, brick and stone buildings reflect small-town architecture from the 1920s and 1930s. The city plan and architectural styles offer different insights into Sylvania’s character. By an act of the General Assembly dated December 24, 1847, Sylvania was designated the county seat of Screven County.
The Sylvania Historic Welcome Center was the first visitor center built in Georgia. Behind the center is a park with ten picnic tables and two grill stations.
Historic Markers and Landmarks
A marker about the March to the Sea records that the 17th Corps, with General Sherman and his staff, crossed what is now U.S. 301 at Coopersville on December 4, 1864. Another historic marker in Screven County covers the Louisville Road, a road built during the colonial era that connected Queensboro with Savannah.
Old Courthouse Park is home to two historic Civil War cannons, known as 12-pound Napoleons. The city received the cannons in 1913 for a commemorative exhibition. Historic U.S. 301 through Georgia runs from Sylvania through Statesboro, Claxton, Glennville, Ludowici, Jesup, and Folkston to the Florida border. Rather than running directly alongside Interstate 95, it diverges from it.
Art, Agriculture, and Special Interests
The Soda Shop Gallery is located in a renovated historic building in downtown Sylvania. It showcases local artwork and highlights the diverse talents of artists from Screven County. Another distinctive feature is Robbins Grist Mill: it is currently the only water-powered grist mill in operation in Georgia.
Old Freeman Family Farm received the Centennial Family Farm award in 1998; before that, it had been owned and operated by the Freeman family for five generations. The farm hosts field trips for school groups. Screven Motor Speedway also offers a clear contrast to these historic themes: the track is a 3/8-mile, semi-banked red clay oval at Screven County Motorsports Complex. Professional video and photography packages are available as add-on options at Jump Georgia Skydiving.
The Market on Maple Farmers Market takes place every Thursday from May through September. Its seasonal schedule sets it apart from the buildings and historic sites described as permanent: the market runs from May through September, while the other topics are characterized primarily by their history, architecture, or landscape.
Discover more destinations: Sylvania, Pickens, Barrow County, Effingham County, Paulding County, Henry, Pulaski County, Crisp County
For the main travel overview: Georgia.
