Central of Georgia Railway Company Shop Property
Also known as: See Also:Central of Georgia Railroad: Savannah Shops and Ter
Why it's listed
Built between 1850 and 1855, this Savannah railway shop complex served the Central of Georgia Railroad, then among the most important lines in the Southeast. William Morrill Wadley, the line's superintendent and later president, designed it. The original group joined a machine shop, blacksmith shop, engine house and brick lumber shed, with a 125-foot ornamental smokestack nearby that also held a cast-iron water tank. Local brick from the Hermitage Plantation was used, and a Savannah foundry cast the iron band at the stack's base. An 1855 northern trade journal ranked the station among the most complete and elegant in the country. A later amendment widened the boundaries to take in the Red Building, Gray Building, freight warehouses, carpentry and paint shops, cotton yard gates and two canal bridges. Listing recognizes the complex as a rare survivor of early railroad-era industrial design and as the work of a notable railroad figure.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the buildings are high-quality examples of mid-nineteenth century industrial design and rare survivors from the early railroad era. They were designed by William Morrill Wadley, a mechanic, architect and railroad president, and were praised in 1855 as among the finest railroad facilities in the country.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 70000199, listed March 5, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Between W. Jones St. and Louisville Rd., Savannah |
|---|---|
| County | Chatham County |
| Listed | March 5, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000199 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 19th Century; specific date 1850 (prior to July 17, 1855) |
| Architect / builder | William Morrill Wadley (designer); Augustus Schwaab and Fay and Eichberg named for later structures |
| Architectural style | Mid-nineteenth century industrial design; Romanesque Revival (engine house, gates, bridges); Queen Anne (Red Building) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated June 2, 1978 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The 1970 form lists the property as fair condition and not in use, and under purchase option by a historic site commission. A 1977 amendment says the Red Building is vacant, the Up Freight Warehouse is still used for storage, and the Passenger House serves as a visitor center. |
| Within district | Savannah Victorian Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 32.06729, -81.10151 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 70000199.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20857859
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.