Cotton Exchange - Savannah Georgia

The Cotton Exchange was built in 1872, with the help of architect, Will G. Preston. The Cotton Exchange is the first building to be built on air rights; this means that it was built over an existing street. It had to be built in this way so it could be near the cotton warehouses on River Street.

A large fountain with a statue of a Gryphon is in front of the building.

Factor's Walk is one of Savannah's popular locations. Today it consists of tourist attractions, shops catering to tourists, restaurants, bars and a hotel.

In 1817, it was the original site for the Cotton Exchange, and it was the center of activity for cotton coming to the Port of Savannah.

The first two floors of Factor's Walk were for the cotton coming to the port. In 1853, three more floors were added. The third floor was used for storage, and the fourth and fifth floors were offices. Soon the whole riverfront bluff consisted of alleys and walkways.

Located on a bluff above the river, these alleys and walkways were later called Factor's Walk because the men who graded or "factored" the cotton were called factors. A network of iron and concrete walkways connected the buildings to the bluff.

Savannah played a major role in the cotton industry for over a century.

Location:

The Cotton Exchange is located on Bay Street and Factor's Walk.