Entry No. 35 — the Savannah file — filed under: outdoor
The Waving Girl Statue
A bronze statue by Felix de Weldon (the sculptor behind the Iwo Jima Memorial) commemorates Florence Martus, who for 44 years (1887-1931) waved a handkerchief by day and a lantern by night at every single ship entering or leaving Savannah from her home on remote Elba Island — and, per Wikipedia, the statue's own inscription gets her birth year wrong. A Liberty ship was named after her in 1943.
The story
For 44 straight years—from 1887 to 1931—Florence Martus lived on isolated Elba Island in the Savannah River and greeted every single vessel that sailed past her home. By day she snapped a white handkerchief through the air; by night she swung a lantern into the dark. Ships from around the world learned to expect her, making her a global maritime legend long before her own city bothered to build her a monument.
When Savannah finally commissioned a tribute, they tapped Felix de Weldon—the monumental sculptor behind the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington. He cast Florence in bronze alongside her faithful collie dog, waving toward the harbor channel. But inspect the pedestal closely and you'll catch a bizarre historical blunder: the official plaque mounted on the monument actually gets her birth year wrong.
Martus's fame reached so far into naval lore that the U.S. Maritime Commission named a WWII Liberty ship after her in 1943. Her statue now anchors Morrell Park on the riverfront—a spot so fiercely protected by locals that a 2019 proposal to relocate her down the riverbank sparked petitions and widespread uproar.
What it's like
Head to the eastern end of River Street where the cobblestone foot traffic finally thins out into Morrell Park. The statue stands right at the water's edge, surrounded by lawn and river breeze. It's completely free and open 24/7. Walk up to read the factually flawed bronze inscription, then look east downriver toward Elba Island—best done right as a massive, modern container ship glides past her static bronze wave.
The move: Find the statue along the River Street waterfront, read the (factually flawed) inscription together, then look across the water toward Elba Island and picture 44 years of waving at strangers for no reason but ritual.
- 📍 River Street / Morrell Park, Downtown Savannah
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Morrell Park, River Street, Savannah, GA 31401
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Rousakis Plaza / Echo Square — Walk two tenths of a mile west along River Street to pair a monument to a harbor legend with an unexpected acoustic trick built right into the plaza concrete.
- The Pirates' House — Head one block inland to Trustees' Garden to turn your riverfront outing into a full maritime deep-dive at Georgia's oldest standing structure.
- Graveface Museum — Cut up the cobblestone alley behind River Street to trade open-air coastal lore for dark, docent-led true-crime oddities.
Good to know
Where is the Waving Girl Statue located?
It stands outdoors in Morrell Park along the eastern end of the River Street waterfront in downtown Savannah.
What is wrong with the statue's inscription?
The official historical marker plaque installed on the statue gets Florence Martus's birth year wrong.
Who made the statue?
It was sculpted by Felix de Weldon, the same artist who created the famous Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial) in Arlington, Virginia.
Why did Florence Martus wave at ships?
Living on remote Elba Island with her brother (the lighthouse keeper), she began waving at passing ships in 1887 and kept up the daily ritual for 44 years until 1931.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · georgiahistory.com · exploregeorgia.org · gosouthsavannah.com · wjcl.com
last checked: 2026-07-20