The Savannah Civic Center was built in 1969 on the former site of Elbert Ward, laid out in 1801 and named after Revolutionary War hero Samuel Elbert. A narrow strip of Elbert Square remains today on the west side of the Civic Center. Most of the buildings in Elbert Ward were destroyed in the 1930s in a never-realized effort by the city to re-route Highway 17 through Montgomery Street. Since it opened in 1971, the Civic Center has attracted locals and tourists alike to thousands of conferences and events. Today, the City of Savannah is considering a possible new location for its civic arena, leaving the fate of the current building to be determined.
