Florence Martus
Savannah's Waving Girl
Better known as “the Waving Girl”, Florence Martus created an identity for herself by the simple act of waving at incoming ships entering the Port of Savannah, Georgia. Between 1887 and 1931, Martus would wave a handkerchief or lantern depending on the time of day to every single passing sailor and ship.
The Waving Girl Statue on
River Street in Savannah.
Photo Copyright 2021, Official Savannah Guide, All Rights Reserved
Florence Martus was born on Cockspur Island in 1868 shortly after the Civil War. She was the daughter of an ordnance sergeant at Fort Pulaski and was born in the former quarters of the engineer officers. Starting at a very young age, Martus became fascinated by the ships that sailed through the port day in and day out. She watched every ship pass by, and began waving her handkerchief at them as they passed by. Sailors quickly took notice and returned her gesture with a simple wave from the ship. This brought Martus happiness, and she continued the tradition as she grew older.
A few years after the start of her tradition, Florence Martus moved in with her brother. He worked as a lightkeeper near the riverbank, and through their proximity to the water, Martus continued on with her tradition from this new spot. Regardless of the day or time, Martus would wave either a towel during the day or a lantern at night to every ship that passed. Through the years, she never stopped. In fact, she continued to do this for over 44 years. Martus never missing a single ship throughout that time. Sailors began to respond with three blasts of their whistle, acknowledging Martus every time. Ships looked out for Martus as they approached the port taking care to ensure they acknowledged her.
Undoubtedly, Florence Martus became quite the talk of the town among sailors. Despite their differences, they could always find common ground when talking about “the waving girl” who welcomed them in on their way into the port. From a young girl to a young adult, and through to her later years, Martus’ commitment remained unwavering.
In 1943, Martus passed away at the age of 75. However, her legacy continued to live on through the stories of many sailors who encountered her gracious wave as they entered Savannah. While only a few people ever met her, thousands knew her from a distance, and that was enough to make an impact on them.
Just the simple action of waving to passers-by’s enchanted sailors and her story was told worldwide. To commemorate her life, a Liberty ship was built in Savannah in 1943 and was named after her. In Savannah, a statue named Waving Girl was also erected in her honor and sits on Morrell Park on the historic riverfront. In addition to this, Savannah also named one of its ferries from the Savannah Belles Ferry service after her.
Through a tumultuous time in history, Florence Martus found a way to brighten many peoples’ days. The historical marker dedicated to her in 1958 now sits near the visitor center at Fort Pulaski and is a reminder of one of Savannah’s most notable women of the time.
