Hutchinson Island (Georgia) facts for kids

Hutchinson Island is an island in the Savannah River in Georgia, United States. It's located just north of downtown Savannah. A smaller river, called the Back River, separates it from the mainland.

For a long time, the island was mostly used for industries. Many of these businesses helped support the Port of Savannah. This port is one of the busiest in the world for moving large cargo containers. Hutchinson Island is about 7 miles (11 km) long and 1 mile (1.6 km) wide at its widest part.

Island History and Its Name

Hutchinson Island was named after Archibald Hutchinson. He was a friend of General Oglethorpe, who founded the Georgia colony.

Hutchinson Island During the Civil War

The island played an important role during the American Civil War. In December 1864, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman reached Savannah. He had marched his army from Atlanta to the Atlantic Ocean. Instead of destroying Savannah, Sherman asked the city to surrender.

Confederate General William J. Hardee led his soldiers away from the city. They crossed the Savannah River at night using a temporary bridge. They went across Hutchinson Island and into the wilderness of South Carolina. This helped them escape capture.

What You Can Find on Hutchinson Island

The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort is a popular hotel on the island.

Hutchinson Island is about 2,000 acres (8.1 km²) in size. People decided to build a convention center and a hotel here. This was a project between the local government and private companies.

Voters in Chatham County agreed to spend $63 million in public money. This money came from a special sales tax. It was used to build the trade center. Another $10 million was used for roads on the island. The state of Georgia also provided $18 million. The CSX railroad company, which owned some land, donated 25 acres (10 ha) for the public trade center.

Today, you can find the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center here. There is also the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort. While much of the island has been for trade shows and resorts, new homes are being built. The first neighborhood is called The Reserve at Savannah Harbor. There are also plans to make the riverfront area a lively part of Savannah.

Some parts of the island are still undeveloped. The Georgia Ports Authority and International Paper company own land on the far west end.

Grand Prize of America Road Course

In the 1990s, some local business people wanted to bring international car racing back to Savannah. Major races like the American Grand Prize and the Vanderbilt Cup Race were held in Savannah a long time ago, in the early 1900s.

After four years of planning, a deal was made for a race in 1997. It was for the PPG/Firestone Indy Lights series. The county helped build a 1.965-mile (3.162 km) road. This road had 10 turns and was designed to be used for racing. It was the first time in the USA that a public road was built with racing in mind.

The First Race and Its Future

In May 1997, the first Dixie Crystals Grand Prix was held. Other races also took place, including the North American Touring Car Championship. Over 30,000 people watched the main race. Future Indianapolis 500 winner, Hélio Castroneves, won the race.

Race car driver Mark Blundell tested the track. He said it was "demanding and really physical." He also said it was "a fun circuit to drive." He noted there were good spots for cars to pass each other. He thought it felt more like a proper race track than a street course.

The event seemed successful. Drivers liked the track, and many fans came. There was a contract for more races in the future. However, some companies involved in building the track sued the promoters. This caused the Colonial Motorsport company to go out of business. All their racing contracts ended. The race track then became public property and was not kept in good condition.

Historic Racing on the Island

In the 2010s, the track was fixed up and reopened for historic racing. Since 2014, Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) has organized the Savannah Speed Classic. This event is part of the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d'Elegance. It usually happens at the end of October and beginning of November each year.

However, in July 2021, the Savannah Speed Classic was cancelled. Construction work on the island made it unsafe to hold the race. There are no current plans to bring the Savannah Speed Classic back.

How to Get to Hutchinson Island

You can take the Savannah Belles Ferry across the Savannah River. This ferry runs regularly every day. You can also drive to the island. From the south, you can use the Talmadge Memorial Bridge. From the north, in South Carolina, you can use U.S. Highway 17.

Images for kids

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  Panorama of Savannah's River Street district from Hutchinson Island