Hidden Histories, Historical Marker Resource
Old Savannah Cotton Exchange
This Hidden History(opens in new tab) was created by SCAD student Anna Kate Lynch as part of her SCAD art history department coursework, with guidance from art history professor Holly Goldstein, Ph.D., in 2026.
The Old Savannah Cotton Exchange historical marker was dedicated in 1957. View the Old Savannah Cotton Exchange historical marker listing.(opens in new tab)
Gallery
- "Artist Ann Osteen Finds Fiber of City" Accent Savannah. June 24, 1990. Georgia Historical Society, Vertical Files.
- Historic American Buildings Survey, Creator. North Rear- William Taylor Store, 204 West Bay Street, Savannah, Chatham County, GA. Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, 1933. https://www.loc.gov/item/ga0142/(opens in new tab).
- Historic American Buildings Survey, Creator. South Front and East Side- William Taylor Store, 204 West Bay Street, Savannah, Chatham County, GA. Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, 1933. https://www.loc.gov/item/ga0142/(opens in new tab).
- Old Savannah Cotton Exchange Historical Marker. Courtesy of the Historical Marker Database. Image by Mike Stroud. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=4904(opens in new tab)
- Collage 1, Created by Anna Kate Lynch, 2026.
- Collage 4, Created by Anna Kate Lynch, 2026.
- Collage 3, Created by Anna Kate Lynch, 2026.
- Savannah Spectrum Image 1, Martin Senour Paints, Historic Savannah Color Spectrum. Photograph by Anna Kate Lynch, 2026.
- Savannah Spectrum Image 2, Martin Senour Paints, Historic Savannah Color Spectrum. Photograph by Anna Kate Lynch, 2026.
- Savannah Spectrum Image 3, Martin Senour Paints, Historic Savannah Color Spectrum. Photograph by Anna Kate Lynch, 2026.
My Hidden History topic focuses on Ann Wenner Osteen, an artist and preservationist whose work and dedication to preserving the artistic and historical spirit of Savannah deserves far more recognition today. I drew inspiration from Osteen’s work on the Savannah Spectrum, a house-paint collection in which she recreated historically accurate nineteenth-century paint colors, using samples collected from historic buildings in downtown Savannah. Osteen and her husband, Dr. Lamont Osteen, were early pioneers of Savannah riverfront preservation. The couple purchased the historic William Taylor cotton warehouse, a structure built in 1816, that is traditionally considered the earliest documented cotton warehouse on the eastern seaboard. Osteen lived and worked in and around Savannah’s Factors Walk, gathering inspiration and conducting preservation research rooted in her surroundings.
The Old Savannah Cotton Exchange on Bay Street stands as a symbol of Savannah’s layered history, architecture, and identity. It represents the historic Savannah that Ann diligently worked to celebrate and preserve through her art. By choosing this marker, I was able to connect Osteen’s artistic vision to a physical location that likely may not have survived if not for Ann’s perseverance.
For the creative component of this project, I created a collection of photographs taken around Savannah, sorted by color, and layered on top of one another. My use of layering, overlapping images, and different color tones aim to reflect the vibrant and artistic quality of Osteen’s life work. My process involved strolling through downtown Savannah squares, capturing details of architecture, nature, and scenes that represent the city’s atmosphere.
My artwork engages with my Hidden Histories topic by visually continuing Ann Wenner Osteen’s celebration of Savannah. Like her work, my collage highlights the beauty, diversity, and character of the city through color and imagery. The piece reflects how Savannah can be experienced not just as a historic place, but as a living artistic environment shaped by preservation, creativity, and memory.
"Georgia Governor's Awards in the Arts, program, 1980." 1980. August 19, 2026. http://digitalcollections.library.gsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/AFLCIO/id/36528(opens in new tab).
Historic Savannah Foundation. “Our Story.” Historic Savannah Foundation, 2026. https://www.myhsf.org/about-us/our-story/(opens in new tab).
Historic Savannah Foundation, Inc. Savannah Historic District Action Plan: A Process for Change: Improving the Historic District Brick by Brick. Savannah, Georgia: Historic Savannah Foundation Inc., 1988. Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.
Osteen, Ann Wenner. “Celebrating the Life of Ann Wenner Osteen.” Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors. November 20, 2019. https://foxandweeks.com/obituaries/o/92/Ann-Wenner-Osteen(opens in new tab).