Savannah State Unveils Legacy Lane to Celebrate History and Resilience

Savannah State University (SSU) President Dr. Jermaine Whirl hosted a special campus ceremony today to officially unveil the newly enhanced section of South Tompkins, officially renamed Legacy Lane.

The dedication marks a major milestone in SSU’s ongoing campus beautification initiatives designed to strengthen institutional pride. It also serves as a vibrant reminder of the profound historical impact the university

has had on the local community since its founding in 1890.

“Legacy Lane is more than a roadway—it is a physical symbol of Savannah State University’s journey of resilience, perseverance, and growth,” Whirl said. “Stretching between the university’s historic core and its expanded campus, Legacy Lane honors the generations of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community leaders who built Savannah State from its very beginnings.”

The lane stands as a literal witness to the SSU story. It traces back to the Felix Alexis Circle in the Town of Thunderbolt, where the campus’s most iconic buildings rose during the 1930s. Designed by architect Antonio Orsot and funded through the Works Progress Administration (WPA), these structures proved that even during the hardships of the Great Depression, education could carve a pathway to opportunity and transformation.

Perhaps the most powerful significance of Legacy Lane is its representation of SSU’s determination to survive and thrive. In the 1960s, as the university prepared to expand beyond its original footprint, a proposed transportation project—then known as the Casey Canal Parkway and later the Harry S. Truman Parkway—threatened to cut directly through the heart of the campus. Had those plans moved forward, much of the modern university, including the Academic Circle, student housing, the Student Union, and major athletic facilities, might never have existed.

“Instead, Tiger Nation rallied to protect the institution’s future, preserving the land that would become the foundation for decades of growth,” said Whirl. “The lane commemorates that victory and serves as a testament to a university that refused to be divided, displaced, or diminished.”

By connecting the historic and modern sectors of campus, Legacy Lane links generations of students, alumni, and supporters whose resilience and sacrifice preserved the promise of SSU’s future.

“Legacy Lane now stands as a reminder that today’s university rests upon foundations laid by those who believed in Savannah State’s future long before many of us arrived,” said Whirl.

The newly dedicated roadway has been transformed with the university’s signature orange and blue, featuring a prominent road mural extending across both traffic lanes. This creative enhancement represents SSU’s ongoing commitment to cultivating a vibrant campus experience and advancing the institution’s goals outlined in #TheUproar2030, Savannah State University’s strategic plan.