A Clear View Through Time: A History of Windows in Savannah and Beyond

Walk through downtown Savannah and you’ll notice it immediately: windows that aren’t just panes of glass, but character-defining features of our city’s homes. From delicate Colonial-era sashes on Oglethorpe’s original grid to ornate Victorian bay windows along Jones Street, Savannah’s history can be read in its architecture—and its windows.

But have you ever stopped to think about how windows became what they are today?

The Earliest Windows: Before Glass

The first “windows” weren’t glass at all. Ancient homes used wooden shutters, animal hides, or stretched cloth to cover openings. These let in light but kept out wind and rain.

By the 1st century CE, the Romans were experimenting with glass panes. Though cloudy and brittle, this was the beginning of the modern window.

Medieval and Renaissance Windows

As glassmaking advanced, European cathedrals glowed with stained glass while everyday homes relied on small leaded panes. Because large sheets were difficult to produce, many windows were made of small diamond-shaped or rectangular pieces joined by lead strips—a look still associated with medieval architecture today.

Windows in Colonial America and Early Savannah

By the 1700s, glass was imported to the American colonies, often from England. Britain even had a “window tax,” linking a family’s wealth to how many panes they could afford. While Savannah avoided that levy, its wealthier citizens displayed their prosperity with elegant double-hung sash windows.

Some of those handcrafted panes, with their wavy imperfections, remain visible in Savannah’s 18th- and 19th-century homes.

The Industrial Revolution and Modern Glass

The 19th and 20th centuries transformed glassmaking. Mass production allowed for larger, clearer sheets, while steel and iron framing made big windows possible in both homes and commercial buildings. In Savannah, this meant storefronts with broad plate-glass displays and residences with more uniform, standardized panes.

Savannah’s Windows Today: Beauty and Challenge

Savannah’s architecture is a showcase of window design, from Colonial revival townhouses to Victorian bay windows.

But beauty comes with challenges: humidity, salt air, and the heavy pollen season all take their toll. Left untreated, buildup not only clouds the glass but can also damage frames and finishes. Historic windows, in particular, require a gentler, more careful touch.

How Pane Mgmt Protects Your View

At Pane Mgmt, we specialize in balancing modern cleaning techniques with respect for Savannah’s history.

• Pure Water Pole Systems let us clean historic glass without harsh chemicals.

• Soft Washing protects delicate wood trim and finishes.

• Streak-Free Results restore clarity while keeping materials safe.

Whether your home is centuries old or brand new, Pane Mgmt keeps your windows clean, clear, and cared for.

See Savannah More Clearly

Windows connect us to history and to the world outside. When they’re clean, you see Savannah in its best light.

Pane Mgmt is here to protect that view—while respecting the architecture that makes our city unique.