Why you should experience the Forrest Gump Filming Bench in Savannah.
The Forrest Gump Filming Bench is one of Savannah’s most quietly powerful landmarks, a cinematic icon turned symbol of patience, destiny, and Southern grace.
Set along the edge of Chippewa Square, this unassuming spot once framed one of the most famous scenes in movie history: Forrest Gump, waiting for a bus, sharing his life story with a box of chocolates in his lap. Though the original bench now rests in the Savannah History Museum, the filming location remains unmistakable, a corner of the square lined with moss-draped oaks, where the rhythm of passing trolleys and horse-drawn carriages feels like an extension of the film itself. Visitors come from all over the world to sit, smile, and reflect on the story’s message: that even amid chaos, life can be beautifully simple.
What you didn’t know about the Forrest Gump Filming Bench.
The bench used in the film wasn’t a permanent fixture of Chippewa Square, it was a prop designed specifically for the scene, carefully placed to capture the square’s perfect blend of charm and tranquility.
After filming wrapped in 1993, the bench was moved to the Savannah History Museum, where it remains preserved behind glass, drawing thousands of visitors each year. But the energy of that moment, the stillness, the humanity, lingers where it was filmed. Locals can still point out the exact stretch of sidewalk where Forrest sat, facing north toward Bull Street. Interestingly, the choice of Chippewa Square was deliberate: director Robert Zemeckis wanted a place that looked timeless, a location that felt like the story could have happened anywhere, and yet only in Savannah.
How to fold the Forrest Gump Filming Bench into your trip.
Begin your visit to Chippewa Square with a walk around its perimeter, tracing the camera angles and perspectives that shaped the film’s most famous scene.
Stand where Tom Hanks once sat, and take a moment to soak in the square’s stillness, the same gentle hush that made it perfect for storytelling. Then, make your way to the Savannah History Museum to see the original bench in person and learn more about how this moment of movie magic came to life. Pair the visit with coffee from a nearby café, and you’ll find yourself unconsciously repeating the line that echoes through time: “Life is like a box of chocolates…” Folding the Forrest Gump Filming Bench into your trip offers more than nostalgia, it’s a reminder of the unexpected beauty found in waiting, listening, and being fully present.
Hear it from the Foresyte community.
“Yes, the Forrest Gump bench scene happened here. No, the bench isn’t still here. Yes, tourists still sit and pose anyway.”
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