Article Overview: Historic Sites In Georgia
Historic Sites In Georgia. There are 15 incredible must-see sites for you to visit.
As a Georgia resident since 1986, I’ve been to so many of these amazing places especially since retiring from teaching in 2018. Did I mention that I taught history?
I spent a lifetime teaching about the history behind these momentous sites. Then I got to see them firsthand. And now I’m sharing the stories of these incredible places with you. It doesn’t get any better than that!
I’m going to give you my list of the top 15 historic sites in Georgia that you’ll want to see. We’ve got amazing monuments, fascinating exhibits, historic museums, legendary battlefields and so much more.
To be clear, this list includes national park sites (as in sites managed by the National Park Service) as opposed to national parks. It also includes sites not managed by the National Park Service. After all, we’re more than just parks!
Without further ado, let’s dive in.
Table Of Contents: Historic Sites In Georgia
Historic Sites In Georgia
- Top 15 Historic Sites In Georgia
- Top 10 Historic Sites In Georgia
- Top 5 Historic Sites In Georgia
- 5. Fort Pulaski National Monument
- 4. Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
- 3. The Little White House At Warm Springs
- 2. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
- 1. Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
- List Of Historic Sites In Georgia
- About the Folks Behind More Than Just Parks
- Related Links
Top 15 Historic Sites In Georgia
15. Fort King George State Historic Site
Fort King George State Historic Site is a state park located in the coastal region of Georgia. The park preserves the remains of an 18th-century British fort, which was built in 1721 and served as the southernmost British fortification in the colonies at the time.
The fort was used to protect the Colony of Georgia from Spanish and French invaders and to control trade with the local Native American tribes.
The park features a reconstructed fort, which includes a barracks, officer’s quarters, and a powder magazine, as well as several exhibits that provide insight into the history and daily life of the soldiers and settlers who lived at the fort.
Visitors can also explore the park’s nature trails, which offer a glimpse of the diverse coastal ecosystem and wildlife of the area. The park is also offers educational programs and reenactments throughout the year.
14. Jarrell Plantation Historic Site
Jarrell Plantation Historic Site is a state park in Georgia that preserves the remains of a cotton plantation that was owned and operated by a single family for over 140 years.
The site includes a simple heart pine house that was built in 1847 by John Fitz Jarrell, as well as several outbuildings, including slave cabins and a steam-powered sawmill, cotton gin, gristmill, shingle mill, planer, sugar cane press, and syrup evaporator.
It also preserves the Griswoldville Battlefield, an unmanned 17-acre site where the Battle of Griswoldville occurred on November 22, 1864.
The plantation and its associated outbuildings provide insight into the lives of the enslaved and free laborers who worked there, as well as the economic and technological changes that shaped the region during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Visitors can take tours of the plantation house and outbuildings, and learn about the history of the plantation and its inhabitants through exhibits and educational programs.
13. Pickett’s Mill Battlefield State Historic Site
Pickett’s Mill Battlefield State Historic Site is a state park located in Paulding County, Georgia.
The park preserves the remains of the Civil War battlefield where the Battle of Pickett’s Mill took place on May 27, 1864. The battle was part of the larger Atlanta Campaign and was fought between Confederate and Union forces.
The park features a reconstructed earthworks, which was built by Confederate soldiers during the battle and it’s considered one of the best preserved examples of earthworks from the civil war.
Visitors can explore the battlefield on foot, and hike along the nature trails that wind through the park.
The park also offers several educational programs and events throughout the year, such as reenactments, guided tours and living history demonstrations that allow visitors to learn more about the history of the battle and the soldiers who fought there.
12. Reynolds Mansion On Sapelo Island
Reynolds Mansion on Sapelo Island is a historic mansion located on Sapelo Island, Georgia. The mansion was built in 1820 by Thomas Spalding, a wealthy planter who owned much of the island at the time. It served as the main residence for Spalding and his family, and later for other owners of the island.
The mansion is a two-story, Greek Revival-style building that has been beautifully restored to its original appearance. It features a grand central hallway, a formal parlor, a dining room, and several bedrooms. The mansion also has a detached kitchen and a smokehouse.
It’s A National Historic Landmark
The Reynolds Mansion on Sapelo Island is a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It’s open to the public for tours, which are conducted by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The mansion is also used as a conference and retreat center, and it is available for rent for private events.
The island is also known for its Gullah-Geechee culture, it is the last remaining community of Gullah-Geechee people in the state of Georgia.
Visitors can also explore the island’s beaches, wetlands and maritime forests, and learn about the island’s history and ecology.
11. Dahlonega Gold Museum
The Dahlonega Gold Museum, located in Dahlonega, Georgia, is a museum dedicated to the history of gold mining in the state of Georgia. The museum is housed in the former Lumpkin County Courthouse, which was built in 1836 and is one of the oldest public buildings in the state.
The museum features exhibits that highlight the history of gold mining in Georgia, including the discovery of gold in 1828, the subsequent gold rush, and the impact of gold mining on the region’s economy and society.
Visitors can learn about the different methods used to extract gold, such as panning, sluicing, and hard rock mining, as well as the tools and equipment used by the miners.
The museum also features a collection of gold nuggets, coins, and other artifacts from the era, as well as interactive exhibits that allow visitors to try their hand at panning for gold.
Additionally, the museum also has a research library and an archive of historical documents and photographs related to the history of gold mining in Georgia, which is open to researchers by appointment.
The Dahlonega Gold Museum is operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and is open to the public year-round.
Top 10 Historic Sites In Georgia
10. Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site
Jefferson Davis was one of the most well-known figures of the American Civil War. He was a Southern planter, Democratic politician and hero of the Mexican War who had represented Mississippi in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate and served as U.S. secretary of war (1853-57).
In 1861, Davis was chosen to serve as the first and only President of the Confederate States of America.
In Fitzgerald, Georgia, visitors can visit the monument and museum in the place where Davis was captured by the Union army in 1865. After being arrested here, Jefferson Davis was held as a prisoner in Virginia for two years before being released.
The Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site is a 13-acre historic site that has a museum, small trail, picnic tables, and a gift shop.
Nearby attractions include the Flint River Aquarium in Albany, the Blue and Gray Museum, the Crime and Punishment Museum, and General Coffee State Park.
9. Fort Frederica National Monument
Georgia has more to offer than just Civil War history. Before there was even a United States of America, Georgia’s Fort Frederica played a decisive role in the history of the region.
Georgia, which was named after King George III, was established in 1732 as one of the original thirteen colonies.
Georgia was founded by James Oglethorpe. In 1736, four years after establishing the crown colony, Oglethorpe built Fort Frederica to protect the southern boundary of his new colony from the Spanish in Florida. Colonists from England, Scotland, and the Germanic states came to Georgia to support this endeavor.
Six years later, in 1742, Spanish and British forces clashed on St. Simons Island. At stake was Georgia’s future. Fort Frederica’s troops defeated the Spanish thereby ensuring Georgia’s future as a British colony.
Today you can visit this national monument which is located on St. Simons Island. A trip to the visitor’s center, which contains some fascinating exhibits and an interesting 23 minute film on the fort is recommended before going on to explore the fort itself.
8. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Like so much of Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain is rich in history. It’s the site of The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain which took place in 1864. The battle pitted Union General William Tecumseh Sherman against Confederate General Joseph Johnston.
The battle fought at Kennesaw Mountain was part of a campaign which lasted from June 19, 1864, until July 2, 1864. Sherman’s army consisted of 100,000 men, 254 guns and 35,000 horses.
Johnston’s army had 63,000 men and 187 guns. More than 67,000 soldiers were killed, wounded and captured during the Campaign.
A 2,965 Acre National Battlefield
Today Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is a 2,965-acre National Battlefield that preserves a Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign.
The visitor center provides information about the battle.
There are 17.3 miles of trails which include historic earthworks, cannon emplacements and various interpretive signs.
7. Andersonville National Historic Site
Andersonville is the site of the infamous Confederate prisoner-of-war camp. There were 150 military prisons and Andersonville was both the largest and the most notorious. Of the 45,000 Union soldiers imprisoned there, almost 13,000 died.
In “Civil War Prison Camps,” author Gary Flavion chronicled the suffering at this camp writing, “Robert H. Kellog was 20 years old when he walked through the gates of Andersonville prison. He and his comrades had been captured during a bloody battle at Plymouth, North Carolina. In the depths of Georgia, they discovered that their hardships were far from over.”
Conditions of the Camp
Robert Kellog described the conditions of the camp. “As we entered the place, a spectacle met our eyes that almost froze our blood with horror…before us were forms that had once been active and erect—stalwart men, now nothing but mere walking skeletons, covered with filth and vermin…Many of our men exclaimed with earnestness, ‘Can this be hell?'”
Andersonville is the only national park to serve as a memorial to Americans held as prisoners of war. Andersonville National Historic Site preserves the site of the largest of the many Confederate military prisons that were established during the Civil War.
Explore The Story Of Prisoners Of War
A visit to Andersonville National Historic Site offers a variety of ways to explore the story of prisoners of war in American history.
The National Prisoner of War Museum provides an overview of both the Civil War prison camp and an introduction to the experiences of American prisoners of war through time. It’s the only museum solely dedicated to interpreting the American prisoner of war experience.
The National Prisoner of War Museum is dedicated to all prisoners of war in America’s past who have served their country with dignity and distinction, so that current and future generations will be inspired by their service and sacrifice.
Touring the historic prison site offers an opportunity to contemplate first-hand the hardships faced by Union prisoners of war imprisoned here in 1864-65.
The 20,000 graves in the Andersonville National Cemetery vividly illustrate the continuing cost of freedom. During your visit, the park provides numerous opportunities to better understand the resources found here and the history of prisoners of war through tours, programs, and special events. (Source: NPS)
To Learn More
Before you travel to Andersonville, however, you may want to learn a little bit more about it. If so then you’re in luck. I recommend the following resources:
- Andersonville by MacKinlay Kantor. MacKinlay Kantor’s Andersonville tells the story of the notorious Confederate Prisoner of War camp, where fifty thousand Union soldiers were held captive—and fourteen thousand died—under inhumane conditions.
- John Ransom’s Andersonville Diary. A stirring account written by a man who was actually there as a prisoner of war. A whole array of characters are noted through the pages of the diary, from the Andersonville Raiders who were ruthless Union prisoners that persecuted those around them to survive, to more benevolent figures like George Hendryx who was always looking for a way to escape and the Native American Battese who helped Ransom through his darkest days.
- The True Story of Andersonville Prison: A Defense of Major Henry Wirz by James Madison Page. Page was captured on September 21, 1863 along the Rapidan in Virginia and spent the next thirteen months in Southern military prisons, seven of which were at Camp Sumter near Andersonville, Georgia. The prosecution did not call him to testify, but Page felt that he needed to tell his incredible story nonetheless.
- Andersonville and Camp Douglas: The History of the Civil War’s Deadliest Prison Camps by Charles River Editors. This book examines how Andersonville and Camp Douglas became so notorious, and what life was like there for the prisoners.
6. Ocmulgee Mounds National Monument
How would you like to visit a site that has evidence of 17,000 years of continuous human habitation?
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, located in Macon, Georgia, offers over ten millennia of culture from the Native Americans of the Southeastern Woodlands.
Visitors can walk the grounds and see ceremonial mounds, burial mounds and defensive trenches. It took skilled laborers many years to construct these marvels.
In the 1930s and 1940s, workers excavated portions of eight mounds, finding an array of archaeological artifacts which document a trading network and sophisticated culture.
There’s An Archaeology Museum Too
Ocmulgee features a visitor center which includes an archaeology museum. It displays some of the artifacts that have been discovered there as well as interpreting the successive cultures of the prehistoric Native Americans who inhabited this site for thousands of years.
There’s also a short orientation film plus a gift shop which has a variety of craft goods and books related to the park.
Top 5 Historic Sites In Georgia
5. Fort Pulaski National Monument
The Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on Cockspur Island between Tybee Island and Savannah.
The fort was originally built after the War of 1812 when President James Madison ordered a new series of coastal defenses to protect the United States against future invasions.
Interestingly, the fort’s construction began in 1829 under the direction of Major General Babcock and a recent West Point graduate by the name of Robert E. Lee.
Lee was a young lieutenant at the time who would distinguish himself in the Mexican American War before moving on to even greater accomplishments in the American Civil War.
Pulaski in the Civil War
The fort figured prominently during the Civil War. The only battle at Fort Pulaski occurred on April 10th & 11th, 1862, between Union forces on Tybee Island and Confederate troops inside the fort. Union forces occupied the fort beginning in April of 1862.
It was used as a place where the Union tested new weaponry including a rifled canon. The fort also held Confederate prisoners of war.
Today the fort, which is only 20 minutes east of Savannah, offers its visitors an incredible series of outdoor exhibits. Discover rooms housed with period furnishings and beautiful nature trails. It’s definitely worth a trip especially if you love history, nature or both.
4. Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
During the Civil War, Chattanooga was the “Gateway to the Deep South.” Battles were fought there and at Chickamauga which proved decisive in the ultimate defeat of the Confederacy.
History buffs remember that it was at Chickamauga that Union General William Rosecrans was beaten by Confederate General Braxton Bragg.
The Union Army was saved from annihilation by the stubborn defense of George Thomas and his soldiers. This defense earned Thomas the nickname of the “Rock of Chickamauga.”
A Union Victory at Chattanooga
The battered Union forces were then reorganized under the leadership of Ulysses S. Grant. They went on to win battles at Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. These victories opened the west to Union forces.
At the Battle of Lookout Mountain, Union forces under the command of General George “Rock of Chickamauga” Thomas swept the Confederates from the field.
After these victories, Ulysses S. Grant traveled east to take command of all of the Union armies. He left William Tecumseh Sherman in the west to take Atlanta. And take Atlanta Sherman did!
Relive That History Today
Today, you can relive part of this exciting history at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center. The center is located at the north end of Chickamauga National Military Park.
Inside are museum exhibits on the Battle of Chickamauga and Campaign for Chattanooga.
Believe it or not, I was one of those guys who sat in class taking notes and, when the professor threw out the name of what sounded like an interesting book, I not only wrote it down, I went out and purchased it. Yes, I am that guy which is why I ended up teaching history.
If you love history as much as I do and you’re particularly interested in how this conflict impacted the men who fought in Georgia then I heartily recommend Scott Walker’s Hell’s Broke Loose in Georgia: Survival in a Civil War Regiment.
3. The Little White House At Warm Springs
Roosevelt led the nation through the twin crises of the Great Depression and World War Two. In the process, he transformed the role of the federal government.
The programs unleashed by FDR’s New Deal sought to insure that the economic, social, and political benefits of American capitalism were distributed more equally among America’s large and diverse populace.
FDR also transformed the American presidency. Under his leadership, the President’s duties grew to encompass not only those of the chief executive—as implementer of policy—but also chief legislator—as drafter of policy. He greatly increased both the powers and the responsibilities of the office.
If there is an overarching lesson from the life and achievements of Franklin Delano Roosevelt which is applicable to our own times then perhaps it is this: An enlightened and progressive government should use its resources not just to alleviate need but to help people gain confidence that they have something to contribute to the greater good.
Things To Do At Warm Springs
Roosevelt built this house while he was the governor of New York before he became president, in search of relief and a cure for his polio.
He swam in the 88-degree spring waters, which didn’t cure his disease, but did bring him comfort and health improvements.
Top things to see and do here include the Unfinished Portrait, the Walk of Flags and Stone, Memorial Fountain, the guest and servant quarters, and scavenger hunts to learn more about history.
To make a weekend out of it, you can also check out the nearby city of Columbus, Callaway Gardens, and the F.D. Roosevelt State Park.
2. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
The final two have at least two things in common. Both were born and raised in Georgia. And both were awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.
First up is the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park.
Described as the “conscience of the nation,” Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist Minister who became the leading spokesperson of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.
Dr. King advanced the cause of Civil Rights through nonviolence. His marches and protests helped to build pressure to bring about landmark civil rights and voting rights acts.
“Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., March for Integrated Schools, April 18, 1959
Things To See
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park is a national park that preserves and commemorates the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
The park includes several buildings and sites that are significant to Dr. King’s life and work, including his boyhood home, the original Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he and his father both served as pastors, and The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, also known as “The King Center”.
The National Park Service has restored many of the neighboring buildings to reflect their appearances in the 1930s and 1940s, the period of time when Dr. King grew up there.
This allows visitors to step into that era and imagine themselves walking with the residents, hearing the noise of this lively neighborhood and experiencing what life was like in those tumultuous times.
Civil Rights Walk Of Fame
The park also includes the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, where visitors can see the footprints and signatures of civil rights leaders from around the world, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Garden, a peaceful place for reflection and contemplation.
The park offers a variety of educational programs and events throughout the year, including guided tours, lectures, and workshops, which help visitors to understand the significance of Dr. King’s life and work and the ongoing struggle for civil rights and social justice.
1. Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
The Jimmy Carter National Historical Park celebrates the man who has been universally acclaimed as the most successful former president in history.
Carter, however, was not only a successful ex-president. History is finally catching up with the man who today is recognized as having been decades ahead of his time.
“Here’s what people get wrong about Carter,” Will Pattiz, one of the film’s directors tells me. “He was not in over his head or ineffective, weak or indecisive – he was a visionary leader, decades ahead of his time trying to pull the country toward renewable energy, climate solutions, social justice for women and minorities, equitable treatment for all nations of the world. He faced nearly impossible economic problems – and at the end of the day came so very close to changing the trajectory of this nation.”
-More than just parks co-found will pattiz, interviewed by the guardian about the pattiz brothers award-winning film titled “carterland”
Decades Ahead Of His Time
Though from a segregated and racist background in Georgia, Carter pushed for affirmative action and prioritized diversity among judicial nominees, including the appointment of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Amalya Lyle Kearse.
He startled the globe by personally brokering the critical Middle East peace treaty between Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin at Camp David.
He ceded access to the Panama Canal, angering conservatives who thought he was giving away an American asset.
Through the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, he doubled the national park system and conserved over 100m acres of land – the most sweeping expansion of conserved land in American history.
Carter was right on asking us to drive less, to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, to focus on conservation and renewable energy. Not only was Carter’s vision a path not taken, it was a path mocked. Reagan removed the solar panels from the White House, politicized the environmental movement and painted it as a fringe endeavor.
-Megan Mayhew bergman, the guardian, decades ahead of his time: history catches up with visionary jimmy carter
Things To See & Do at The Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
At the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, visitors will learn how Carter’s early years formed an integral part of his character.
The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site includes the Plains High School which serves as the park visitor center and museum. Here visitors will find a restored and furnished classroom, principal’s office, and auditorium.
Visitors will also be able to see exhibits on Carter’s life and accomplishments and watch his friends, neighbors, and family talk about the Jimmy Carter they know in a 25-minute video.
There’s also the Plains Depot, which is a self-guided museum with exhibits focusing on the 1976 presidential campaign.
If you’re as fascinated by the forward-thinking and visionary presidency of Jimmy Carter as I am then I would recommend two wonderful books. His Very Best by Jonathan Alter and The Outlier: The Unfinished Presidency of Jimmy Carter by Kai Bird.
“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something… My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”
-Jimmy Carter
List Of Historic Sites In Georgia
- Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
- Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
- Roosevelt’s Little White House At Warm Springs
- Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
- Fort Pulaski National Monument
- Ocmulgee Mounds National Monument
- Andersonville National Historic Site
- Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
- Fort Frederica National Monument
- Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site
- Dahlonega Gold Museum
- Reynolds Mansion On Sapelo Island
- Pickett’s Mill Battlefield State Historic Site
- Jarrell Plantation Historic Site
- Fort King George State Historic Site
About the Folks Behind More Than Just Parks
You should probably know that we don’t just make this stuff up out of thin air. My sons have spent their entire adult lives exploring and filming America’s national parks and public lands.
As for me, I’m a retired lifelong educator and a proud dad of these two wonderful guys who are hopelessly obsessed with the national parks. I taught history for over a quarter of a century. Now I enjoy researching and writing articles for More Than Just Parks. I’m always on the hunt for topics where nature and history intersect so please feel free to share any ideas that you might have with me.
We’ve worked with the National Park Service, the Department of Interior, and the U.S. Forest Service for years creating films on important places and issues. Our work has been featured in leading publications all over the world and even some people outside of our immediate family call us experts on the national parks.
Meet The Parks Brothers
We’re Jim Pattiz and Will Pattiz, collectively known as the Pattiz Brothers (and sometimes the Parks Brothers) and we absolutely LOVE the national parks.
Our goal here at More Than Just Parks is to share the beauty of America’s national parks and public lands through stunning short films in an effort to get Americans and the world to see the true value in land conservation.
We hope you’ll follow our journey through the parks and help us to keep them the incredible places that they are. If you’re interested in joining the adventure then sign up below!
Related Links
To learn more about the difference between the various National Park Service designations check out our article that explains everything!
Civil War Sites: Top 10 Best Civil War Sites & Battlefields
Georgia National Parks: 12 AMAZING Georgia National Parks
Jimmy Carter: Jimmy Carter, Not Theodore Roosevelt, Was The Greatest Conservation President
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