Things to See and Do in Milledgeville, Georgia
On December 12, 1804, the Georgia Legislature passed an Act establishing Milledgeville as the state’s capital. At the time, Milledgeville was more a dream than a reality. An 1803 survey had established the town’s location on the West bank of the Oconee River near Rock Landing, the head of navigation on that river. The site was on the edge of the frontier on land only recently acquired from the Creek Indians.
The first Statehouse was completed in 1807, at a cost of around $60,000, and the Legislature held its first meeting there on November 2 of that year. Milledgeville remained the capital of Georgia until 1868, when the new state Constitution, required for the state’s readmission into the Union, named Atlanta as the seat of government.
Milledgeville has a rich and colorful history which includes visits by the Marquis de Lafayette and General William T. Sherman, who behaved with commendable restraint and left after two days without damaging much at all. The town has also been home to many illustrious Georgians, including Flannery O’Connor, widely held to be one of America’s best writers, and Carl Vinson, Congressional Representative from the district for 52 years and long-time chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
Though Milledgeville has changed a lot over the past 200 years, it retains its small-town character, and many of its historic sites have been zealously preserved. Visitors are always welcomed with classic Southern hospitality, and the Convention and Visitors Bureau has tour maps and other information of interest available. Their address is:
Milledgeville Convention and Visitors Bureau
200 W. Hancock St.
Milledgeville, Ga. 31061
For further information, visit their Web site.
Among the attractions you can find in Milledgeville are:
The Old Capitol Building – First completed in 1837, this Gothic Revival building has burned and been rebuilt twice. A recent remodeling restored the building to its original layout. The Old Capitol Building is part of Georgia Military College.
The Old Governor’s Mansion – Completed in 1838. This Federal style mansion is owned by Georgia College and State University and is open for tours.
Georgia College and State University – Opened in 1891 as the Georgia Normal & Industrial College. The campus contains several beautiful buildings. The College was built on the site of the original State Penitentiary. The Ina Dillard Russell Library is home to the Flannery O’Connor room, which houses furniture and original manuscripts of the famous author.
Memory Hill Cemetery – The first burial here was in 1804. Many former Georgia Governors and other famous people are buried here.
Liberty Street – Connects the GC&SU campus with Memory Hill Cemetery. Legend has it that the street got its name because it was the only way out of the Penitentiary. This quiet, shady street is a showcase of Greek Revival and Victorian homes. Large numbers of Greek Revival homes are located around the town and the surrounding countryside.
Central State Hospital – Opened in 1841 as the Georgia Lunatic Asylum, CSH was at one time the largest insane asylum in the world, housing over 20,000 inmates. The CSH Museum contains a fascinating collection of artifacts.
Andalusia – The farm where Flannery O’Connor and her mother, Regina Cline O’Connor, lived until Flannery died in 1964is now open to the public and is operated by the Flannery O’Connor – Andalusia Foundation, Inc. The Foundation’s Director, Craig Amason, also maintains a Milledgeville Chronology which can be found on the Twin Lakes Library System’s Web page under “Reference Resources”.
Lake Sinclair – Just North of Milledgeville is a 15,000-acre lake which offers good fishing, boating, and water sports.
To make the most of your visit to Milledgeville, take the Trolley Tours offered by the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Several Milledgeville history books and collections of genealogical information are available for purchase on the Twin Lakes Library System’s Web page.
Milledgeville is conveniently located on U.S. Highway 441 about 30 miles NE of Macon. A wide variety of hotels, motels, and restaurants are available, and the downtown streets are lined with interesting and fun places to shop.
Web sites for further information:
Milledgeville Convention and Visitors Bureau
Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce
Union-Recorder (newspaper)
The Baldwin Bulletin (newspaper)
The Flannery O’Connor – Andalusia Foundation, Inc.
Central State Hospital
Lockerly Hall and Lockerly Arboretum
Twin Lakes Library System
Georgia Military College / Old Capitol Building
Georgia College & State University / Old Governor’s Mansion
