This bridge carries Georgia Route 17 aka North Main Street aka the Unicoi Turnpike over the…read moreChattahoochee River in the center of the City of Helen. It is a simple two-lane bridge with pedestrian areas on both sides. Interestingly, the bridge has started to collect "love locks" and I don't know how often the city removes them or they just stay there. There weren't too many, so maybe the trend hasn't caught on yet here? Or maybe there isn't an enterprising enough vendor in Helen to start selling them with some awesome markup. In addition to driving over the bridge or walking across it to go over the river, there is a walking path UNDER the bridge on the west side. This is great for getting between the restaurants/bars on the one side or the other without blocking the road traffic. [Review 15939 overall - 439 in Georgia - 1444 of 2021.]

ENGINE. ENGINE NUMBER 9 GOING DOWN THE GEORGIA LINE:…read more Engine 209 sits at the corner of Jesse Jewell Parkway and West Academy Street is which is considered a part of Historic Gainesville. It was originally built for the czar of Russia, but the order was canceled because of the 1917 Russian Revolution, It then became a part of the Midland line in Gainesville. The last steam locomotive ran from Athens to Gainesville on Sept. 19, 1959. Most of the Gainesville Midland locomotives have been preserved in museums or in communities, such as the Engine 209 Park that features the engine, a coal car and a red caboose with benches on West Academy Street. The park is part of the Adopt-A-Park program through the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. It is a cute little park to visit and especially nice for "little train lovers" because you can get up close and take great pictures.

Although I knew its exact location, I nearly drove right past it! It looks more like a shed in the…read morewoods than a bridge since the surrounding area is overgrown with brush and the creek is not immediately noticeable from the road. ~~~~~~~~~~ Please note this bridge is on private property, a little factoid I didn't discover until after my visit. Glad I didn't get shot! ~~~~~~~~~~ The bridge itself was actually in very good condition. While preparing to write this review I discovered an article about the bridge on GainesvilleTimes.com that said students from the local high school took part in a restoration project around 2007. The bridge was restored to look like the oldest historic picture they could find of the bridge. Other online pictures appear to show the bridge covered in cedar shingles and looking rather unattractive. The current look is far more appealing and in line with ALL the other covered historic bridges in the state. The students participation won them 2nd place for Future Business Leaders of America in their county... pretty awesome! The article also states there were plans in the works that included making the bridge public for all to enjoy. A portion of land was to be donated by the two properties that are divided by the creek just below the bridge. Problems arose when the county commissioner changed and support for the project seemingly dried up. ---------- HAUNTED The bridge is also said to be haunted by a blind women by the name of Suzie who used to make moonshine, rock out on her porch, and sell her goods (on occasion) by this bridge. It has been argued this is the wrong bridge, but someone thought it would be good to attach the name of Blind Suzie to this bridge as a ghost story and it seems to have stuck. Get the full details of the article about this bridge here: http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/archives/24836/ ---------- BRIDGE FACTS * Also known as Hyder Bridge and Lula Covered Bridge. * Closed to vehicular Traffic in 1969 when it was bypassed * Originally built in 1915 about a mile upriver and was relocated. * Only remaining authentic historic covered bridge in Banks County. * Shortest of the remaining Georgia Covered bridges. * TOTAL LENGTH: 34' long * TRUSS: single-span modified Kingpost truss (the only covered bridge remaining in Georgia with this truss system). ---------- FINAL THOUGHTS Whether Blind Suzie actually haunts this bridge or not, it is a valuable surviving piece of history that I hope doesn't get caught up on silly bureaucracy that results in its demise. This bridge is officially 100 years old and deserves to be preserved for 100 years more for future generations to remember and enjoy. I hope they do eventually make this bridge accessible to the public. I would think this could be a project the entire state would get behind and take pride in like Indiana and Ohio, two fine examples of states who have made restoring their historic bridges a priority. Each has created driving tours and festivals celebrating their bridges that are enjoyed by locals statewide and bridge lovers from all over... like me. Seems to me it would be a no brainer that this sort of tourism would add valuable dollars to the local economies... just sayin'

This marker on the main square in Gainesville points out the history of the first private mint in…read morethe United States that dates back to the earliest post-Revolutionary days. It is easily legible. There is plenty of parking on and off the square. The marker reads, "Two hundred yards west, on the north side of Washington Street is the site of the first private mint in the United States to manufacture gold coins in dollar values. During the Georgia gold rush, trade suffered due to a shortage of sound money. There were few coins in circulation and most business was by barter. Templeton Reid (ca. 1787-1851), Milledgeville silversmith and expert machinist, saw an answer to the problem. He decided to buy raw gold, refine it and stamp coins of proven value, acceptable in any transaction. In 1830 he came to Gainesville, Georgia and opened an assay office. With machines and dies of his design and make he began to strike coins of $2.50, $5.00, and $10.00 denominations. Although questioned by many, this was legal under the U.S. Constitution. The business was not profitable and closed in 1831. The Reid gold coins minted in Gainesville are extremely rare and are eagerly sought by collectors." This is marker number HCHS-2 and it was erected in 1979 by the Hall County Historical Society. [Review 21132 overall - 703 in Georgia - 95 of 2024.]

Before there was a Nevada silver rush and a California gold rush, there was a Georgia gold rush…read more Yes, gold was discovered in North Georgia in 1832. This marker points out that history and then what happened. It reads, "Auraria, (Gold), in 1832 the scene of Georgia's first gold rush, was named by John C. Calhoun, owner of a nearby mine worked by Calhoun slaves. Auraria and Dahlonega were the two real gold towns in the U.S. before 1849. Between 1829 and 1839 about $20,000,000 in gold was mined in Georgia's Cherokee country. From Auraria in 1858 the "Russell boys", led by Green Russell, went west and established another Auraria near the mouth of Cherry Creek that later became Denver, Colo. Green Russell uncovered a fabulous lode called Russell Gulch near which was built Central City, Colo., "richest square mile on earth."" If you remember your chemistry and periodical tables, the symbol for gold is "Au" as in Gert Fröbe's excellent portrayal as the villain Auric Goldmember in the Sean Connery film of 1964. This is marker number 093-5 and it was erected in 1954 by the Georgia Historical Commission. [Review 20354 overall - 689 in Georgia - 1332 of 2023.]

CHIEF WHITE PATH'S CABIN FIASCO!…read more The was to be the icing on the cake, the site that I was most interested to see while in Gainsville, but thanks to Brenau University, my experience was ruined. First let me give you a bit of history regarding this cabin: This cabin (built in 1780 near Ellijay), belonged to Cherokee Indian Chief White Path. He fought, (unsuccessfully) to prevent the takeover of land from the Cherokee and was a leader on the "Trail of Tears". In the land lottery of 1832 the cabin and the land it was on was awarded to the Pinson family who were white settlers. In 1995 under the direction of Counte Cooley, a descendent of White Path, the cabin was moved to it's current location, which is on the edge of a parking lot and flanked by a brick monstrosity of a museum. What were they thinking??? This is a hot mess and if I used expletives, I would insert one here because it would so reflect how I feel. This historical cabin deserves to be in a natural setting, for goodness sakes! IT'S A CABIN!!!! As it stands, the cabin is attached to the Northeast Georgia History Center which is a part of Brenau University. You can't access the cabin without going through the history center. When I realized this, I wanted to scream. I should have realized that something was amiss when I noticed the address: 403 Brenau. MMMMHMM! This cabin in not at all what I expected and since it was hidden behind a fence and trees, I was not confident that it would provide the historical experience I expected. Therefore, my husband and I chose not to take the tour.

We had a wonderful time at Chief White Path's Cabin! It's was so educational! Our Children loved it…read moreand learned so much. I would definitely recommend anyone to make this a must see attraction when visiting Gainesville!

It was built in 1820 and has a pretty interesting history that you can read about on the sign…read more Very cool bridge that makes for a great photo opportunity. I've seen people do engagement shoots, family photos, etc on the bridge as well as over on the rocks. We have not done photos here we just come here to explore the area and let the kiddos run out some of their energy. They like to run back and forth on the bridge and play on the rocks as well as explore the playground.

This park is a little off of the beaten path. It is really scenic and worth the effort to get to…read more I went on a day that was a dreary, but the upside was that nobody else was there. The rain also made the little falls rush a little bit more dramatically. The main attraction is the now covered with graffiti bridge. Historical and full of vibe. The trails are not that long but if you go all the way around you will be able to get some cardio. I think that you could sit and get some inspiration here, if your that type of person. I would recommend checking this place out at least once.

It's not a business - it's a home. The historical signpost is helpful but there is no access to the…read morehouse itself.

I can't resist a historical marker and this one points out the local citizen that has roots here…read morefrom before the Revolutionary War. And while the home is on private property, there is plenty to see from the road. The marker reads, "This was the summer home of Joseph Habersham of Savannah (1751-1815), Georgia patriot, Revolutionary War hero, and political leader. He was a Colonel in the Continental Army, a member of Continental Congress, and of the Georgia Convention that ratified the Constitution in 1788. Educated at Princeton, he returned to Georgia to aid in organizing the "Liberty Boys" as the Revolution approached. With other patriots, he organized the Council of Safety at Tondee's Tavern, June 22, 1775. On January 17, 1776, leading a small group, he captured and placed under guard Sir James Wright, British Colonial Governor. With Captain Bowen, he commanded the first commissioned vessel of the Revolution. Twice speaker of the General Assembly, in Georgia's first legislative body, in 1785, Joseph Habersham signed the first charter granted to a state university in America ~ that of the University of Georgia. He served as Postmaster General under Presidents Washington, Adams and Jefferson. From 1802 until his death he was president of the Georgia branch of the Bank of the United States. Habersham County, created December 19, 1818 was named for Joseph Habersham." Joseph served as Speaker of the Georgia House in 1782 and again in 1785 and was a member of the Georgia convention in 1788 that ratified the U.S. Constitution. He served as mayor of Savannah from 1792 to 1793 and then was appointed Postmaster General by President George Washington in 1795 and served until the beginning of Thomas Jefferson's administration in 1801. The Joseph Habersham Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, located in Atlanta, is named in Habersham's honor, as is their headquarters, Habersham Memorial Hall. There is room to pull over here if there isn't too much traffic and you can see the house from the road. [Review 20369 overall - 698 in Georgia - 1347 of 2023.]