What a great historical site. This is a diamond in the rough. A hidden Gem of a site…read more This site is north of Macon, Georgia by about 15 miles. It is off of the Jarrell Plantation road. Once you turn off the road, it is a very short drive to the visitor's center. There is a small parking lot (about 10 cars). The center is a very nice building with a counter manned by a ranger, a small movie about the site, and a gift shop. You enter and pay at the counter and then go on the self-guided tour around the site. The tri-fold brochure was very well done and describes the various parts of the site. There are signs at each of the various locations to describe the buildings and activities nearby. The site has houses from different eras. You can actually walk through them. There are engine house, blacksmith shop, evaporator house, wheat house, and more. There are paths to go around the site but some of them are steep so be careful. The entire sight was extremely informative and had a lot for any student interested in history. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this site to anyone interested in the history of the area. Enjoy.

We took advantage of Super Museum Sunday and weren't disappointed! This place is absolutely…read morehumbling. For the kids to see how much the world has changed since those times, it's so educational!

Okay--what I want to know is why there are only four reviews, including this one? Come on,…read moreYelpers--you've reviewed gas stations, car rentals and dry cleaners in Macon. What's up? A gas pump more interesting than this gem of a museum? Get with it, folks!!! Ah, that felt good! Our senior's group from Kerrville, TX was on its way home and the Cannonball House was our only stop of the day. The majority of us were appreciative of all things Southern, so this was a special treat. The house's name is derived from a Union cannonball that crashed into the house during the Battle of Dunlap Hill on July 30, 1864. The Cannonball House was owned by Judge Asa Holt during the Civil War and is now owned by the Sidney Lanier Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy who saved if from demolition by the City of Macon. Thanks to these ladies, you're able to visit a Greek Revival mansion and not a parking lot! The House also hosts Father/Daughter Dances and Mother/Daughter Teas. And then there's--thank the Powers That Be--Miss Elizabeth's Academy for Young Ladies which "will instruct the girls in what it means to be a proper lady. Subjects covered: Introductions, sit like a lady, how to set a proper table and table etiquette, walking with confidence and Art of the Fan." And, lest you think the boys will escape, there's a co-ed course, too. My stogy old Southern heart sings with joy; civility and gentility are not dead!!! But I digress. The House is less a museum in the formal sense and more of a time capsule of Ante- and Post-Bellum Georgia. Architecture and period furniture buffs will be right at home here. The House consists of seven rooms. The Main Foyer with its period wall paper and imposing grandfather clock. The Family Room contains period furniture and portraits of the Holt Family. The Formal Dining Room houses a heavy wood table and silver serving sets including a large sterling punch bowl and ladle which survived the invasion of the Union Army only because it was buried. The Ladies' Bedroom contains period clothing, a hand-cranked sewing machine and a bed complete with a hand-tatted spread among other objects. Depending on when you visit, a collection of antique dolls may be displayed. Two Parlors display the furnishings of the founders of the Adelphean and Philomathean Societies which were organized at Wesleyan College, in 1851 and1852 respectively. These are the two oldest female societies in the world and continue to this day. Last, but certainly not least, is Judge Asa Holt's bedroom with its grand four-poster bed, marble-top table and chairs and a large bureau and chest of drawers. In my opinion, the Cannonball House should be on every tourist's itinerary. Seldom does one get such a personal glimpse into the lives of one of Macon's influential families. And if you're traveling with children, this is the perfect opportunity to make history come alive. For only $8.00 (as of this writing) you gain not only admission to the House but a guided tour as well. It's a bargain!

We enjoy civil war history and ole time ways of life. Our tour guide took us thru each room of the…read morehouse explaining the history of the house and the happenings of the time when the house was hit by a "cannon ball." It was really more of a large bullet like mortar. The house is in mourning-- all of the mirrors are covered by black cloth. There's even a casket in one of the parlor rooms. The tour guide says they do something different each month to highlight different traditions that were kept back in the day. The highlight of the tour for us was entering the servant's house and kitchen. Just as we walked in the room, we heard a squeaky toy sound. When I asked what that noise was - thinking it was a dog playing with a squeaky toy, she kinda hestitated and said we call him Matt. I thought, maybe that it was her grandson that she was watching during the summer. No. It's the little child that they hear playing sometimes. The ghost child they hear playing sometimes! Wow! Thanks for a terriffic tour!! We'll be back to investigate more of Macon history

This marker is on the grounds of the former 1898 Butts County Courthouse and is now the Butts…read moreCounty Visitors Bureau. It is a bit shaded by the structure and so it is in excellent condition or perhaps it has had a recent refresh since the 1957 installation. The marker points out the history of Sherman's march passing through Jackson. It reads, "On the morning of Nov. 18, 1864, the Right Wing (15th and 17th Corps) of General Sherman's army [US] moved from its bivouacs in and near Jackson toward Planters' Factory (Ocmulgee Mills), on the Ocmulgee River at Seven Islands (9 miles SE), to effect a passage at that point on pontoon bridges to be laid by the 1st Missouri Engineers, the pontoniers of the Right Wing. "Smith's division, 15th Corps (Osterhaus), which had camped near Flovilla, moved first. Upon arrival, the 1st Brigade (McCown), with the 4th Minnesota Infantry in advance, crossed on the ferry and entrenched on high ground east of the river. At 11:00 A.M. the pontoons arrived and, by 1:00 P.M., two bridges were ready. "That afternoon, Smith completed his crossing and camped two miles from the river on the Hillsboro road, to wait for Woods' and Hazen's divisions and to permit the cavalry to pass to the front. During the night, Blair's 17th Corps crossed and moved via Monticello and Blountsville to avoid the Hillsboro road. "On the 19th, Kilpatrick's cavalry division crossed, followed by Woods and Hazen and several wagon trains. Heavy rains having made the steep hills on the east bank extremely difficulty, the passage was not completed until the afternoon of the 20th, when Corse's division of the 15th Corps cleared the bridge site and, with the bridge train, followed the 17th Corps to Monticello." It is marker number 018-3 and it was erected in 1957 by the Georgia Historical Commission. [Review 1072 of 2024 - 739 in Georgia - 22099 overall]

I love that this bridge is open to traffic! It is rated for enough weight that my Sprinter van…read morecould cross and the bridge has enough clearance that I could fit in. The Elder Mill Covered Bridge was built in 1897 by Nathaniel Richardson. It is a Town lattice design with the planks connected with wooden pegs. It is one of the few covered bridges in Georgia continuing to carry traffic without underlying steel beams. It is possible to get to the side of the bridge and get some great pictures. I love this bridge! (Note that some of the approach road is only hard packed dirt. I was okay with it but your vehicle may have issues.) [Review 18057 overall - 532 in Georgia - 1578 of 2022.]

I happened to be dining at a restaurant in Watkinsville and noticed they were selling a magnet with…read morea picture of a covered bridge. When I inquired about it, I was surprised to learn that the Elder Mill Covered Bridge was nearby and still functioning as a working bridge. I was delighted to find more information about it on Yelp and decided to take a spontaneous outing to see this historic structure. The bridge is on a back country road. The road narrows as you approach the one-lane bridge. There is no where to pull off the road on this side of the bridge. Slow down to read the signs. There is a five ton weight limit. Your vehicle needs to be able to clear the metal structure before you drive through. It will prevent you from damaging the bridge (and your vehicle). You are supposedly on video surveillance, so don't block the private driveway and don't trespass the private land surrounding the bridge. Once you drive through to the other side, you can pull off on the paved strip on the side of the road. Feel free to get out of your vehicle to read the historic marker and take a few pictures. You can even walk across the bridge if you want to see the internal support beam structure. It is remarkable that this bridge is still in working order considering it was built in 1897. The wooden beams have obviously been updated and maintained to keep the bridge in working order, but there are no steel support beams and it is fastened with wooden pegs also called trunnels (or treenails). It is a work of art and definitely worth the 10 minute visit if you happen to be in the area.

Closed every time we have tried to visit. Just like the Tara…read moremuseum or Ashley oaks. Need more posts or schedules.

Was a very educational visit. Becky and Darlene were very friendly and knowledgeable guides…read more Learned about history at the same time had fun. These two Ladies make this visit fun. Will come back around Christmas time again. I will tell my great experience to all my Texas friends. Great job Becky and Darlene !

It finally clicked for me that the Mississippian people had been here long before any of the more…read morepopular Native American nations, such as the Cherokee, Lakota, etc. In my mind, the history of the USA begins with the arrival of the religious exiles known as the pilgrims. However, before the pilgrims, the Spanish conquistadors were here, and they had a different welcoming party than the pilgrims did. It was the Mississippian people, who had been here for about 1000 years. The Ocmulgee area is very important to us. It tells the story of the land, rather than the story of the USA. Also, it withholds the most ancient sacred site in the USA, according to academic archeologists. For people interested in American history, indigenous peoples history and rights, and for people interested in spirituality, this monument is a place to see.

The visitor center has really cool stuff in its shop along with a fascinating museum inside of it…read morewith a good deal of interactive displays! They were very thoughtful and creative with how they made the museum! The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. We got a map and checked out the mounds which were huge! The highlight was the earth lodge. It was surreal ducking down into this tunnel that let out into such a cool piece of history! Be sure to press the button to hear the audio guide built into the display- the info they gave really enriched our experience! Worth a two hour trip to check out!

If you visit Macon, you must stop and tour this impressive home! I was so happy to get to hear…read moreabout the history and see the stunning interior. Many items are original. You can pay a few dollars more to go to the very top (4 flights up) and I highly recommend that for a nice view of the city.

Shoutout to Vicky for the amazing tour! The Hay House ended up being way more than I expected and I…read morewant to come back again in the winter time (it's so hot in the house during the summer).

Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum…read more This museum is really a hidden gem. it's on the same property as the Botanical Gardens and it is incredible. great afternoon place to spend an hour or two seeing some of the most beautiful artwork you will see. some new. some hundreds of years old. this museum is to the left of the gardens and I thought it was an event space.

Headed out for a group hike and was NOT disappointed. We opted for the Red Oak and Black Gum Loop…read more This hike was relatively easy, well marked with just a few inclines and gorgeous views along the trail. The highlight was finishing near the tulips at the end of our hike. Gorgeous morning out and perfect location for a spring kick-off in nature.

Lovely park with a waterfall and several easy hiking trails ! A couple tables with benches at the…read morebeginning, before the wooden bridge.

Always a scenic experience at this park. We love the water that runs through. The hill to go down…read moreis quite steep but manageable. The bridge is so nice. I do wish there was a restaurant or snack shop on-site.

This jail is a pretty cool old piece of history. It is a small building and not much to see…read moreinside, but it is interesting to read some of the history. There is a short audio history out front.

THE OLD GREENE COUNTY GAOL! (CREEPY COOL!)…read more The old gaol (pronounced jail), is an old historic jail that was used to house prisoners from 1807 until 1895. Between 1760 and 1830 the word jail was actually spelled g-a-o-l and this is how it is spelled on the historic marker that sits in front of this structure. This place is creepy cool and every bit as old as it looks. It is a two story structure that was basically used to house and hang prisoners. As soon as you walk in and look to the left, you see a hanging rope. There is no mistaking this rope as it is hanging through a little trap door and you can easily imagine a body dropping through this opening and swinging at the end of the rope. Next to the door is a large empty room with a large arched doorway and I wondered if there were any makeshift beds provided or if prisoners simply sat on the floor and chained to the walls. A chain was still there. There are actually two such rooms on the main level and when I stood at the rear of the room, I was immediately transported back in time and had all types of thoughts running through my head. Weird! The steps to the second level were very narrow and I did not go up to that level. However my husband did and expressed concern that it was so open and posed a risk for young kids who might wander up there. Please keep this in mind when you visit with your kids and provide the appropriate level of supervision. When I visited, there were several young children going in and up the stairs without an adult present. This is a structure that you must see when visiting Greensboro as it has been identified as the oldest jail in the state and is something to see. I do wonder if it is used as an attraction during Halloween. Whatever you do, don't forget to visit this site while in town and although there is no specific address, you absolutely cannot miss it once you turn on to Greene Street.