This marker is located a stone's throw from the county courthouse and gives some context as to the…read moreorigin of the county and how it came to be. It has the same text on both sides. It reads, "This County, created by Act of the Legislature December 5, 1811, is named for James Madison, Virginia Democrat, fourth President of the United States, 1809-'17. The site for Danielsville was given by Gen. Allen Daniel of Revolutionary fame. In this town was born Dr. Crawford W. Long who first used ether in a surgical operation (1842). Among the first County Officers were: Sheriff Nathan Williford, Clerk of Superior Court James Long, Clerk of Inferior Court Samuel Williford, Tax Receiver Britton Sanders Jr., Tax Collector James Ware Jr., Coroner William Hodge and Surveyor Edward Ware Jr." In the early 19th century, the region was deeply influenced by the rise of cotton as a dominant crop. The fertile Piedmont soil and proximity to trade routes made Madison County part of Georgia's expanding cotton belt, with small yeoman farms gradually giving way to larger plantations. This agricultural boom helped shape the county's economy and social structure well into the Civil War era. Though railroads didn't run directly through the county, nearby lines helped connect its farms to broader markets. Danielsville remained a modest civic center, and the county's early schools and churches played key roles in community life, especially in African American neighborhoods during and after Reconstruction. The boll weevil infestation in the early 20th century forced a shift from cotton to poultry, dairy, and timber, leading to more diversified and cooperative farming. Madison County's quiet civic contributions and preservation efforts reflect a legacy of resilience, modesty, and deep-rooted community pride. This is marker number 097-1 and it was erected in 1954 by the Georgia Historical Commission. [Review 1374 of 2025 - 858 in Georgia - 24926 overall]

This marker is along US-29 (Business) that parallels the railroad between Athens and Atlanta. The…read moremarker is on the south side of the road and while there isn't parking, there is room to pull over and leave your car for a moment to read the marker and admire the home. The home is private property so please respect that. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "The Russell House was built in 1912 by Richard Brevard Russell, Sr., (B. 1861 - D. 1938), and his wife, Ina Dillard, (B. 1868 - D. 1953), who were married June 24, 1891. Fifteen children were born of this marriage. Judge Russell was elected Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia in 1922, and served in this capacity until his death. Mrs. Russell was Georgia's Mother of the year in 1950. In 1954, the late Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr., the oldest son, became the owner of the house and made it his home until his death in 1971. Russell Memorial Park and Cemetery is located to the South of the house." The marker was erected in 1977 by the Winder Lions Club & Auxiliary. [Review 230 of 2025 - 799 in Georgia - 23794 overall]

A pleasant experience to view a historical marker in the South that is only tangentially about…read moreCivil War. This one points out the first time that an important medical procedure was done and that's a good thing. The marker is located near the county courthouse and points the way to the birthsite of the famous doctor. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Dr. Crawford W. Long who first used ether as an anesthetic, in a surgical operation at Jefferson, Ga., March 30, 1842, was born in a house that stands about 1 block from here. Dr. Long, born Nov. 1, 1815, was barely 27 when he performed the famous operation on James Venable to remove a neck tumor. He attended Franklin College (U. of Ga.) obtaining his M.A. at 19. He roomed with "Little Alec" Stephens, future Vice President of the Confederacy. He received his M.D. at University of Pennsylvania in 1839 and moved to Jefferson in 1841. He died June 16, 1878 and is buried in Athens." Dr. Crawford Long studied briefly at Transylvania College in Kentucky before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania, where he was exposed to cutting-edge surgical techniques of the time. He was inspired to experiment with ether after observing its recreational use during student gatherings, where participants seemed impervious to pain. Long didn't publish his findings until 1849, several years after his first ether-assisted surgery, which led to disputes over who first discovered anesthesia. This is marker number 097-2 and it was erected in 1955 by the Georgia Historical Commission. [Review 1375 of 2025 - 859 in Georgia - 24927 overall]

Athens is where the famous University of Georgia is located (Go Dawgs!) and the city has a long…read morehistory of education. This marker points out one of those earlier educators whose work led to the origin of the university. It reads, "Dr. Moses Waddel, educator and minister, was born in 1770 in North Carolina. At fourteen he began teaching pupils near his home. Moving to Georgia in 1786, he taught in the Greensboro area until 1787, opening another school at Bethany, Greene County, in 1788. While at Bethany Waddel decided to enter the ministry. He studied at Hampden-Sydney College and graduated in less than nine months in 1791, thereafter combining the careers of teacher and minister. "Establishing his most famous academy at Willington, South Carolina, in 1804, Waddel continued his work there until 1819 when he became President of Franklin College, now the University of Georgia. One of the most prominent ante-bellum leaders of that institution, he served until 1829. Unwilling to divorce education from religion, Waddel stimulated the religious life of the campus. In 1820 he organized and was pastor of the First Presbyterian congregation in Athens, which became the First Presbyterian Church. The present church building was erected in 1855. Waddel died in 1840 at his son's home in Athens. His pupils during a lifetime of teaching included John C. Calhoun, William H. Crawford, George R. Gilmer, Augustus B. Longstreet, and George McDuffie." In 1819, Waddel published Memoirs of the Life of Miss Caroline Elizabeth Smelt, a sentimental religious biography that became a transatlantic bestseller, reprinted in both the U.S. and Britain. Less widely acknowledged is that the 1820 census recorded sixteen enslaved individuals in his household, including nine children under fourteen, reflecting the complex and often contradictory legacy of Southern educators in the antebellum period. It is marker number 029-11 and it was erected in 1963 by the Georgia Historical Commission. [Review 1376 of 2025 - 860 in Georgia - 24928 overall]

The Herty Field historical marker in Athens offers a compact but compelling glimpse into the early…read moredays of collegiate football and the legacy of Dr. Charles Herty. Rather than focusing on the field itself, the marker excels at contextualizing the cultural and academic forces that shaped athletics in the Deep South. The marker reads, "This marker overlooks the site of the first intercollegiate football game played in the state of Georgia and one of the first to be played in the deep south. On January 30, 1892 Georgia defeated Mercer College 50 to 0 on the stubbly grounds that served as an athletic field. Several hundred spectators watched from the sidelines, some of them spilling out on the playing ground. Students living in New College close by the field had a splendid view of the action from their dormitory windows. "Georgia played all its home games on this field until 1911 when a new field was constructed off Lumpkin Street. The old grounds were thereafter used for informal intramural games and as a drill field for the R.O.T.C. trainees. "The original field, later converted into a parking lot, was named in honor of Dr. Charles H. Herty, professor of chemistry at the University and sports enthusiast. He introduced football to the college boys and was unofficial coach and trainer of the early teams. Herty later earned fame as a scientist in the development of the turpentine and pine pulpwood industry." This is marker number 029-17. It was erected in 1991 by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. [Review 1380 of 2025 - 862 in Georgia - 24932 overall]

Located near the Braselton Town Hall, this marker points out the history of the earliest settlers…read morehere and how this started to grow into what it is today. The marker reads, "In 1876 William H. Braselton, Sr. and his wife, Susan Hosch Braselton, established a 796-acre farm in western Jackson County. The Braseltons' children, Henry, Green, John Oliver, Belle, and Lena , grew up working on the family farm, developing several support businesses such as a store and fertilizer operation. The arrival of first the railroad in 1902 and then a state highway in 1927 allowed expansion of farming operations. In 1916 the town of Braselton was incorporated. In addition to the farm, the development of a mercantile and grocery business as well as a grist and flour mill led the brothers to form Braselton Brothers, Inc. in 1921. Braselton Brothers also funded local schools, and published the monthly Four County Booster from 1912-1933. This is marker number 78-3 and it was erected in 2006 by The Georgia Historical Society and the Braselton Memorial Cemetery Foundation. There is free street parking nearby. [Review 1101 of 2024 - 758 in Georgia - 22128 overall]

Clarke County is named for Elijah Clarke, who was the victorious commander over the British at the…read moreBattle of Kettle Creek in Wilkes County, Georgia. The courthouse was completed in 1915 after the county seat moved from Watkinsville to Athens in 1871. It is designed in an Italian Renaissance style with its buff-yellow brick façade, symmetrical five-story form, and a prominent south-facing portico supported by four monumental columns. A wide cornice runs beneath the fourth story, and the flat roofline gives the structure a dignified, institutional silhouette. There are a number of monuments and memorials on the courthouse grounds including the Athens Confederate Monument, a Carrara marble obelisk originally erected in 1872. There is also a marker honoring Abraham Baldwin, founder of the University of Georgia and James Camak, who helped establish the Georgia Railroad. While there is plenty of street parking, the building is completely locked on the weekends. I've read that the interior is impressive and includes some beautiful artwork. Perhaps I can return and tour on a future visit to Athens. [Review 1377 of 2025 - 861 in Georgia - 24929 overall]

This bridge is a hot mess!…read more It has been poorly maintained, which just breaks my heart. I could hear it creaking under the stress of my weight as I walked through, being careful not to step on missing or decayed floor boards. Some so decayed I could see the ground below them. I certainly hope the County of Oglethorpe has plans to renovate this amazing 1840's structure. It was repaired in 1998 according to some sources, but needs a massive overhaul in my opinion. If this bridge were human, it would be in need of life support. Loosing this piece of history would be a real shame. Howard's Bridge (aka Big Clouds Creek Bridge) has the privilege of being part of the legacy that was and is Horace King. If you've read my other covered bridge reviews you have been introduced to Horace by now. But if not, just know he was a slave of African American and Indian descent whom won his freedom due to his excellent engineering skills. A skill he passed onto his sons, to which the eldest (Washington King) took a lead part in building this bridge. According to reports, this bridge has the longest main span of any of the current surviving bridges in Georgia @ 252.5 feet. Sometime in the past few decades the bridge was fitted with a central support pier, thus giving Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge the title for longest unsupported span. FINAL THOUGHT I have a list of all the bridges in Georgia that once existed on record. So far I have visited two empty sights where these covered bridges once stood. They were victims of vandals and neglect. All that remains of them are toppled stone foundations and abandoned creek shores once active with passer's by. Please Oglethorpe County; don't let this important piece of history fall by the wayside. We have less than 18 remaining and they need and deserve protection and restoration for this generation and the ones to come.