Located in central Milledgeville near Georgia College, Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion is a historic house museum that dates back to 1839. Its architecture is one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the American South. The building’s original purpose was to serve as an executive mansion for the state’s governor. The building was later converted to university use and has been a museum since 1889. The Old Governor’s Mansion is a National Historic Landmark since 1973.
During the antebellum era, Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion was the stage for many issues in the state, including slavery, gender roles, and politics. The building also served as the home of some of the state’s most notable governors.
During the Civil War, the mansion was the site of ceremonies and speeches given by Confederate generals. It was also the location of Governor Brown’s efforts to gain Georgia’s independence. In 1864, General William T. Sherman stayed in the mansion before continuing his march to sea.
The Georgia Old Governor’s Mansion is a national historic landmark and affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. It is open for tours Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. Tours last approximately one hour, starting on the hour and ending at 4 p.m.
During its restoration, Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion was renovated and reopened to the public as a historic house museum. The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation awarded it two awards for its restoration, including the Marguerite Williams Award for the project’s “significant impact on the community,” and the Excellence in Restoration Award.
The mansion was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1973 and is open for individual and group tours. The mansion also features an Education Building, which is open to the public and hosts lectures and symposia. A recent restoration of the mansion restored many of the original features of the building.
The Georgia Old Governor’s Mansion was the home of Georgia’s governors from 1838 to 1868. After the state capital moved to Atlanta in 1868, the mansion was used as a boarding house. In 1879, the newly formed Georgia Normal and Industrial College used the mansion as their first dormitory. The college had its own presidential apartment on the second floor. In 1967, Georgia College began offering tours of the ground floor of the mansion to the public. The mansion is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and on Sundays from 2 pm to 4 pm.
