An absolute must-stop if you're in downtown Macon!…read more If you've never heard of Otis Redding, do yourself a favor and queue up "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay," "These Arms of Mine," or "Satisfaction" and just feel that soul. Otis was the voice of a generation--smooth, powerful, and heartbreakingly timeless. Otis Redding embodied the spirit of a legendary musical era rooted in Macon--a time of raw soul, grit, and unforgettable sound. His influence on music is undeniable, and this museum is a heartfelt tribute to a life and legacy gone too soon. At just 26, Otis had already made a lasting mark as a gifted vocalist, songwriter, and relentless dream-chaser. The museum gives you a glimpse into that magic: family photos, memorabilia, music, and stories that bring him back to life in the most touching way. It doesn't take long to walk through, but the experience stays with you. And if you're lucky, you might just meet his wife or grandson--still actively involved in keeping his legacy alive. His family's connection to the community is just as moving as the music itself. Don't miss it. Totally worth the detour--and then some.

Great engaged staff. The kids field trip was so much fun and educational. The Staff had a great…read moreprogram set up for kids.

I came here for the first time in over two decades because some of my out of state family wanted to…read morevisit. I'm not big into aviation but my Dad was an Air Force lifer and I'm so glad that I decided to go with them. It was a rainy day so we only saw the main building but that still took almost 2 hours. There is SO much to see here. You move at your own pace and take as much time as you'd like. I think it might be nice if they offered tours since it's three stories, but it's definitely not hard to figure out and you aren't missing things if you don't go in a certain order. My favorite was the third floor where you could look outside and see all of the air planes. (There is no longer a cafe up there. There used to be!) We had all age ranges from 75 to 11. I think everyone enjoyed it. The gift shop was really cool and I was able to pick up some "souvenirs" from my home town. We did not encounter many employees except when we entered the building. That lady was super friendly and helpful. There was plenty of parking and this is FREE...so please check it out!

This is a wonderful museum for aviation fanatics. The whole museum is free to visit but donations…read moreare welcome. We visited this place on a Sunday with our 2 kids and they loved it. There is a lot to see. The first entrance has 3 floors to visit and there is 2 more hangars to go and see all the old planes and on top of that there were multiple planes across the property where we can drive by and visit everything. I would recommend to visit this place where you have a full day. On a Sunday it's open only from noon to the 5pm. Over all it's a great experience and there are friendly veterans who could help you where you want to go and any questions that want answers for it. Will come back again for sure with bigger group.

This museum highlights a fairly depressed looking downtown area, and while the outside doesn't have…read morea ton of aesthetic appeal, the interior rotunda is quite impressive. It houses a small, eclectic collection of exhibits focusing on subjects ranging from the local music scene to the history of segregation. The titular Harriet Tubman is memorialized in art and sculpture, but I could not figure out why the museum had this focus; Tubman is of course an impressive figure but as far as I could tell she was never anywhere near Georgia (the national park site in Eastern Shore Maryland is the area where she actually lived). Another aspect of the museum which puzzled me a bit was an exhibition on Tyler Perry, who again doesn't seem to have any local ties but is apparently a bigger cultural figure than I would have guessed. A mural on important historical figures is intriguing, but bizarrely excludes native Georgian Clarence Thomas and casually throws in figures like Bill Cosby and OJ Simpson while omitting some rather important pieces of context. Other parts of the museum focus on some starkly negative aspects of local history, as well as inspirational stories of success; military heroes get detailed stories here, but I was also impressed by a wall of black inventors. Overall, I found it a museum with some good highlights, but overall a mixed experience with some unfortunate lapses and not really a large enough place to drive from anywhere not in the Macon area just to see it.

A source of inspiration, triumph, and empowerment of African American stories told through Art,…read moreInnovations, Videos, Artifacts, and storytelling. Host of an annual Pan-African festival in April and All Souls Jazz Festival in January. An entire gallery dedicated to the Soul of Macon - highlighting Otis Redding, James Brown, and Little Richard among others with stories and artifacts from their recording life. Beautiful fine art and folk art both expressive and abstract from African American artists formally and informally studied in art. Stories of Harriet Tubman's life and journey to free slaves through the Underground Railroad and her dedications to freedom late in life. Innovations gallery of inventions and innovations patented by African and Black Americans along with a highlights mural of black Americans dedicated to civil rights. Give the museum an hour or two to take in all the exhibits, videos, art, and galleries. A great stop for Black History and African American appreciation.

I can't believe this park is free. There's a very informative museum with lots of displays and…read moreinformation. There are even some interactive displays. They also offer a 17 minute movie. There is a gift store inside the museum as well. Then there are miles of trails that you can walk to get to the mounds or you can drive to designated parking areas if you prefer to walk less. Some of the trails are concrete/paved, others are dirt, some are just mowed grass, but ALL of them are beautiful. It's easy to see why the Native Americans chose that spot. In additional to the epic mounds, the land was just gorgeous and We even saw a deer while we were walking. You could spend an entire day here, easily. We were at the park for about 2 hours. During that time, we went through the museum very quickly (we had a 7&8 year old with us), then walked about 2.5 miles of trails and still only saw/walked about half of what was there. If we lived in the area, we would probably be there several times a week just to enjoy the trails.

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.

Nice little museum for the kids. They also have a planetarium. It could use some updating, but…read moreother than that, it's a good activity with the kids.

I remember being a kid coming to the museum of arts and science and watching the shows at the…read moreplanetarium so today was very nostalgic and I brought my son to see it this being his first time he really enjoyed it. This is such a GEM in Macon. They also have animal shows, live animals, and different art sections.

There should be before and after pictures of the theatre from first built down through the years…read moreuntil now. The outside don't quite capture it for me as I know it from my childhood. When I was growing up with the neighborhood children, cousin and myself we all would go to the movies with a capitola from the 5lb. bag of flour, that was money the size of a 50 cent coin (don't remember the value of it). I had to wait for the flour to be used up before I could get another one. Sometimes they had one or paid money to get in. It seemed so much larger then....just a stroll down memory lane....LOL. Please put a mural or collage of it's original look outside on the walls!! B. Ogletree

Stopped by with my son, who is an aspiring cinematographer. I wanted him to see the building while…read morelearning about the history. It was closed due to COVID, but we'll be back.

WARNING! Tastings are $22 per person (which was not disclosed up front), and it's all muscadine…read morewine... definitely an acquired taste (I think it tastes like vinegar). We arrived during regular business hours but no one was there. I called the phone number and they said someone would be there in 10 minutes. So we waited for someone to arrive and open up... unfinished facilities with ants. Pretty unprofessional for a $44 tab.

Went with a large group. They were very generous with their pours. When you first get there, the…read morespot looks odd but it's behind their home I surmise. Good muscadine wine.

So I was invited to attend a brunch at the Idle Hour Country Club in Macon GA. What a gorgeous…read morefacility. Established in the early 1900's, it boasts an 18 hole golf course, a huge fitness center, 13 tennis courts, a state-of-the-art aquatics facility, full dining and top notch banquet services. When you enter the main building, what hits you is the very traditional and elegant decor, lighting and with deep rich wood trim throughout. The buffet itself was fantastic. So many delicious dishes. Unfortunately I left my phone at the table and didn't want to go back just to take pictures. The staff throughout the facility was warm, welcoming and very pleasant. They were always making sure you had everything you need. The grounds are beautifully landscaped with stately big oak trees, beautiful shrubs and bushes and highlighted with colorful seasonal and perennial flowers. What a truly delightful experience. Kudos to everyone who makes this club a top notch facility.

I was offered a free round of golf to take down my review. I live in Macon about 25 minutes away. I…read moreshow up unannounced and mentioned playing golf. I was treated as a 2nd class citizen and when I told them that I wrote the review. They laughed and said trash belongs in the receptical not on their course.