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

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!

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.

Elegant. Stately. Informative. These are just a few words that could be used describe the Old…read moreGovernor's Mansion. With the help of world-class tour guides, you'll find yourself instantly teleported to war-era Georgia, and one feels as though they are actually a servant, or a dignitary, or even a member of the governor's family. My tour guide, Deanna, gave an absolutely delightful tour that was both informative and entertaining. The whole experience left me with a renewed hunger to learn more about my state's troubled history.

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).

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 !

This trestle has been used in one of my favorite tv shows from the late 80's and early 90's, In the…read moreheat of the night. It was also used in The Dukes of Hazzard. Stone pillars are thought to be leftover from the civil war.

This place is way out there. That was kind of the point of course, as this POW camp would have left…read moreits prisoners with few places to escape to. The site includes a museum, a cemetery, and a driving tour around the area where the camp once stood. The museum is dedicated to prisoners of war more generally, and strikes a nice balance between telling the history of this specific place (including in a harrowing movie), but also connecting the issues faced by POWs throughout history. It also clearly explains the U.S. military code with regards to how to handle being captured. It's not a huge museum, but with the film I spent the better part of an hour. A tour of the camp can be done by either walking or driving. A piece of wooden stockade has been built, which offers a striking audiovisual experience when the lively atmosphere is cut off as you enter it. The area otherwise just marks where the rest of the stockade used to me, and also includes a variety of war monuments and informational signage. The cemetery is still active, containing not just the identified remains of many former Union POWs, but also American service members who have lived and died in subsequent eras. A map of the other major POW camps spans broadly. I've been to a few of those areas, but it would be quite a project to see all of them, even just the ones that have an actual surviving site and exhibition. However, the topic is compelling, combining the mechanics of war history with a lesson in the depths of human depravity, and an issue that will unfortunately always be relevant.

What can really be said that hasn't already? Well managed, well maintained National Park that every…read morehuman being should visit at least once. The museum was my favorite part, as the video and artifact offerings are excellent. If one takes the time, they will be enlightened on the American POW experience in all its wars. Our visit took about 2.5 hours on a crowd-free Wednesday in March, with most of the time spent in the museum. We briefly walked some of the grounds afterwards. Hallowed ground for sure. Cheers! RS