Once upon a time there were hundreds of covered bridges in the state of Georgia. Now there are only…read moreabout 19 remaining and Elder's Mill ranks as one of my top favorites. Not because it is the longest (because it's not), or the oldest (because it's not) or the most well kept... but because the setting surrounding it gives it a little je ne sais quoi some of the others don't have. Here is a list of the remaining covered bridges in Georgia from favorite to least. * AUCHUMPKEE (1892) length: 96' My visual favorite! Most picturesque, especially in the fall. If I could own a covered bridge in GA, I'd pick this one! * EUHARLEE (1886) length: 137.6' My favorite overall Georgia bridge because of the amount of history that comes with your visit. It's more than just a bridge, it's an experience. Also on site is a museum, the ruins of an old mill, a General Store and several other historic buildings, cemeteries and informative monument signs as well as a brewery & pizza place! * HURRICANE SHOALS (2002) length: 127' The ONLY painted covered bridge in GEORGIA! PLUS there is a ton to see and do here! No other location compares for things to do including rubber duck races, blue grass festivals, war reenactments, mini-golf and a village of historic buildings. * ELDER'S MILL (1897) length: 100' See this review * SHILOH (1993) length: 42' Well maintained along a church prayer walking path. * PARRISH MILL (1880) length: 101' Unique in that it's a covered bridge, sawmill, grist, mill, and dam all in one! Located in George L Smith State Park. * HARALSON MILL (1997) length: 150' The only two lane covered bridge in Georgia. It's 36' wide and open to vehicular traffic. * COHEELEE CREEK (1883) length: 120' Entrance is gated off to all traffic but has one of the most attractive creeks! If the bridge and surrounding area were cleaned-up, this might easily be one of the most attractive covered bridges in the south. * WATSON MILL (1885) length: 228.6' Longest covered bridge body and the only one with its own state park. * RED OAK CREEK (1840's) length: 252.5' Longest covered bridge in GA with both approaches included. Featured in the 2012 movie Lawless w/Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy & Jessica Chastain. * STONE MOUNTAIN (1891) length: 151' Was once named Effie's Bridge after a nearby brothel before it was relocated here. Now called Washington W. King bridge. Looks similar to Poole's Mill. GREAT LOCATION! Grist Mill nearby. * ROSWELL MILL (2005) length: 161' Pedestrian traffic only in a beautiful historic setting w/ gorgeous old mill and dam ruins nearby. * POOLES MILL (1901) length: 94.6' The open lattice windows are one of my favorite features. Spend a day here with the kids playing in the water or at the playground. * CONCORD (1883) length: 131.7' Still in use but looks worn out * HOWARD'S MILL (1905) length: 168' Could use some tlc * WEHADKEE CREEK (1890) length: 60' Originally over 100' in length, but was reduced after its first relocation to Calloway Gardens. This is its second relocation (2022) * BLIND SUZIE (1915) length: 34' Smallest and the only one on inaccessible private land. It can, however, be viewed from the road. * STOVALL (1895) length: 36.8' It's a real shame locals keep it covered in graffiti * CROMER'S MILL (1906) length: 132' Looks and feels forgotten

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.]

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.

Unexpected to find this name in this place but here it is. It is in the center of Madison, on the…read moresquare with the county courthouse. It has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Oliver Norvell Hardy, of the comedy team Laurel and Hardy, lived in the Turnell-Butler Hotel which once stood on this corner. He was born in Harlem, Georgia, on January 18, 1892. The family was in Madison by that February, and may have moved here earlier. Mrs. Hardy later opened a hotel in Madison named The Hardy House. Oliver began his education at age six at the Madison Grammar School. Mrs. Hardy and her children left Madison in October 1898. Oliver Hardy died in 1957 and is buried in California where a plaque reads: "His Talent Brought Joy and Laughter To All the World."" Hardy was born Norvell Hardy, taking the name Oliver later to honor his father, a Confederate veteran who died less than a year after Hardy's birth. Though he began formal education in Madison, Hardy was restless and drawn to performance. He attended Georgia Military College and later Young Harris College, but his real passion was music. He studied voice in Atlanta and sang in theaters for modest pay, sometimes skipping lessons to perform. Hardy's entry into film began in Jacksonville, Florida, where he worked as a cabaret singer and at the Lubin Manufacturing Company. He was often cast as a villain in silent shorts, and before teaming with Stan Laurel, he had a prolific solo career, appearing in dozens of films under the name Babe Hardy. Hardy married three times: first to Madelyn Saloshin, then Myrtle Reeves, and finally Virginia Lucille Jones, who remained with him until his death in 1957. He is buried at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California This is marker number 104-1. It was erected in 2002 by The Georgia Historical Society and the City of Madison. There is plenty of parking in the area as well as some restaurants and shops. [Review 1311 of 2025 - 851 in Georgia - 24863 overall]

Hiding in plain sight, this marker stands on what was once the public square. The obelisk was…read moreunveiled in 1856 and is one of the oldest public memorials in the city and commemorates Benjamin Braswell, a local figure of significance. Benjamin Braswell (ca. 1749-1817) was an early settler, farmer, and philanthropist in Morgan County. He was part of a widespread family network that settled across upper Georgia after the American Revolution. Though little is known about his early life, records show he participated in the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery and was living in Franklin County at the time. By 1808, he had purchased land in the newly formed Morgan County, where he established a modest plantation focused on corn, wheat, cattle, and hogs as cotton had not yet taken hold in the region. At his death in 1817, Braswell owned more than a dozen enslaved individuals and was remembered as a quiet, generous neighbor. His most enduring contribution came through his will, which left his estate to Morgan County for the care and education of orphans. This act of generosity led to the creation of the Braswell Fund, a public trust that continues to operate today. His reconstructed grave, along with that of his wife Emily, is located in Braswell Park near the Morgan-Walton county line, protected by a wrought iron fence. Located in the heart of Madison's original 1809 town plan, the monument stands on what was once the public square. It predates many of the square's later features and has remained a constant presence through the town's evolution. [Review 1282 of 2025 - 844 in Georgia - 24834 overall]

Just off Main Street near the heart of downtown Madison, this historical marker quietly…read morecommemorates the nearby residence of a patriot who once called this area home. Though the marker still stands, it has clearly weathered the years--its surface mottled with moss and in need of some restorative care. The road here is often bustling with traffic, but visitors can find convenient parking in the lot adjacent to the Cultural Center, making it easier to stop and reflect on the legacy preserved in this modest sign It reads, "Joshua Hill, noted Georgian of the Civil War and Reconstruction, was born in 1812 in the Abbeville District, S.C. He studied law and come to Ga. to practice, settling in Madison after living in Monticello for a time. Having strong Whig and Unionist principles, he was drawn into the American or Know-Nothing party when the Whig party in Ga. collapsed and was elected to Congress in 1856, defeating Linton Stephens. An outspoken opponent of secession, Hill resigned his seat in 1861 rather than withdraw with the other members of the Ga. delegation. In 1863 he made an unsuccessful bid for the governorship. "After the war, Hill participated actively in the work of Reconstruction as a member of the constitutional convention of 1865 and as a U.S. Senator. Elected to the Senate in 1868, he qualified in 1871 and served until 1873. Although he entered Republic party and supported Radical Reconstruction, he never lost the respect and admiration of the people of Ga. "When his term ended in 1873, Hill retired from politics, coming out of retirement only to take part in the constitutional convention of 1877. He died in 1891 and is buried in Madison" This is officially designated as marker number 104-1, and it was placed here in 1963 by the Georgia Historical Commission to honor Hill's contributions and preserve his story for future generations. [Review 1299 of 2025 - 847 in Georgia - 24851 overall]

This marker is not far from the town square and points out a time when Georgia was the frontier…read more That's hard to believe, but yes. Here we are at this historic home. The marker reads, "Establishment of Madison was part of a larger movement to settle the Georgia frontier and the westward population shift. The first division of town land created 48 original lots, each measuring 100 by 200 feet. Lots were sold on February 23, 1809, with the average lot sale being $155. Early dwellings and enterprises were modest, frame structures. Lot No. 6 sold for $111 to Reuben Rogers who built a dwelling. Known as an I-House or Piedmont Plain, this type of structure was particularly popular in the Upland South and often built by well established farmers and townsfolk. The Rogers House (c.1810) is significant as the last remaining residence from the period of the town's original founding on its original lot. "Opened for tourism in 1992 and later joined by the Rose Cottage (1893), the house serves as an excellent example of community cooperation: property ownership by Morgan County; leadership and funding for restoration, furnishings, and operation by the City; and management of the museum complex provided by the Morgan County Historical Society." This partnership reflects Madison's enduring commitment to honoring its past--not just through plaques and records, but through the careful stewardship of the very buildings that shaped its identity. The Rogers House stands not only as a historical artifact but as a symbol of civic pride, architectural heritage, and the power of local cooperation. The marker was erected in 2011 by the City of Madison. Unfortunately, I was here well past the time for tours and was unable to see the inside. [Review 1303 of 2025 - 850 in Georgia - 24855 overall]

This historical marker stands prominently on the sidewalk in front of the Madison-Morgan Cultural…read moreCenter, offering a concise but meaningful account of Madison's early role in women's education. The Cultural Center itself occupies a former school building, lending architectural resonance to the story told on the plaque. The marker bears identical text on both sides, ensuring visibility and accessibility to pedestrians approaching from either direction. It reads, "Religious denominations organized Georgia's first colleges for women. Madison flourished as an educational center following the 1850 incorporation of both the Georgia Female College (Baptist), initially chartered as Madison Collegiate Institute, and the Madison Female College (Methodist). "The Georgia Female College opened for its Spring Session with 148 pupils in this building, which became the President's House after John B. Walker funded a three-story brick building to the right (burned 1882). The Madison Female College was also located in town but was also lost to fire in 1864. "A diverse curriculum attracted young women from as far as Philadelphia. Citizens supported the institutions with funding and provision of room and board. Both schools thrived until the outbreak of the Civil War, when the facilities were used as temporary hospitals. Post-war, private education never regained its former stature." This marker was installed in 2011 by the City of Madison and the Madison Bicentennial Commission 1809-2009, part of a broader effort to commemorate the town's cultural and civic legacy. Visitors will find convenient parking at the Cultural Center, making it easy to pause and reflect on the educational ambitions that once defined this corner of Georgia. [Review 1272 of 2025 - 840 in Georgia - 24824 overall]