State offers free admission to historic site museums on Sunday; 4 near Athens

Wayne Ford, Athens Banner-Herald
·2 min read
The former courthouse in Lumpkin County is now the Dahlonega Gold Museum.
The former courthouse in Lumpkin County is now the Dahlonega Gold Museum.

Looking for a day trip this coming Sunday.

The Georgia State Historic Sites is offering free admission on Sunday to its historical sites as part of the statewide “Super Museum Sunday.”

Visitors will have free access to historic sites from the Georgia mountains to coastal cities, but a few museums are close enough to Athens to make it a day trip.

“This is a great opportunity to explore our state’s past, from mound-building cultures to the discovery of gold in northern Georgia,” said Kim Hatcher, public affairs coordinator for State Parks & Historic Sites.

The parks also offer walking trails, films, and demonstrations, according to Hatcher.

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The Traveler's Rest plantation home is located outside Toccoa.
The Traveler's Rest plantation home is located outside Toccoa.

The historic sites closest to Athens are:

  • Dahlonega Gold Museum in Dahlonega. This newly renovated museum in the former Lumpkin County Courthouse on the square tells the story of the nation’s first gold rush in Georgia and how it led to the Trail of Tears.

  • The Hardman Farm State Historic site. Located in Sautee-Nacoochee outside Helen the house was built in 1870 by Capt. James Nichols. Described as an example of Italianate architecture, it was originally known as “West End” due to being on the west side of the Nacoochee valley. A gazebo-topped American Indian mount is located across from the house in a pasture and is considered a landmark. The museum is normally closed in February, but is open for this event.

  • A.H. Stephens State Park in Crawfordville. Located south of Athens, the park is the site of Liberty Hall, the 1875 home of Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens. The museum houses an array of Civil War artifacts.

  • Traveler’s Rest State Historic Site. The 1833 plantation home is located east of Toccoa near Lake Hartwell. It served travelers passing through the area in the mid-1800s and is furnished with antiques.

For more information on the state’s historic sites go to GaStateParks.org/SuperMuseumSunday.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: State offering free admission to historic sites on Super Museum Sunday