Old Governor's Mansion (Milledgeville, Georgia) facts for kids
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Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | 120 S. Clark St., Milledgeville, Georgia |
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| Built | 1839 |
| Architect | Charles B. Cluskey |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000194 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 13, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | November 7, 1973 |
Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion is a very important historic house. It is located in Milledgeville, Georgia, right on the campus of Georgia College & State University. This beautiful building was finished in 1839. It is a fantastic example of a building style called Greek Revival architecture, which was popular in the southern United States.
Because of its amazing design, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1973. From 1839 to 1868, this mansion was the official home for Georgia's governors. Later, starting in 1889, it became part of the university. For a while, it was even the university president's home. Today, it is a museum that is recognized by the American Alliance of Museums and is connected with the Smithsonian Institution.
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What is Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion?
Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion is in the middle of Milledgeville. It sits just south of the main campus of Georgia College. The mansion is surrounded by a neat lawn and a low white fence. The main house is a two-story building made of brick covered in stucco. It has a sloped roof with a small round tower on top.
The front of the mansion faces west. It has a large porch with four tall columns, like an ancient Greek temple. These columns are smooth and have special tops and bottoms. They support a decorative band and a triangular roof section. This decorative band goes all around the building. The windows have simple stone sills and arched stone tops.
A Look at Its History
The mansion was built in 1839. It was designed by a famous architect named Charles B. Cluskey. Many people think this building is one of his best works. It was the first of Georgia's three official governor's mansions.
Home to Governors
Eight different governors and their families lived in this mansion between 1839 and 1868. Governor Joseph E. Brown guided Georgia through the difficult time of the Civil War while living here. During the Civil War, the mansion was taken over by General Sherman's army. This happened during his famous "March to the Sea." General Sherman even stayed the night of November 23, 1864, in the mansion's family dining room.
From Home to School
After the state capital moved, the mansion was used as a place where people could rent rooms. Then, from 1868 to 1879, the state loaned it to a new school. This school later became Georgia College. The mansion was first used as a dormitory, which is like a student housing building. The president of the school lived on the second floor. In 1967, the school started offering tours of the first floor to visitors.
Restored and Open to All
In the early 2000s, the college spent about $9.5 million to restore the building. They made it look just like it did around 1851. Now, it is a historic house museum. It teaches visitors about the building's history and the many people who lived there. This includes both free and enslaved people. The museum also explores what life was like in Georgia before the Civil War.
The main goal of Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion is to care for and show items that tell the story of the site. This includes artifacts, the building itself, and the gardens. It focuses on the years when the mansion was the official home of Georgia's governors, from 1839 to 1868.
You can visit Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion almost every day! It is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM. On Sundays, it is open from 2 PM to 4 PM. Tours start at the top of every hour, with the last tour beginning at 4 PM.
More to Explore
- Atkinson Hall, Georgia College
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Baldwin County, Georgia
