Old State Capitol (Milledgeville, Georgia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old State Capitol
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Old Georgia State Capitol, photograph by L. D. Andrew for the Historic American Buildings Survey
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | Greene St., Milledgeville, Georgia |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1807 |
| Built by | Gen. Jett Thomas, Joseph Lane |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000195 |
| Added to NRHP | May 13, 1970 |
The Old State Capitol is a historic building in Milledgeville, Georgia. It used to be the main government building for the state of Georgia. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about its past.
This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 13, 1970. It stands on Greene Street in Milledgeville.
Before Milledgeville, Georgia's capital was in Louisville, Georgia. In 1804, state leaders decided to move the capital to Milledgeville. They wanted a central location. In 1805, they set aside $60,000 to build the new capitol. Jett Thomas and John B. Scott were the main builders.
Building the Capitol
The Georgia Legislature (the state's law-making group) first met in the building in 1807. At that time, the building was not yet fully finished.
A famous visitor, the Marquis de Lafayette, came to the capitol in 1825. He was on a special tour of the United States.
Over the years, the building grew bigger. New sections were added to the north and south sides in 1828 and 1834. In 1835, grand porches called porticoes were built on the east and west sides. These had steps made of granite.
A Time of Change
The Old State Capitol played a big part in Georgia's history. In 1861, a special meeting called the Secession Convention was held here. During this meeting, Georgia leaders voted to leave the United States. This vote happened on January 19, 1861.
Governor Joseph E. Brown worked from this building. He managed Georgia's state militia (citizen soldiers). He also had disagreements with Jefferson Davis, who was the president of the Confederate States of America.
The Civil War and Beyond
During the American Civil War, Governor Brown and others left the capitol. This was before General William Tecumseh Sherman's Union Army arrived. Union soldiers took over Milledgeville on November 23, 1864.
The Old Capitol building was damaged during this time. Nearby buildings that stored weapons were destroyed.
In 1868, after the war, Georgia's leaders decided to move the capital again. They chose Atlanta instead of Milledgeville. Atlanta was seen as a new, growing city. Milledgeville was connected to the older ways of the South.
After the capital moved, the Old State Capitol building was used for other things. From 1871 to 1879, it served as the court house for Baldwin County, Georgia. Later, it became a school called the Middle Georgia Military and Agricultural College. This school is now known as Georgia Military College. The historic building is still a central part of the college campus today. You can visit it for tours.
See also
