Milledgeville

Milledgeville is a city of 19,000 people (2019) in Georgia's Classic Heartland. It is home to Georgia College & State University, Georgia Military College, and Central Georgia Technical College.

Understand

History

Old State Capitol Building

In 1803 a group of commissioners set out into the wild frontier in search of a place to build Georgia’s new capital city. The search carried them across the Oconee River and into the deep woods of middle Georgia. Soon the group became exhausted and thirsty as they spotted a gushing spring beneath a large oak tree. There they took their rest as their leader, John Clarke, mixed the spring water with some whisky, which he had in his coat pocket. After quite a few drinks the men were convinced that they had reached their destination. Milledgeville had its start.

The site for Milledgeville was chosen for its central location in the state and its ample water supply. The town was planned to follow the design of Washington D.C. and Savannah, Georgia and included four public squares designated specific purposes. The remaining streets were laid out in a checkerboard style. Located on the fall line of the Oconee River, Milledgeville is the only city in the U.S., with the exception of Washington D.C., that is designed to be a capital city. Milledgeville served as the state capital from 1803 until 1868, when the capital was moved to Atlanta during Reconstruction.

As the political center of Georgia during her reign as state capital, Milledgeville attracted many notable Georgians and renowned visitors. In 1861, secession was declared and Gov. Joe Brown directed Georgia's war efforts until 1864 when General Sherman of the Union Army passed through Milledgeville on his way across Georgia to Savannah. For two days his Army seized the town, burning government buildings and documents, but sparing most of the areas homes.

With the removal of the capital to Atlanta, Milledgeville experienced an economic downturn. But by the late 19th and early 20th century, improved lighting, streets, telephone and water supply encouraged new building and commerce. This slow economic growth contributed to a wealth of well preserved Federal-style architecture, enhanced by noteworthy Greek Revival, Victorian, and Classic Revival houses that can be found throughout the city today.

Milledgeville is a "Main-Street City" and a center of attraction on Georgia's Antebellum Trail.

Get in

• Milledgeville is 30 miles NE of Macon on Highway 49 in the Heart of Georgia.
• From Atlanta - Take I-75 South to I-20 East. In Madison take right onto Hwy 441 South. Follow Hwy 441 into Milledgeville. (100 miles - 2 hours)
• From Macon - Take Hwy 22 or Hwy 49 into Milledgeville. (34 miles - 35 minutes)

Get around

Milledgeville has a few taxicabs and limo services for hire, but not nearly enough when needed; so it is best to drive yourself or walk.

See

Old Governor's Mansion

Milledgeville has a beautiful Antebellum downtown.

• 1 Old Governor's Mansion, 120 S Clark St. (updated Mar 2021)
• 2 Old State Capitol, Greene St. (updated Mar 2021)
• William P. Wall Museum of Natural History, Herty Hall, 1st Floor, N Wilkinson St, ☏ +1 478 445 2395. (updated Mar 2021)
• Central State Hospital Museum
• Memory Hill Cemetery
• Lake Sinclair fishing and boating
• Little Fishing Creek Golf Course
• Oconee River
• Andalusia Farm, 2628 N. Columbia Street, ☏ +1 478 445-8722, wiseblood@andalusiafarm.org. Th-Su 10AM-5PM. The home of American author Flannery O’Connor from 1951-1964 while battling lupus, this was a former cotton plantation established in 1814. (updated Aug 2015)

Do

• Deep Roots Festival - formerly Sweetwater Festival.

Buy

• Milledgeville Mall
• Various antiques shops
• Downtown Milledgeville merchants
• Wal-Mart
• Specialty shops

Eat

• Amici's - Italian
• The Brick - - beer, wings, pizza
• Buffington's - bar food
• China Garden - Chinese
• Country Buffet - good home cooking on the Southside
• Little Tokyo - sushi & hibatchi
• El Amigo - Mexican
• Pickle Barrel - - sandwiches, burgers, American food
• Velvet Elvis - seafood

Drink

Downtown:

• Amici's
• The Brick
• Buffington's
• Velvet Elvis
• Capital City
• Blackbird Coffee

Northside:

• Pickle Barrel

Sleep

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Milledgeville, 2600 N Columbia St, ☏ +1 478 295-1144. So chic. $117. (updated Jun 2022)
• Comfort Suites, 2621 N Columbia St, ☏ +1 478 453-2212. Nuanced. $102. (updated Jun 2022)
• Hampton Inn, 2461 N Columbia St, ☏ +1 478 451-0050. Outdoor pool. $112. (updated Jun 2022)
• Welcome Inn Hotel, 2595 N Columbia St, ☏ +1 478 452-9290. In all America's Best Value glory. $70. (updated Jun 2022)
• Heritage Inn, 2474 N Columbia St, ☏ +1 478 453-9491. Like a motor inn. $59. (updated Jun 2022)