The city of Milledgeville was founded in 1803 along the Oconee River in Baldwin County, Georgia.
It served as the state capital of Georgia from 1804 to 1868, including during the Antebellum era and the American Civil War. The city layout was modeled after the grid plans of the early US cities of Savannah and Washington DC, due to its intended role as the State's government seat. The capital was relocated to Atlanta in 1868.
During its years as the state capital, Milledgeville quickly became a thriving hub of political activity and cotton-based commerce. Substantial building took place of both residential and commercial structures, within the original grid. Many of these buildings still exist, having changed ownership and use over the years.
To encourage and support continued preservation efforts, the Milledgeville Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. With . The district is approximately the size of the area laid out in the 1803 plan for the city. It is bounded by Irwin St (W), Thomas St (N), Warren St (E) and Fishing Creek (S).
There is a varied mix of architectural styles represented including: Cottage, Ecclesiastical, English Tudor, Federal, Georgian, Gothic, Gothic Revival, Greek Revival, Neoclassical, New England Folk, Plantation and Victorian.
Within the district there are four buildings that are separately listed on the NRHP: Atkinson Hall (Georgia College), Fowler Apartments, the Old Governor's Mansion and the Old State Capitol.
The district is also home to two institutions of higher learning that were instrumental in the growth of Milledgeville. Georgia College and State University, was originally known as Georgia Normal and Industrial College, then Georgia State College for Women. Atkinson Hall, constructed in 1896, was the first building built on the campus. The second is the Georgia Military College. This was founded in 1879 as Middle Georgia Military and Agricultural College. The Old State Capitol, built in 1807, resides on the campus grounds.
There are currently 46 properties within the district included on a Historic Walking Tour sponsored by Visit Milledgeville. These properties are all within walking distance of the downtown visitor's center and offer an amazing array of building styles and uses. The table below includes all properties on the tour.
Note that the downtown intersection of Hancock and Wayne Streets serves as the delineator of North/South and East/West addresses.
Clicking on a column heading in the properties table below, will sort the corresponding column in ascending or descending order. Commonly used sorts are the "Name", "Address", (Tour) "Stop", (Year) "Built" and "Style" columns. Sorting by the "Stop" column will present the list in the Tour sequence that matches the Visit Milledgeville printed brochure.
The photos displayed in the historic "Then" column were predominantly retrieved from the Nation Register of Historic Districts application (1972) NRHP 72000360 or the Historic American Buildings Survey (1934-1937). The year taken for the remaining historic photos is displayed.
Additional photos for all historic properties can be found by accessing the Wikimedia page for the Milledgeville Historic District from the "External Links" section at the bottom of the current page.
The table below includes all properties on the Historic Walking Tour. Please note that you can scroll right to display all table columns, if they are not immediately visible. The furthest right column is headed "Current Use".
Milledgeville Historic District - walking tour properties
NameImageAddressStopBuiltStyleThenNotesMarker/SignCurrent UseAllen's Market BuildingE McIntosh St - 101361911Federallocal grocery store until 1980s; now part of Marlor Arts Centercommunity buildingAlling-Bethune-Combs-Graciaa HouseS Liberty St - 231 191895Victoriandesigned by architect E.T. Alling for his family; previous parsonage for First Baptist Church (330 S Liberty)private residenceAtkinson Hall, Georgia CollegeW Hancock St - 231431896 NRHPNeoclassicaloldest building on Georgia College's campus; extensively remodeled 1982Georgia College & State University campusBeardon-Montgomery-Gormly-Cash-Higgins-Bugg HouseS Liberty St - 241 181899Victoriandesigned by architect E.T. Allingprivate residenceBeeson-Andrews-Stewart-Roberts HouseN Columbia St - 210 321898Victorianporches on each story were later additionprivate residenceBell-Martin-Kidd House S Liberty St - 200 241898Victorian & Neoclassicalunderwent renovations in 1910private residenceBlount-Parks-Mara-Williams-Peavey-Callaway House S Clarke St - 220 91818Federaloriginally located on W Greene St; house moved 3 times then restored at current location in 1991private residenceBone-Cathy-Knapp House W Hancock St - 517 271921English Tudorinspired by Surrey, England home; previously Georgia College Alumni Centerprivate residenceBreedlove-Scott-Tate-Thompson HouseN Jefferson St - 201 391838Georgian & Victorianremodeled in 1886; original front door crafted from 28 varieties of Georgia wood and adorned with masonic symbolsprivate residence - apartment houseBrown-Stetson Sanford House W Hancock St - 601 251825Federaloriginally on Wilkerson St; moved to present site in 1966 and renovatedOld Capital Heritage Center; museum"Buena Vista" Flemister-Alton HouseS Liberty St - 221 211893Victorianfrom 1902 to 1993 was owned by the Flemister familyprivate residenceCase-Flemister-Woods-Pelton House N Jefferson St - 221 381888Victoriankitchen remains from 1820 structure on site; owned by same family from 1888 to 1991private residenceCline-O'Connor-Florencourt House W Greene St - 311121820Federalfamily home of the late Flannery O'Connor; columns remain from original structure; purchased by GCSUGeorgia College & State University campusCompton-Fowler-McKnight-McElheny-Braxely Cottage N Columbia St - 151 301815New England Folk one of Milledgeville's oldest structuresprivate residenceFirst Presbyterian Church S Wayne St - 210 31904Gothic Revivalfounded 1822; building constructed in what was known as Government Square; cornerstone from Scotlandhouse of worshipFlagg Chapel Baptist ChurchW Franklin St - 40061976Ecclesiasticalfounded 1830 by a group of freedmen; original building erected 1864house of worshipFlemister-Roberts-Littleton-Hobbs House N Jefferson St - 241371820Federal & Victoriansecond story added in 1880private residenceFraley-Sessions-Lawrence-Harrington-Sheppard HouseS Liberty St - 211221894Victoriancharming victorian with wrap around porchesprivate residenceGobert-Baston-Snyder HouseW Hancock St - 520 261840Greek Revivaldesigned by architect E.T. Allingprivate residence - apartment buildingHarris-Vinson-Snead House W Montgomery St - 421331825Federal & Victorianowned by Congressman Vinson after Harris family Carl VinsonGeorgia College & State University campusMagnolia Hall W Hancock St - 300 461913Greek Revivaloriginally First United Methodist Church; purchased by GCSU in 2004Georgia College & State University campusMajor Edward White HouseS Clarke St - 24781806PlantationMajor White served as Adjutant to Marquis de Lafayette; originally on W Greene St; restored in 1989 private residenceMarlor House - John Marlor Arts Center N Wayne St - 201 351830Federal & Greek Revivalone of four buildings comprising the arts centerAllied Arts offices and Elizabeth Marlor Bethune Art GalleryMasonic HallE Hancock St - 102 411832-1834Federal with Italianate detailscontains unique 87 foot unsupported staircase extending three flightscommercial buildingMcComb-Hollomon-Waddell House S Wilkinson St - 138 141879Victorianowned by same family until 1982law officesMemory Hill Cemetery W Franklin St - 30051803xnotables interred include Congressman Carol Vinson and writer Flannery O'ConnorcemeteryMilledgeville Visitor's CenterW Hancock St - 20011911Federaloriginally US Post Office; became visitor center in 1987visitor centerMyrick-Jenkins-Harris House S Liberty St - 220 20 1890Victorianunusual asymmetric design private residenceNewell-Watts HouseS Clarke St - 201 101825Georgian & Greek Revivalowned by same family for over 100 years; purchased by GCSUGeorgia College & State University campusOld Baldwin County Courthouse, Georgia College W Hancock St - 20142 1885Victoriandifferent courthouses located in various county locations over time; the Milledgeville building was constructed in 1885; purchased by GCSUGeorgia College & State University campusOld Governor's Mansion (Milledgeville, Georgia) S Clarke St - 120 451839 NRHPGreek Revivalhome to governors of Georgia from 1839 to 1868; purchased by GCSU; open to the public Georgia College & State University campus; museumOld State Capitol (Milledgeville, Georgia)E Greene St - 201 21807 NRHPGothicconsidered first example of gothic architecture in US; site of Succession Convention held in 1861Georgia Military College campusOrmee-Sallee-Johnson HouseS Liberty St - 251 171822Federalconsidered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the areaprivate residencePaine-Jones HouseS Liberty St - 201 23 1820Federaloriginally owned by Dr Joshua Paine, the physician at the Penitentaryprivate residenceRoberts-Jones-Johnson/Thompson-Lorenz HouseN Columbia St - 200 311890Greek Revivaldesigned by architect E.T. Alling for Judge Robertsprivate residenceSacred Heart Catholic Church N Jefferson St - 110 40 1874Gothic Revivalbuilt with materials salvaged from the Lafayette Hotel, which was previously on sitehouse of worshipSallie Ellis Davis House S Clarke St - 3017 1890Cottageoccupied by former Eddy School teacher and principal for over 50 years; purchased by GCSU; restored 2013Georgia College & State University campusSanford-Powell-Binion-Mara-Hogg-Mimbs-Thorton-Sims House W Greene St - 330 11 1824Federal & Neoclassicaloriginal fourteen columns retained during 1890 renovationsprivate residenceSt Stephens Episcopal Church S Wayne St - 220 41841Gothicoldest church building in Milledgeville; damaged during Sherman's occupation in 1864house of worship"The Cedars" Howard-Jarratt-Garrard Baker House N Columbia St - 131 29 1822Federalthe two unusual original Ionic columns are reeded, rather than flutedprivate residence - fraternity house"The Homestead" Williams-Ferguson-Lewis-Oliver-Sims House W Washington St - 240 16 1818Federalowned by Williams descendent until 2003; when built was largest private residence in cityprivate residence - sorority house"The Old Parsonage" N Columbia St - 140 28 1821Greek Revivalat one time the rooms to the rear supported a second storyprivate residence"Thirteen Columns" Stovall-Conn-Gardener House S Wilkinson St - 141 13 1825Federal & Greek Revivalthirteen columns said to represent original thirteen colonieslaw officesTomlinson Fort House (Milledgeville, Georgia)S Liberty St - 321 15 1820Federal & Victorian additionsTomlinson Fort (congressman)private residence - fraternity houseTrinity CME Church N Wilkinson St - 321 341921Ecclesiasticaloriginally founded by freedmen in 1860 in building outside Memory Hill Cemetery; current brick building replaced previous wooden structure when congregation moved to Wilkinson Sthouse of worshipWooten-Garner House S Clarke St - 131 44 1900Classical Revivalcorinthian columns; purchased by GCSU; remodeled in 1976Georgia College & State University campus
There are numerous other historic properties within the district boundaries, which are not specifically on the walking tour. Details on all district properties can be found on-line using the Baldwin County Tax Assessors site.
Milledgeville Historic District - other historic buildings
See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Baldwin County, Georgia
References
External links
Visit Milledgeville Website City of Milledgeville, Ga Website Baldwin County, Ga Website Georgia Historical Society Website MHD Old Governor's Mansion Museum Website MHD Brown-Stetson Sanford House - Old Capital Heritage Museum Website MHD Sallie Ellis Davis House Museum Website