How well do you know the history of your neighborhood? The National Register of Historic Places lists Georgia as the home of more than 2,000 sites worthy of being protected and preserved due to their historical significance. These locations can be found everywhere from downtown Atlanta to the mountains of north Georgia and they come in the form of parks, buildings and significant sites.
According to the National Historic Preservation Act, the Register is made up of both public and private districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering and culture. New sites can be added through nominations from various areas of the government or from any person or local government approved by the National Park Service. To be considered, the nominated site must be associated with significant historical events, the lives of significant historical figures, offer important historical information, or show the distinctive characteristics of a certain time period or high artistic values.
The National Register of Historic Places became official as a part of the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act. The list was established to serve as a planning tool to make sure that Federal agencies could not demolish or damage an historical site without giving the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation a chance to comment. The Council does not, however, have the power to stop the work from proceeding.
If you are interested in venturing out and learning about the history in your community, you can use the list below as a reference to get you started. For the complete list of historical sites across the country, click here.
COBB COUNTY
Camp McDonald Park
2726 Watts Drive, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144
Camp McDonald opened on June 11, 1861 and gained its historical notoriety during the Civil War. At that time, the area served as the largest military training camp in Georgia and also housed several thousand soldiers at the beginning of the war. Though no long-term structures were built during its military use, visitors today can still enjoy the green space and natural landscapes.
Marietta National Cemetery
500 Washington Ave NE, Marietta, GA 30060
Marietta National Cemetery was established in 1866 and is the home of one of five monumental masonry archways that signifies the entrance to national cemeteries in the South. The cemetery is the final resting place of more than 18,000 members of the armed forces including John Clark and Private Dennis Buckley. The grounds are open daily 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
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GWINNETT COUNTY
Elisha Winn House
908 Dacula Road, Dacula, GA 30019
Built in 1812, this home served as the planning site for Gwinnett County's first government initiatives. The first county elections, early sessions of the Gwinnett County Superior Court, and the county's first jail were all housed on this property, giving it a rich historical context. The property was owned by Elisha Winn, then a Justice of Inferior Court, and Roger and Elijah Pugh until they moved away in the 1820s.
Norcross Historic District
Off U.S. 23 in Norcross, GA
The Norcross Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The area was preserved as a 19th century railroad town and serves today as a vibrant community area with restaurants, retail spaces and green spaces.
NORTH FULTON COUNTY
Barrington Hall
535 Barrington Drive, Roswell, GA 30075
In the 1830s, Roswell King and his son Barrington co-founded the colony that would become Roswell, Georgia. They built a home on the highest point in the city and eventually, it became known as Barrington Hall. Currently, the home is open as a museum displaying artifacts and information about its original owners.
Bulloch Hall
180 Bulloch Avenue, Roswell, GA 30075
Built in 1839, Bulloch Hall was the marriage site of Mittie Bulloch and Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. – the parents of President Theodore Roosevelt. The home was owned by Mittie's father and one of Roswell's first settlers, Major James Stephens Bulloch. Tours are available to explore the grounds.
SOUTH FULTON COUNTY
Atlanta Biltmore Hotel and Biltmore Apartments
817 West Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30308
Since its opening in 1924, the Atlanta Biltmore Hotel and Biltmore Apartments have served as a snapshot into the grand architectural styles that defined that time period. The project received local financing from William Candler, son of Coca-Cola's Asa Candler, and created as a part of the Biltmore hotel chain based in New York. Due to its elegance and upper-class appeal, the hotel boasted well-known visitors such as Dwight D. Eisenhower and Franklin D. Roosevelt, and once served as the home of the South's first radio station, WSB Radio.
Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant
699 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308
The Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant was built in 1914 and housed Ford's southeast headquarters from 1915 to 1942. In 1942, the building was sold and used as a military storage facility. Today, much of the original architecture is still intact and the building is used by retail spaces and apartments.
King Plow Company
887 W. Marietta Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
King Plow Company, now known as the King Plow Arts Center, is a multi-building development that once served as a plow factory. The oldest building on the property was likely built in the 1890s while the others came later on in the 1930s. Over time, the plow business moved out and the space was eventually transformed into an arts community and center.
DEKALB COUNTY
Cheek-Spruill Farmhouse
5455 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338
The Cheek-Spruill Farmhouse was the first property to be protected under the Dunwoody Preservation Trust. The house was built in 1906 by Joberry Cheek for his son, Bunyan. In 1945, the home was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Carey Spruill, where they both lived for the remainder of their lives. The campaign to preserve the structure began shortly after Mrs. Spruill passed away in the 1990s. Today, the house remains standing and is used for community events including "Light Up Dunwoody."
Callanwolde
980 Briarcliff Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Callanwolde was built in 1920 and served as the home of the Charles Howard Candler family for 39 years. Howard Candler was Asa Candler's oldest son and was once president of the Coca-Cola Company. In 1972, the property was transformed into Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and now offers classes, workshops and other learning opportunities for visual, literary and performing artists of all ages. It is also used to host events.
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