Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion

ABOUT

Completed in 1839, Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion exemplifies High Greek Revival architecture, featuring imposing columns and a dignified facade. Housing eight of Georgia's chief executives from 1839 to 1868, including notable figures like George Crawford and Joseph E. Brown, the mansion served as a hub for state politics and entertainment during Milledgeville’s capital years, reflecting the intricate social, economic, and political dynamics of 19th-century Georgia. Seized during the Civil War by General William T. Sherman in 1864, the mansion later became the cornerstone building of what is now Georgia College after the state government moved to Atlanta. Following an extensive restoration from 2001 to 2005, funded by the Georgia General Assembly and the Woodruff Foundation, the mansion was returned to its original 1851 appearance under Governor Howell Cobb. Today, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973 and affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution since 2015, the Old Governor's Mansion stands as a revered historic house museum, offering insight into the lives of its former inhabitants and the complexities of antebellum society in Georgia. The Mansion is open for tours Tuesday- Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tours begin each hour at the top of the hour with the last tour starting at 4:00 p.m. The Mansion is closed on Mondays, holidays (including Mother's and Father's Day), the week of Thanksgiving Day, and the week after Christmas Day.