A self-guided walking tour of Georgia College's historic buildings.
Old Governor's Mansion
Old Governor's Mansion. 1839.
Completed in 1839, Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion is one of the finest examples of High Greek Revival architecture in the nation. Designed by noted architect Charles Cluskey, an Irish immigrant and built by Timothy Porter of Farmington, Connecticut, the Mansion looms over Milledgeville with its stately columns and imposing facade. Serving as the residence for Georgia's chief executives for over thirty years, the Mansion's history encompasses the antebellum, Civil War, and early Reconstruction phases of the state's history. State leaders such as George Crawford, Howell Cobb and Joseph E. Brown resided in the building and used it as a stage for speeches and also to introduce guests of national standing.
Georgia's Old Governor’s Mansion also served as a stage on which many elements of the complex social issues of the antebellum period were played out. Slavery and the complexity of society and gender roles are among the issues that shape the history of the building and are explored in tandem with the issues of politics.
During the Civil War, the Mansion was claimed as a "prize" in the "March to the Sea," when General William T. Sherman headquartered in the building on November 23, 1864. Following the war, Georgia's seat of government was relocated to Atlanta, and the Mansion was abandoned. Given over to Georgia Normal & Industrial College (currently known as Georgia College) in 1889, the Mansion served as the founding building of the institution and is the campus's most treasured structure.
Beginning in the late 1990s, an initiative was begun to return the Mansion to its antebellum splendor. Following five years of intensive historical, structural and material research, Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion began its long awaited historic restoration in November of 2001. Funded through the Georgia General Assembly and a generous grant from the Woodruff Foundation, over three years of painstaking work has restored the original layout, coloration, lighting and appearance of the building. Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion now serves as a historic house museum whose mission is to care for, collect, interpret and exhibit items (including artifacts, structures, and gardens) that illustrate the history of the site and its inhabitants during the years the Mansion was the official residence of Georgia’s governors (1839-1868). Tours focus on the history of the building, its occupants both free and enslaved, and the myriad complexities of Antebellum society in Georgia and its history.
You can schedule a tour by visiting their website.
Navigating Tips:
- Go from stop to stop by either clicking on the pin points that are on the map, or by clicking on the slides at the bottom of the screen.
- View more photos of each location by clicking on the left or right arrows that appear next to the tour stop's first photo
Mansion Annex
Mansion Annex. 1893. This building was completed in 1893 next to the Governors Mansion, which is visible on the right. It was originally intended to be a dormitory. This building was torn down in the mid 1960's.
Ennis Hall
Ennis Hall. 1920. Ennis Hall was dedicated in 1920 in honor of State Senator J. Howard Ennis (1873-1953) who fought to ensure funding for GN&IC. Ennis also served as mayor of Milledgeville from 1924-1927. A restoration of Ennis Hall was completed in 2014 and it is now home of the Department of Art and the Dorothy Leland Art Gallery.
Maxwell Student Union
Maxwell Student Union. 1972 This large structure, built in 1972 on the southwest corner of the campus, houses the campus dining facilities, a book store, and other facilities that can revive famished spirits. The rather severe, 70s look of Maxwell was greatly softened by extensive exterior renovation in the late 90s. This vital campus center was named for one of the finest teachers ever to grace this university. Mary Thomas Maxwell (1902-1970) taught in the English Department at Georgia College from 1939 until 1968.
Main Building
Main Building. 1890. The Main Building was the first building constructed on campus in 1890. It served as administrative offices and classroom space until 1924 when it caught on fire and burned. The formal garden occupies the space held by the Main Building. You can still find the cornerstone of the Main Building in the formal garden.
Russell Auditorium
Russell Auditorium. 1926. Russell Auditorium has witnessed hundreds of plays, convocations, concerts and readings from the likes of Carl Sandburg, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Glenn Miller, Bob Hope, Alex Haley, and Isaac Stern. Russell Auditorium is appropriately named for Judge Richard B. Russell (1861-1938). In 1887, at age 26, Russell introduced the first bill to establish a publicly funded women's college in Georgia. Even though his bill failed, Russell remained one of this college's staunchest supporters, serving as president of the board of directors from 1918 until 1932. The facility, constructed in 1926, was named in his honor. His visage still may be seen on the porch of Russell, benignly viewing concert goers as they enter.
Chappell Hall
Chappell Hall. 1907. 1963. Chappell Hall was constructed in 1963 on the site of an earlier and much more elegant Chappell (1907) that had deteriorated. The current Chappell houses a multitude of campus agencies such as Extended University and Information Technology. Both Chappells were named for our first president, J. Harris Chappell. Chappell (1850-1906) introduced a strong, liberal arts component into the curriculum of Georgia Normal & Industrial College, the major purpose of which had been to train young women to be clerks, secretaries and teachers.
Ina Dillard Russell Library
Ina Dillard Russell Library. 1932. The Ina Dillard Russell Library was constructed in 1932 and was named in honor of Senator Richard Russell's mother.This building was expanded in 1968 and again, to its current state, in 2007. It is filled with diverse resources, innovative and practical technology, and expert staff eager to assist students with their research and exploration. The library also includes several types of quiet study areas for both individuals and groups. And when you’re ready to close the books, you can catch a quick snack or a latte at the Books & Brew.
Beeson Hall
Beeson Hall. 1937. Beeson Hall was originally constructed as a women’s dormitory in 1937. Named for former president J. Luther Beeson, the building has had a number of purposes throughout the years including serving as a dormitory, functioning as faculty offices, and was once home to University Housing. Beeson Hall now serves as the home of several academic departments within the College of Arts & Sciences.
Peabody Auditorium
Peabody Auditorium. 1939. This building was constructed in 1939 to be a part of Peabody Laboratory School on Montgomery Street. The laboratory school was a K-12 school held on campus that provided education students an opportunity to student teach on campus. The school was closed in 1970. Today Peabody is used for a variety of purposes, but most students take standardized tests, like the Board of Regents Writing Test, in this building. It is a part of the Kilpatrick Education Center.
Herty Hall
Herty Hall. 1956. Herty Hall opened in 1956 and was originally called Science Hall due to the courses that would be taught in the building. In May of that year, it was officially named for chemist Charles H. Herty, who was born in a house that sat on campus. This image shows Herty before an addition was completed in 1972. Herty is still the home of the Department of Chemistry and Physics and the Department of Biology.
Marvin Parks Memorial
Marvin Parks Memorial. 1928. Parks Memorial was constructed to honor Georgia Normal and Industrial College's second president Marvin Parks. During his tenure as president, Parks successfully battled to turn the then teacher's school into a four-year degree granting institution known as Georgia State College for Women.
Parks died suddenly in 1926, and alumnae collected the funds for this building which was completed in 1928. This building is one of two buildings on campus named in his honor. Porter Hall
Porter Hall. 1939. The Music and Theater Building facing Wilkinson St. was constructed in 1939 over and around a 1912 steam plant, partly with Public Works Administration money and partly by funds from a bequest by Louisa Porter Gilmer Minis of Savannah. Mrs. Minis wished the building to be named for her great-uncle, Anthony Porter, a wealthy Savannah planter and merchant, who had once served as secretary to Gov. David Brydie Mitchell. Porter Hall now houses the Department of Music and the Max Noah Recital Hall.
Bell Hall
Bell Hall. 1928. Constructed in 1928, this large residence hall, now the central residence of the Honors students, was named for Miller S. Bell, a strong supporter of Marvin Parks. Bell served as mayor of Milledgeville from 1908 until 1924, matching his friend Parks in his energy and determination to bring the old town into the 20th Century. In 1908 he was named a member of the board of directors for the college, and was later appointed to the Board of Regents.
Terrell Hall
Terrell Hall. 1908. This graceful old residence hall was constructed in 1908, and has completely preserved its architectural integrity over the years. The building was originally named Lamar Hall in honor of R.N. Lamar, one of the original members of the Board of Directors. Lamar, however, was not a strong supporter of Parks and, in 1913, Parks' allies on the board changed the name to Terrell Hall in memory of the recently deceased Joseph M. Terrell, who had been the Georgia governor from 1902 until 1907.
Atkinson Hall
Atkinson Hall. 1909. Atkinson Hall was constructed in 1896 and was the first residence hall constructed on campus. The building is named for William Y. Atkinson and his wife, Susan Cobb Milton Atkinson. Susan was sensitized to the plight of under-educated women in Georgia by her journalist friend, Julia Flisch, and she persuaded her husband, a young state legislator from Coweta (and future governor), to introduce the bill that created Georgia Normal & Industrial College in 1889. In the 1930's, the original facade of Atkinson hall was altered to its current appearance. In 1977-78, through the vigorous intervention of alumni, community, faculty and students, Atkinson was saved from the wrecker's ball and renovated for the second time. Currently, Atkinson Hall houses the J. Whitney Bunting School of Business.
Parks Hall
Parks Hall. 1911. Previously known as Science Hall, Parks Hall was completed in 1911 and originally served as classrooms for the growing Georgia Normal & Industrial College. In 1913, Science Hall was renamed Parks Hall in honor of then President Marvin Parks. Parks successfully battled to turn the then teacher's school into a four-year degree granting institution known as Georgia State College for Women. This building is one of two buildings on campus named in his honor.
Lanier Hall
Lanier Hall. 1926. The construction of Lanier Hall was personally supervised by President Marvin Parks in 1925 and 1926. Classroom space was badly needed after fire destroyed the Old Main Building in 1924. It was first known as the New Classroom Building and, later Arts Hall. In the 1950s, Arts Hall was re-named after central Georgia's renowned poet, Sidney Lanier. No longer used for classrooms, Lanier now houses an array of services.