If you see nothing else in Macon, see the Hay House. Built between 1855 and 1860 for the then-exorbitant cost of $100,000, this extravagant Italian Renaissance Revival home belonged to William Butler Johnston, the keeper of the Confederate treasury. The restored interiors here are nothing short of spectacular -- stained glass, ornate period furnishings, Carrara marble, and trompe l'oeil wall paintings. Its infrastructure was ahead of its time as well, with a cleverly designed ventilation system, hot and cold running water, and central heating. An ongoing restoration is uncovering original hand-painted decorative walls. The house is a registered National Historic Landmark.