Old Governors Mansion, 120 S. Clark St. (tel. 478/445-4545; www.gcsu.edu/mansion), a pink marble Palladian beauty, has been exquisitely restored and refurbished as the home of the president of Georgia College. You may tour the antiques-rich public rooms. The mansion was the home of Georgia's governors from 1839 to 1868. This National Historic Landmark house is an excellent example of Greek Revival architecture. Guided tours begin on the hour from Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm and on Sunday 2 to 4pm. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $2 for students, and free for children 11 and under.
The mansion is on the campus of Georgia College & State University, 231 W. Hancock St. (tel. 478/445-5004; www.gcsu.edu), a former women's college that dates from 1889 and today is home to some 5,500 students. The college occupies four 20-acre plots. You may want to stroll about the campus.
At the college's Ina Dillard Russell Library, on Clark Street (tel. 478/445-0988), you can visit the Flannery O'Connor Room, but check its status before coming here. As this guide went to press, it was closed for renovations. O'Connor, distinguished author of The Violent Bear It Away and A Good Man Is Hard to Find, lived in Milledgeville. You can also visit Memory Hill Cemetery (www.friendsofcems.org/memoryhill), the oldest burial ground in the city, where the author is buried.
O'Connor fans should also visit Andalusia -- Flannery O'Connor's Farm, Columbia Street/Hwy. 441 (tel. 478/454-4029; www.andalusiafarm.org), outside of town. It is free and open to the public Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday 10am to 4pm. The author lived at her family's farm from 1951 until her death from lupus in 1964. The memorabilia-filled farmhouse is 4 miles northwest of Milledgeville on the west side of U.S. Hwy. 441. Visitors can see the 544-acre estate, complete with the main house, main barn, even smaller barns, three tenants' houses, and water tower, plus a man-made pond. The white two-story, plantation-style main house (ca. 1850) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The easiest way to see the town is to take a Historic Guided Trolley Tour. The 2-hour tour explores the major sights in the town, including the old governor's mansion and the former state capitol building (ca. 1807). Tours depart from the Welcome Center Monday to Friday at 10am and Saturday at 2pm. Cost of the tour is $10 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 16, and free for children 5 and under.
Nearby, you can visit Lake Sinclair, north on U.S. 441, a 15,330-acre lake with 417 miles of shoreline. It was created when the Oconee River was impounded and today it is a venue for fishing and boating. There's a marina, and camping is possible. Call tel. 478/452-1605 for more information.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
