How to Experience Milledgeville’s Antebellum Capital Story

Long before it became the charming college town we know today, Milledgeville served as Georgia’s Antebellum Capital from 1804 to 1868. With wide streets planned for accommodating the bustling city, stately Greek Revival architecture, and a collection of significant historic sites, Milledgeville invites visitors to walk in the footsteps of governors, legislators, and the people who shaped Georgia's early history.

If you’re ready to immerse yourself in the stories of our town’s heritage—told through well-preserved landmarks and interactive experiences—here’s how to enjoy Milledgeville’s captivating antebellum past:

Take a Tour of Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion

Visit Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion, a stunning example of High Greek Revival architecture. Completed in 1839, this pink stucco mansion once housed Georgia governors, national dignitaries, and prominent statesmen. The home has been restored to represent Governor Brown’s time as a resident of the home. Today, the mansion operates as a museum, offering daily guided tours that explore political life, family life, and the lives of enslaved people who lived and labored on the property. 

How to explore: 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. 

Ride Milly the Trolley for a Narrated Historic Tour

Climb aboard Milly the Trolley for a one-hour tour through Milledgeville’s historic downtown and beyond. This narrated ride provides a fantastic overview of the city’s antebellum history, passing by notable homes, churches, cemeteries, and public buildings that date back over 200 years. Guests are also able to disembark at the historic Statehouse Square, where you will see the exterior of the Old State Capitol Building, then step into St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, consecrated in 1843. You’ll get context on everything from Milledgeville’s city planning to famous residents and architectural styles.

How to explore: Tours are offered on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 10:00 a.m. from the Milledgeville Visitor’s Center. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling the Visitor's Center at (478) 452-4687. 

Explore Indigenous History in the Rare Book Room

Inside Georgia College’s Ina Dillard Russell Library, the Special Collections Rare Book Room houses the powerful exhibit To Be Uninvited Guests, which shares the destructive history inflicted upon Georgia’s original inhabitants during the European colonization of North America. Through rare maps, archival materials, and interpretive displays, the exhibit traces the story of the Muscogee (Creek) people—whose ancestors lived in the region for thousands of years—and their forced removal alongside the Cherokee. Within just 100 years of Georgia’s founding, these nations were ethnically cleansed from the landscape, yet their cultural legacy endures in the land, if you know where to look. This exhibit offers a solemn and vital opportunity to understand the deep roots and resilience of Georgia’s first peoples.

How to Explore: The exhibit is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Contact the Ina Dillard Russell Library for more information regarding visitation. 

Visit Georgia’s Old State Capitol Building

Located at the center of the Georgia Military College campus, Georgia’s Old Capitol Building is the original site of Georgia’s government from 1807 to 1868. With its castellated Gothic architecture and rich political legacy, the building was the site of heated debates leading up to secession prior to the Civil War. While visitors cannot tour the inside of the building on a regular basis, it is accessible through private tours led by a Georgia Military College guide. 

How to explore: Visitors are welcome to walk the grounds of the property. Guided tours of the interior of the building are offered as a private tour. Call the Milledgeville Visitors Center at (478) 452-4687 for more information. 

Tour Rose Hill at Lockerly Arboretum

A hidden gem just south of downtown Milledgeville and on the Lockerly Arboretum property, Rose Hill is a Greek Revival mansion built in 1852 by Judge Daniel R. Tucker on the site of an earlier 1839 home constructed by merchant Richard J. Nichols, named for the flourishing Cherokee Roses that once blanketed the grounds. After serving as a private residence and later a guest house, Rose Hill was acquired by the Lockerly Arboretum Foundation in 1998 and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2017. The surrounding arboretum is free to explore and offers a peaceful break under towering oaks, native plants, and a large pond, all encompassed by a one-mile paved trail. 

How to explore:  Tours of Rose Hill are available on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the grounds of the Arboretum are open Monday-Saturday. 

Walk Through Memory Hill Cemetery

For a poignant perspective on Milledgeville’s history, take a self-guided tour through Memory Hill Cemetery, where many prominent 19th-century Georgians are buried. Originally designated to be where residents would attend church, the churches moved to the Statehouse Square, and burials continued on the property. Tombstones of legislators, Civil War soldiers, authors, and enslaved individuals tell silent stories of life during Milledgeville’s antebellum years. 

How to explore: The Memory Hill Cemetery Self-Guided Walking Tour brochure is located in the gazebo to the left of the front gates of the cemetery. The brochure features content for over 30 notable gravesites.

Tour the Brown-Stetson-Sanford House 

Originally located in the heart of downtown, the Brown-Stetson-Sanford House now sits proudly along historic Hancock Street. This beautifully restored Federal-style townhouse, built in 1825, has played many roles throughout Milledgeville’s rich history—including as a private residence, boarding house, restaurant, and office space. Its relocation underscores the community’s dedication to historic preservation, ensuring that this architectural gem remains a link to the city’s 19th-century heritage. 

How to explore: The home is available to tour by appointment through the Old Capital Heritage Center and serves as a living exhibit of Milledgeville life in the early 1800s.

Visit Central State Hospital

Central State Hospital, established in 1842 as the Georgia State Lunatic, Idiot, and Epileptic Asylum, was once the largest mental health institution in the world and played a major role in Milledgeville’s antebellum era. Located just south of downtown, the sprawling campus eventually included dozens of buildings and served tens of thousands of patients. Its founding marked a shift toward more humane mental health care, led by early reformers like Dr. Thomas Green. During the antebellum period, it stood as a symbol of Georgia’s progressive public health efforts, while also reflecting the limitations of 19th-century understanding of mental illness. The facility closed a majority of services in the mid to late 1900s, but a limited number of services are still provided by the Department of Behavioral Health. 

How to explore: The property is available for self-guided tours every day. The Central State Hospital Self-Guided Driving Tour can be picked up at the Milledgeville Visitor’s Center. For a guided tour, the Central State Hospital Campus Trolley Tour is given on select Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. and is a two-hour tour given by a former employee of the hospital. Tour dates are updated on the Visit Milledgeville website or available by calling the Visitor’s Center at (478) 452- 4687. 

Stay in a Historic Home

For an authentic antebellum experience in Milledgeville, a stay at the Inn on North Jefferson is a must. Originally built in 1820 in the Piedmont Plain architectural style, this charming home has been thoughtfully preserved to honor its early 19th‑century roots. With period‑inspired furnishings, inviting porches, and peaceful gardens, the inn evokes the elegance of the Old South while offering modern comforts. Its prime location places guests within walking distance of Milledgeville’s grand antebellum homes, historic churches, and Georgia's Old Governor’s Mansion—making it the perfect base for exploring the city’s rich heritage.

Plan Your Antebellum Adventure

Milledgeville’s antebellum heritage isn’t just something to read about—it’s something to experience. Whether you’re a history buff, architecture lover, or simply curious traveler, you’ll find a town full of echoes from a time that shaped the South. And with guided tours, preserved landmarks, and passionate locals ready to share their stories, it’s never been easier to step back in time.