Discover Your Pedigree: Athens Heritage

In 1785, the University of Georgia was chartered as America's first state college. The city of Athens, named after the ancient Greek center of higher learning, was chartered in 1806. Today, Athens is home to 15 neighborhoods on the National Register, including four house museums open for public tour.  We're a featured stop on Georgia's Antebellum Trail, the Heartland of the Confederacy Civil War Trails, and the 441 Heritage Trail.

Make your first stop the Athens Welcome Center, located downtown in the historic Church-Waddel-Brumby House Museum.  Pick up brochures, maps, and self-guided tour itineraries, or take a guided tour of historic Athens, departing daily at 2 p.m.  Tickets for all four local House Museums are also offered.  More information and self-guided tours are available at the Welcome Center's website.

Athens Clarke Heritage Foundation
The ACHF's mission is to be a proactive force in developing community-wide understanding of the value of historic buildings, neighborhoods, and heritage. The ACHF sponsors regular heritage events and programs, and operates the Athens Welcome Center.
Carter-Coile Country Doctor's Museum (19th c)
Authentic 19th century medical office complete with physician's instruments from the era.
Church-Waddel-Brumby House/Athens Welcome Center
One of Athens' four house museums, this Federal-style house, ca. 1820, is believed to be the city's oldest surviving residence. Stop by for a free tour, plus maps, gift shop items, tour brochures, and expertise offered through the Athens Welcome Center and Classic City Tours.
Civil War Heartland Leaders Trails
Discover the lives and legacy of the leaders of the Confederacy, many of whom have ties to the Athens area, on this regional self-guided heritage trail. Two-dozen of the trail's 45 sites are in Athens, or take a day trip during your Athens visit to other sites.
Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery
The Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery, founded in 1882, was once a very prominent burial site for African Americans in Athens, Georgia. The cemetery was largely neglected and fell into disrepair over the last three decades. Recently, there has been a resurrection of interest in Gospel Pilgrim and in the history and identity of the more than 3000 people who were laid to rest there over the last 124 years. On April 19, 2006, The National Park Service officially listed The Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery in the National Register of Historic Places.
Hargrett Rare Book & Manuscript Library
The Hargrett Library, a leading repository on Georgia history and culture, holds 200,000 volumes in its rare book and Georgiana collections, 6 million pages of historical manuscripts and photographs, along with maps, broadsides, and UGA archives and records. Other areas of emphasis include performing arts and natural history. Holdings date from the 15th century to the present.
Jackson Street Cemetery - Old Athens Cemetery
The cemetery, on Jackson Street on the University of Georgia's North Campus, was used primarily between 1810 and 1856. Buried there are merchants, tailors, ministers, children of UGA faculty members, and two UGA presidents, Robert Finley and Moses Waddel. The cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
Morton Theatre
One of the first vaudeville theatres in the U.S. built, owned, and operated by an African-American, the Morton opened in 1910 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The fully restored Morton presents a wide range of dramatic and musical performances.
North Oconee River Greenway
Walk, jog, bike, or roller blade along this 3.5 mile linear park along the North Oconee River open for all types of non-motorized uses, including dogs on leashes. Over 50 interpretive panels along the Heritage Trail provide a glimpse into Athens' past.
Oconee Hill Cemetery
Nestled behind Sanford Stadium on the UGA campus lies Oconee Hill Cemetery, 100 acres of one of the more scenic landscapes in North Georgia.
Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
The Richard B. Russell LIbrary focuses on collections and programs that explore the dynamic relationship of politics, policy, and culture. Exhibitions engage and inspire visitors in a dynamic conversation with past, present, and future.
Seney-Stovall Chapel
The Seney-Stovall Chapel was built in 1882 as the chapel for the Lucy Cobb Institute, a boarding school for girls that opened in 1859. Sitting at the edge of the University and community (near the Varsity), this unusual octagonal building with an exquisite Victorian interior has been restored in a way that allows for its use by a wide variety of University and community groups for plays, concerts, lectures, weddings, meetings, and other special events.
T.R.R. Cobb House
This 1852 home of T.R.R. Cobb, with its distinctive color and octagonal wings, opened for public tour in August 2007 after extensive restoration.
Taylor-Grady House
One of Athens' four house museums open for public tour. Greek Revival style, ca. 1844.
The Double-Barreled Cannon
Local landmark and unusual Civil War relic.
U.S. Navy Supply Corps School
U.S. Navy Supply Corps School
University of Georgia's Historic North Campus
The oldest portion of UGA's immense campus dates back to the first days of classes in 1806, and was modeled after the quad at Yale.
Ware-Lyndon House
One of Athens' four house museums open for public tour, this is one of the few antebellum homes with Italianate elements remaining in the Athens area.