Heritage and Museums
Museums & Historic Sites
Hundreds of years ago, Spanish explorers once traversed the land that is now Northeast Georgia. Cherokee Indians were forced from the land in the late 1800s. A gold rush brought in thousands of new white settlers. And today, several sites across the area attempt to tell (and show) the story of what once was. From poets to farmers to Civil War heroes, Northeast Georgia’s history is unique and exciting!
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CRAWFORD LONG MUSEUM
28 College St., Jefferson GA 30549
706-367-5307
CrawfordLong.org
The Crawford W. Long Museum in Jefferson, Georgia, provides educational exhibits about the life and career of Dr. Crawford W. Long, the physician who, on March 30, 1842 first used ether for surgical anesthesia. The Gallery takes you on a journey through Dr. Long’s life. From his exceptional education, to his early days as a physician and his discovery of the first anesthetic, through the days of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Come visit the site of America’s greatest contribution to medicine and learn how this “country doctor” came to be the father of painless surgery. The mid-1800s Pendergrass General Store building traces the development of goods available to small town residents over time. Particular emphasis is given to household items, the development of textiles from home spinning to “store bought,” and the advancement in canned goods with improvements during America’s Industrial Age and the dawn of marketing.
CAMP CURRAHEE MILITARY MUSEUM
160 Alexander St. Toccoa, GA 30577 USA
706-282-5055
ToccoaHistory.com
The Stephens Co. Historical Society Office, Currahee Military Museum, and Stephens Co. History Museum are all located in the newly-renovated Train Depot in historical downtown Toccoa, GA, where paratroopers first arrived in town by train before walking to the camp to begin their training.
FOLK POTTERY MUSEUM
283 GA-255, Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571
706-878-3300
SNCA.org
The Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia showcases the handcraft skills of one of the South's premier grassroots art forms, and explores the historical importance and changing role of folk pottery in southern life. Until the first decade of the 21st century there had been no institution devoted to Northeast Georgia folk pottery, not even in its home area. Dean and Kay Swanson, former owners of the Standard Telephone Company, committed to erect this museum as their way of giving back to the people of the area.