Located in southern Georgia, Fort Gaines is a beautiful city that has many things to offer visitors. The area is known for its historic farm and its heritage farm park. The park is home to log cabins, a corn crib, a cane mill, and a cypress swamp.
Historic Westville
When you visit Historic Westville in Fort Gibson, Georgia, you will get an opportunity to experience life in the 19th century firsthand. The town maintains an authentic village environment and collects artifacts and exhibits. It also hosts special events and interpreters in period clothing. During your visit, you will also get to see authentic trade-based shops, churches, and other buildings. You can tour these buildings on your own or with a guide.
The town is home to the Chattahoochee County Courthouse, one of the oldest wooden courthouses in Georgia. You can also check out the Johnson Baling Press, one of only two remaining animal-powered cotton presses. The Wells House also has one log room that was built by Native Americans. While most antebellum furnishings were imported from the North, the town has the largest public display of Georgia-made pieces.
Historic Westville is Georgia’s third oldest living history museum. It was originally a Fair of 1850 held in Jonesboro, Georgia. After it was moved, it was renamed Westville Historic Handicrafts, but the town moved again to Columbus, Georgia. The museum grew to include 31 structures and a variety of demonstrations of life in the 1850s.
The town also has a railroad. It used to have a steamboat that would come up the Mississippi River. The town had a main street that was about where the railroad is now. It had stores and businesses on both sides of the street. In those days, a gold dollar could buy seven items.
There was a post office here. Before the Civil War, there were still many small houses. Several of these houses were inhabited.
George T. Bagby State Park
With hundreds of acres of rolling Georgia hills, George T. Bagby State Park & Lodge offers a variety of activities for the entire family. From fishing to horseback riding, visitors will be able to find something to suit their needs. The well-equipped lodge is also known for its classic Southern cooking.
The park’s golf course, designed by Willard Byrd, was once ranked the 6th best public golf course in the U.S., according to Golf Digest. The state park also sponsors tournaments and leagues for junior golfers. The park also offers playgrounds and tennis courts. The lake is a popular place for family fun, and the park is also home to several swimming areas.
CCSSC
In 1833, the Fort Gibson garrison was the largest in the nation. Soldiers who served there included Robert E. Lee, Stephen W. Kearny, and Zachary Taylor. Later, the region was an important shipping point for cattle from the East and goods from the West. Later, the Tenth Cavalry was enlisted to police the surrounding area and deal with outlaws. The garrison’s size fluctuated, depending on the workload.
The Fort Gibson area became an important location during the Indian removals. Many of the nation’s leaders were stationed at Fort Gibson during this time, and it served as the starting point for many military expeditions to the West. In 1857, Fort Gibson was deactivated for a time, but was reactivated during the Civil War. Originally named Fort Blunt, Fort Gibson became the Union’s Indian Territory headquarters. It was used through Reconstruction and the Indian Wars.
Birdsong Nature Center
Nestled among the red-hued hills of southwest Georgia, Birdsong Nature Center offers visitors a chance to explore the center’s 565 acres of diverse habitats and 12 miles of maintained trails. The center was founded in 1934 by wildlife manager Ed Komarek, who was hired by plantation owner Herbert L. Stoddard to study the declining quail population in the area.
The center’s main building houses a restored historic homestead. Visitors can explore a well-maintained garden and view the various species of birds that visit the area. There are a number of seasonal wildflowers in the garden, including sunflowers, asters, dog fennel, goldenrod, and wildflowers. Visitors can also view the abundant wildlife in the surrounding areas, including wood ducks, wood storks, and turtles. Visitors can also hike to the center’s “Listening Place” overlooking Big Bay Swamp, which offers a panoramic view of the area.
Civil War memorabilia
For several decades, Thomas Dickey collected Civil War relics, starting with a small shoe box. However, after attending college, his interest took on a whole new meaning. In the early 1950s, a new technology made it possible to dig deeper and collect more artifacts. Dickey was able to expand his collection to include unique and one-of-a-kind projectiles.
In the Civil War, Fort Gibson was a place where the Army based its troops. It was also home to many confederate soldiers. This is why it is important to visit the town today and explore the Civil War memorabilia it holds. The town has three historical military cemeteries, the first of which was built in 1824. Most of the dead at Fort Gibson died from diseases, including yellow fever epidemics. After the post was abandoned in 1857, the cemeteries were neglected for years. However, some people in the area were able to successfully transfer over 2,000 bodies to the Fort Gibson national cemetery.
Another important piece of Civil War memorabilia in Fort Gibson is the diary of a soldier who served in the 58th Georgia Infantry. He wrote letters home to his wife, Mary Jane Merrell, detailing the war, the lack of clothing, and the deprivation of supplies. The letters also show his concern for his fellow soldiers, including news of their deaths.
Another Civil War memorial is the Soldier Monument, which stands ten and a half feet high on a stepped Stone Mountain granite base. It was dedicated by Col. Thomas Hardeman, a well-known orator from Macon, Georgia. The cornerstone of the monument also contains a letter written by Jefferson Davis. Also in the monument is a sealed copper box containing Confederate, U.S., and foreign currency. The women’s monument is also a beautiful example of a memorial to women who served in the Confederacy.