Georgia

The state of Georgia is situated in the south east of the United States; it borders Florida in the south, the Atlantic Ocean and South Carolina in the east, Tennessee and North Carolina in the north and Alabama in the west. Georgia, named after King George II, is an historically significant state having being one of the original thirteen colonies to declare war on the United Kingdom, the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution and one of the seven original confederate states to declare secession from the union in 1861, and the state itself being a major theatre of war during the American Civil War.

Georgia boasts a moderate climate year round while providing distinct seasonal experiences and is known for its warm and friendly people and relaxed Southern hospitality. Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, is considered the principal centre of the American South. Originally planned as a railway junction the city quickly developed into an important commercial town. It has become a major economic and cultural centre of the American South East and an important air traffic hub and today is the fastest growing metropolitan area of the United States. Internationally famed businesses such as Coca Cola and CNN have their headquarters in Atlanta. It was an important Federal stronghold in the American Civil War but was reduced to rubble in 1864 when it was captured by General William Sherman. There is lots to do and see in Atlanta – highlights include the World of Coca Cola, the Atlanta Aquarium, the Children’s Museum of Atlanta, Centennial Olympic Park and Six Flags Over Georgia. Outside the city, Stone Mountain, a colossal granite dome has massive figures of Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson and Robert E Lee sculpted into the sheer north face.

Augusta lies on the eastern border of Georgia on the Savannah River and was the centre of cotton and tobacco growing. The atmosphere of days gone by can be felt on the Riverwalk and at the Old Cotton Exchange.
At the mouth of the Savannah River on the Atlantic Coast is Savannah. Once the world’s most important cotton port and thus of strategic importance during the Civil War, the town was badly damaged during the war but when it was taken by General Sherman’s Union troops in 1864 it was preserved intact as a Christmas gift to President Lincoln. Thus it has one of the largest historic districts of the United States which with its leafy streets and shady squares takes visitors back to the days of the grand South.

In the far west of Georgia is the town of Columbus which was an important supply base during the Civil War and today has a well restored and refurbished historic district. Features of interest are the Confederate Naval Museum, the Columbus Museum and outside town is the National Infantry Museum in Fort Benning.
The small town of Dahlonega was a boom town created by the Gold Rush while the tiny hamlet of Helen in the Blue Ridge Mountains is a recreation of an alpine village complete with cobblestone alleys and old-world towers. In Jonesboro, Stately Oaks Mansion has costumed guides to show visitors through the 1880 Greek Revival Style plantation. Well preserved old buildings can be seen in Macon, once an important inland port on the Ocmulgee River and now the cultural and economic centre of the large surrounding area. East of Macon is the Ocmulgee National Monument, originally a prehistoric Indian settlement of the Mound Builder period.