Completed in 1839, Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion stands as a prominent example of High Greek Revival architecture, designed by the Irish immigrant architect Charles Cluskey and constructed by Timothy Porter of Farmington, Connecticut. Over thirty years, it served as the residence for Georgia’s chief executives, hosting notable leaders like George Crawford, Howell Cobb, and Joseph E. Brown. The Mansion played a significant role in shaping the state’s history during the antebellum, Civil War, and early Reconstruction periods, addressing complex social issues such as slavery, societal dynamics, and gender roles. Claimed as a “prize” during General William T. Sherman’s “March to the Sea” in 1864, the Mansion became the headquarters. Post-war, it was abandoned, later given to Georgia Normal & Industrial College in 1889, now Georgia College’s founding building. Open for public tours, the Mansion is fully ADA-compliant, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and named a Smithsonian Institution affiliate in 2015. Admission rates vary, with free entry for children under 6, GC faculty, staff, and students.
