Milledgeville was established as Georgia’s new capital in 1803, and the Statehouse Square, located at the city’s highest point, was reserved for construction. The Old Capitol Building, initiated in 1805, holds the distinction of being the first public building in the United States designed in the Gothic Revival style. Substantial expansions, including north and south wings constructed around 1828 and 1834, were overseen by architect Henry Hamilton. Hamilton introduced crenellations and a plaster exterior to the building. The addition of the east and west porticoes with granite steps in 1835 finalized the structure’s appearance, which it retains today. Functioning as Georgia’s seat of government from 1807 to 1868, the Old Capitol Building hosted the state’s Secession Convention in 1861. Since 1879, the historic site has been occupied by Georgia Military College, undergoing a notable $10 million renovation in 2000.
