About Macon GA
Macon is a city-county in the state of Georgia. It is situated close to the geographic epicenter of the state, and bears the nickname of ‘The Heart of Georgia.’ Macon is around 8 miles on the southern direction of the City of Atlanta. Its site is situated at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, and the city serves as the county seat for Bibb County. Macon is as well the key city in the Macon Metropolitan Area. Its downtown area lies at the Ocmulgee Old Fields, and was previously occupied by indigenous Amerindian tribes for more than 10 millennia, prior to the first Europeans arriving in the area. These native tribes built earthwork mounds for ceremonial, burial and religious applications.
Macon developed at the site of Fort Benjamin Hawkins, which was constructed in the early 19th century to protect the settlers and as a trading post with the local tribes. Fort Benjamin Hawkins was decommissioned at around 1828, and was later razed to the ground. A replica of it was ultimately built in 1938, and it is still present on a hill in the eastern side of the city. Upon the founding of Bibb County in the mid 19th century, Macon was chosen as its county seat. The name Macon was picked in honor of Nathaniel Macon, who was a prominent statesman from North Carolina. It is important to note that a big majority of the city’s settlers came from North Carolina.
Macon thrived thanks to its strategic location along the Ocmulgee River. At first, cotton was the mainstay of this Georgian city’s economy. In 1843, a railroad was built into Macon and improved marketing opportunities that led the city to prosper. In 1836, the Methodist Episcopal Church established the Wesleyan College, which had the distinction of being the very first college to offer degrees to ladies.
During the Civil War, this Georgian city was picked to be the official arsenal for the Confederate troops. Macon was eventually captured by Union soldiers in 1865. In the 20th century, it emerged as a prosperous city at the heart of the state of Georgia. Macon served as a key transportation hub for the whole state. While, at the same time, developing as a crucial textile manufacturing center.
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Top attractions
The City of Macon is well noted for hosting a wide variety of fascinating annual festivals that draw large crowds to it each and every year. To begin with, there is the International Cherry Blossom Festival, a 10 day event, which is held in the month of March. There is also the Mulberry Street Festival that is essentially an arts and crafts event hosted in the downtown area in the month of March. Macon as well boasts of the Juneteenth Freedom Festival that is a performing arts event, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The Juneteenth Freedom Festival celebrates the Black American cultural heritage both from the past and the present.
There is also the Ocmulgee Indian Festival that is a popular event, which commemorates the previous inhabitants of Macon and its surroundings. The Ocmulgee Indian Festival is held at the Ocmulgee National Monument. Lastly, this Georgian city hosts the Macon Film Festival, which showcases a wide range of independent movies. Another top attraction in the City of Macon is, without doubt, the Ocmulgee National Monument that is situated in the city’s downtown area. This site preserves some of the biggest ancient earthworks mounds in the state of Georgia.
The Ocmulgee National Monument was constructed by the Mississippian culture around 10,000 years ago. It comes complete with funeral, temple and burial mounds along with a re-constructed earth lodge. There is also Fort Benjamin Hawkins that was formerly a key military outpost in the early 19th century. Fort Benjamin Hawkins was the command headquarters of the United States Army together with the state of Georgia’s militia.
Macon also boasts of the Sidney Lanier Cottage that was the historic home of the nationally acclaimed poet; Sidney Lanier. Not to mention the Wesleyan College, which was the very first women’s college in the entire globe. Other key attractions in the City of Macon include the Allman Brothers Band Museum, the Georgia Children’s Museum. The Museum of Arts & Science, the Tubman Museum and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
As for performing arts centers, Macon is home to the Douglas Theatre and the Grand Opera House. The last of which is where the Macon Symphony Orchestra stages its various productions. There is as well the Macon Little Theatre that was established in the early 20th century, and has the distinction of been the oldest community theater in the City of Macon.
Ocmulgee National Monument
This is a pre-historic native Amerindian site, which preserves over 10 millennia of the country’s indigenous culture. The Ocmulgee National Monument comprises of a number of key earthworks that were built before 1,000 CE by the native tribes from the southern side of the Appalachian area. This Macon attraction comes complete with an archeology museum that showcases various intriguing artifacts, which were retrieved from the site. This museum as well offers interpretation of these curious artifacts, and other details on the pre-historic community that once called Macon home.
Allman Brothers Band Museum
The Allman Brothers Band Museum is basically a house museum that honors the memory of the popular Allman Brothers Band. Also referred to as the ‘big house,’ this leading City of Macon attraction was once the residence of the bands original members along with their loved ones and friends. It boasts of the band’s archives and a variety of memorabilia. This includes works of art, musical instruments, handwritten lyrics and plenty more. A number of the rooms in the Allman Brothers Band Museum have being tastefully restored to look like when the band resided here.
Rose Hill Cemetery
This is a historic City of Macon cemetery, which is situated on the shores of the Ocmulgee River. It was constructed by Simri Rose in the mid 19th century, and was from the start designed for visits and gatherings of people. It is noteworthy to state that the Rose Hill Cemetery was previously a very popular hangout for the Allman Brothers Band during its formative years and the band members obtained much inspiration from it. Moreover, the band’s guitarist and bass player, Duane Allman and Berry Oakley respectively, were interred in the Rose Hill Cemetery. Not to mention a respectable number of some of the state of Georgia’s leading politicians.
Grand Opera House
The Grand Opera House is a historic opera house that also serves as Mercer University’s performing arts venue. It was formerly referred to as the Academy of Music, and when it was first opened to the general public in the late 19th century, it had the distinction of having the biggest stage in the entire US southeast region. It was eventually remodeled in 1905 before being rechristened as the Grand Opera House. Historically speaking, this Macon performing arts venue has played host to numerous famous performers over its long history. This includes Charlie Chaplin, Will Rogers, Bob Hope, John Sousa Band, Ray Charles, and of course, the Allman Brothers Band. Nowadays, this popular performing arts center hosts diverse events including Broadway shows, concerts and even theatrical productions.
Museum of Arts & Sciences
This is a community museum, which features 4 galleries showcasing a wide variety of rotating exhibits. This includes the hands-on Discovery House, a number of animal habitats, a planetarium, a mini zoo, a garden, a nature trail and an observatory.