Whether you’re a longtime resident of Milledgeville or just visiting for a weekend getaway, Milledgeville’s historic trolley tour offers a fascinating history lesson on one of Georgia’s original capital cities.
During the hour-long narrated tour, guests journey through Milledgeville’s historic district to learn about its significance during its period as Georgia’s state capital. Along with the trolley ride, the tour includes a guided walk through the former statehouse square and St. Stephen Episcopal Church.
Departing from the Milledgeville Visitor Information Center, guests will hear a history of how Milledgeville became the capital during the Civil War. After riding through historic downtown, a stop is made for a guided walking tour of Georgia Military College, home of the original capitol building.
The guided walk offers a rich history with every step, even trees on the grounds have great significance. The walking portion ends with a seat in a pew at St. Stephen Episcopal Church and a history of its evolution into the church it is today.
Throughout the excursion, guests learn of many notable people who played a part in the 61-year period of Georgia’s capital, from architects and government officials to enslaved people.
Architecture is a central theme in this memorable tour as many of the buildings and homes built during the Civil War are still standing today. The old Georgia governor’s mansion, Sallie Ellis Davis house, along with others, offer tours of the buildings.
Following the walking tour, guests re-board the trolley to view some of these houses. Many of Georgia College & State University’s Greek life houses played a significant role in this time period such as the homes of the architect John Marler and Susan Myrick, dialect coach for Gone With The Wind.
For some, it can be easy to overlook many of the establishments in Milledgeville’s historic district, but the trolley tour offers a deeper understanding and background of how Milledgeville came to be the beloved place it is today, with many fights and fires along the way.
The tour concludes back at the visitor’s center where guests can find more information on what they have learned and explore the many other excursion options that the city has to offer.
Trolley tours are hosted every Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. and tickets are $12 a person. While Milledgeville is host to a multitude of fascinating historical destinations, the trolley tour is a great way to check off many of the spots in a single trip.