Heritage and Museums
Museums & Historic Sites
Hundreds of years ago, Spanish explorers once traversed the land that is now Northeast Georgia. Cherokee Indians were forced from the land in the late 1800s. A gold rush brought in thousands of new white settlers. And today, several sites across the area attempt to tell (and show) the story of what once was. From poets to farmers to Civil War heroes, Northeast Georgia’s history is unique and exciting!
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CRAWFORD LONG MUSEUM
28 College St., Jefferson GA 30549
706-367-5307
CrawfordLong.org
The Crawford W. Long Museum in Jefferson, Georgia, provides educational exhibits about the life and career of Dr. Crawford W. Long, the physician who, on March 30, 1842 first used ether for surgical anesthesia. The Gallery takes you on a journey through Dr. Long’s life. From his exceptional education, to his early days as a physician and his discovery of the first anesthetic, through the days of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Come visit the site of America’s greatest contribution to medicine and learn how this “country doctor” came to be the father of painless surgery. The mid-1800s Pendergrass General Store building traces the development of goods available to small town residents over time. Particular emphasis is given to household items, the development of textiles from home spinning to “store bought,” and the advancement in canned goods with improvements during America’s Industrial Age and the dawn of marketing.
CURRAHEE MILITARY MUSEUM
160 Alexander St. Toccoa, GA 30577 USA
706-282-5055
ToccoaHistory.com
Stephens County History Museum is in the renovated original
circa 1915 Train Depot in historical downtown Toccoa Georgia. There is
an outstanding collection of displays that tell the history of the county
and the people who call Stephens County home.
The Depot is the same building that stood in 1942 when the young men arrived before they began their journey to become Army paratroopers for WWII. There were approximately 18,000 men that were soon limited to 6,000 who succeeded in becoming paratroopers.
An additional building, Currahee Hall, is devoted to the men that
served with one of the four military regiments, 506th PIR, 501st PIR, 511th PIR and the 517th PRCT. Each regiment fought successfully to help bring an end to WWII. There are several books, movies, and documentaries telling their story, Band of Brothers, Rescue at Dawn, Los Banos Raid, Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed are just a few. The 506th also had a group of men that were referred to as the Flying Thirteen during training, After fighting in Europe, they became known as the Filthy Thirteen. Later a historical fiction book and a movie was made, The Dirty Dozen, a demolitions team.
Loden Hall is dedicated to Stephens County's local veterans and other
wars, as well as the Legacy of Currahees. The county and military
collection has been deemed second to none, giving our visitors more
than a visit but an experience you will not forget.
FOLK POTTERY MUSEUM
283 GA-255, Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571
706-878-3300
SNCA.org
The Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia showcases the handcraft skills of one of the South's premier grassroots art forms, and explores the historical importance and changing role of folk pottery in southern life. Until the first decade of the 21st century there had been no institution devoted to Northeast Georgia folk pottery, not even in its home area. Dean and Kay Swanson, former owners of the Standard Telephone Company, committed to erect this museum as their way of giving back to the people of the area.