Historic Places in Macon, Georgia

Last week we arrived in Macon, Georgia for my husband's Homecoming Weekend at Mercer University.  It was a delightful weekend visiting with Fraternity Brothers and their wives, and other dear friends. They all walked back through "memory lane" and had a great time together.

When most of the festivities were over we went sightseeing through the beautiful city of Macon.  As we drove through downtown we spotted these two amazing old churches

First Baptist Church of Christ

Directly across the street from the Baptist Church is this beautiful old church in the photo below.  The doors were open and folks were going in for 4:30 mass.  What good luck for us.....we went inside and of course I took my camera to take photos of the inside of this beautiful old church.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church

This sign out in front of the church told some interesting historical information.

The stained glass was so beautiful.  I could have taken lots more photos of all the beauty inside this old church.  I have never seen a church decorated with Fall decorations......how pretty!

Just look at that alter overflowing with sunflowers and pumpkins

If you noticed the first photo of this church on the outside, you see the huge round stained glass window.  As we are walking out of the church and look up, this is the inside view of that round stained glass window.  Such amazing and beautiful artwork.

The Downtown Grill in the below photo was a well-known restaurant during college days, and was often visited by the Mercer students, especially on special occasions.  Back then, it was called the Saratoga Restaurant.

The Downtown Grill is an English Steakhouse that specializes in prime cut Black Angus steaks, fresh pasta dishes, fish fillets and decadent desserts.  My husband and I enjoyed a very delicious dinner in a cozy, charming atmosphere.

The Historic Hay House

The Hay House is one of Macon's most popular tourist attractions with over 20,000 visitors each year.  The house was built between 1855 and 1859.  The home has been called the "Palace of the South" and was declared a National Historic Landmark.

During our visit the Fall leaves all around Macon were at full Fall color.

This beautiful house in the below photo was built in 1836. The house was once owned by Colonel Joseph Bond, one of the South's wealthiest cotton planters.  In 1887 a 16th birthday ball was held in the home for Winnie Davis, daughter of former Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

In 1978 Mercer University acquired this beautiful old house and renamed it the  Woodruff House.

Woodruff House (Previously the Cowles-Bond House)

There were so many beautiful old homes as we drove through this old historical neighborhood.  

The city of Macon is part of  the Civil War Heritage Trail.  Macon survived the Civil War relatively unscathed.  This era is preserved and evident in several attractions in the Macon area.

During the Civil War,  Macon provided hospitals for wounded Confederates.  A prison for Union soldiers was also set up in Macon.

During the Civil War  Findley Ironworks in Macon was the manufacturing center for Confederate weapons.

For anyone interested in learning more about Macon's role in the Civil War, there is a book available at Amazon.com called:  Civil War Macon:  The History of a Confederate City  by Richard W. Iobst

1842 Bed and Breakfast Inn

Located in the same historic neighborhood is this beautiful old home.  It is now the 1842 Bed and Breakfast Inn.  The Inn has nineteen guest rooms, hospitality parlors as well as a courtyard and porches for entertaining.

The house was built in 1842 for John Gresham, a former mayor of Macon, attorney, Judge and cotton merchant.

A few more neighborhood homes.

We spotted the below banner telling about the upcoming Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes.  Can you just imagine these old homes beautifully decorated for the Christmas season!  I would love to take this tour!

There were so many more old and interesting homes in the Macon area.  The above photos may be enough to give you a glimpse into what Macon must have been like in the 1800's

Thanks for joining us as we traveled through the old neighborhoods in Macon and heard echos of the past.

Wishing you special days ahead with family and friends, as we prepare our homes for Thanksgiving Day.

Blessings to you where ever you may be.