Local History: Frequently Asked Questions

State Capital

Q: When was Milledgeville established as the capital of Georgia?

A: 1803

Q: How long was Milledgeville the capital?

A: 1803-1868

Q: What were the former capitals of Georgia?

A: Savannah, Augusta, and Louisville

Q: Who was Milledgeville named for?

A: Milledgeville was named for Governor John Milledge (1802-1806), donor of the land for the University of Georgia.

Q: Who was Baldwin County named for?

A: Abraham Baldwin, Savannah lawyer and U.S. Representative and Senator. Baldwin also authored the charter for the University of Georgia and was one of the original signers of the U.S. Constitution.

Q: What happened to the statehouse (capital) building? A: Though the building was partially destroyed by fire, it was restored in 1943. The present building is a replica of the original. It is now home to Georgia Military College. The ground floor is home to the Old Capital Museum.

Q: Where can I find more information about the Old Capital Museum?

A: Call (478) 453-1803 to get more information about the Old Capital Museum.

Q: Why was the city of Milledgeville laid out the way it is?

A: From its conception, Milledgeville was intended to be the capital of Georgia. Milledgeville was modeled after Washington, D.C. and included four public squares with the streets laid out in checkerboard fashion. Milledgeville is the only city in the nation, besides Washington, D.C., designed to be a capital city.

Q: What were the four public squares used for?

A: One was for the penitentiary, one for the governor's mansion, one for the statehouse, and one for the city cemetery.

Q: When was the Governor's Mansion constructed? A: 1838 Q: Is there a tunnel connecting the Governor's Mansion to the Statehouse? A: Although legend has it that a tunnel was built to connect the mansion to the capital building, no evidence has ever been found.

Q: Where can I find more information about the Old Governor's Mansion?

A: More information can be found on the Old Governor's Mansion website and in Leola S. Beeson's The One Hundred Years of the Old Governor's Mansion, Milledgeville, Georgia, 1838-1938.

Q: Who was the Marquis de Lafayette? When was he in Milledgeville? A: Lafayette was a French statesman and soldier who aided America in the American Revolution. He visited Milledgeville in 1825.