Whether you’re a history buff obsessed with exploring the past, a film guru wanting to tour the location of your most beloved franchise, a bookworm searching for your favorite author’s personal reading nook, or a music lover dedicated to finding the birthplace of your preferred genre, Georgia is filled with significant historical monuments that have shaped the culture of the state — and the country — for centuries. Read on for a list of Georgia locations to explore this summer.

By Francesca Augello

It’s no secret that Dahlonega was home to the majority of Georgia’s gold during the 19th century gold rush. An influx of fortune seekers are what put the quaint mountain town on the map, and today it’s a thriving city with a university, charming downtown, and deep historical roots. The Dahlonega Gold Museum offers a chance to travel back in time and explore the nuggets, coins, and tools Dahlonega miners used in an attempt to find wealth in uninhabited America. For more information, call 706-864-2257 or visit GaStateParks.org/DahlonegaGoldMuseum.

MLK Jr. National Historic Park | Atlanta, GA

Trace Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s footsteps as you explore the places that shaped his legacy. The MLK Jr. National Historic Park includes his childhood home, church, and the final resting place of Dr. King and his wife, Coretta Scott King, marked by an eternal flame. The Visitor Center offers insight into his impact on the Civil Rights Movement, while the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change inspires visitors with his message and mission. For more information, call 404-331-5190 or visit NPS.gov/MALU/index.htm.

Built in 1932, the future president FDR would vacation in this small-town retreat with hot spring access in order to find mental and physical respite from his polio diagnosis. He visited his resort every year except one from 1932 until he eventually passed away in April 1945. Visit today and catch glimpses of the preserved residence, FDR’s personal artifacts, and the infamous “Unfinished Portrait” as you walk through the same halls our former president occupied less than a century ago. For more information, call 706-655-5870 or visit GaStateParks.org/LittleWhiteHouse.

The Georgia Writers Museum in Eatonton celebrates some of the state’s most influential authors, including Alice Walker, Joel Chandler Harris, and Flannery O’Connor. On top of hosting workshops, projects, and scholarly events, the Georgia Writers Museum provides its visitors with entertaining and educational exhibits guaranteed to make Georgians proud. Visit the Georgia Writers Museum and learn more about these authors’ lives as well as the impact of their works. For more information, call 706-991-5119 or visit GeorgiaWritersMuseum.org.

Andalusia, once a cotton plantation, but better known as Flannery O’Connor’s house, is
a museum that’s been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Flannery was diagnosed with lupus in 1951 at only 25 years old. This illness forced her to move back to Andalusia where she would live for 13 years and write 2 novels and 32 short stories inspired by Milledgeville’s location and culture. Today, Andalusia has been preserved as a museum that exhibits the history of the site during Flannery’s time there. For more information, call 478-445-8722 or visit GCSU.edu/Andalusia.

Atlanta’s Swan House is most commonly known as Atlanta’s elegant historic mansion, but movie aficionados will recognize it as Mr. Snow’s house in The Hunger Games franchise. While the exterior takes your breath away, the interior is equally as impressive; it doubles as a museum and the headquarters for the Atlanta Historical Society, solidifying it onto the National Register of Historic Places. Visiting this location provides a trip to Panem’s Capital, a majestic mansion, and a tour of Atlanta’s most important historical artifacts all in one. For more information, call 404-814-4000 or visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com/Buildings-and-Grounds/Swan-House.

The 1972 thriller Deliverance set the country ablaze with its suspenseful and intense plot. Although the movie’s shock factor is its most memorable quality, the spike in white water rafting’s popularity since its release is equally as substantial. The film’s main location, the Chattooga River, has hosted many rafting tours since the film came out. Two of the most popular rafting companies for thrill-seekers today include the Nantahala Outdoor Center and Wildwater Chattooga. Take a ride down the river today, and if you hear banjo music, paddle faster. For more information, call 706-782-4812 or visit ExploreRabun.com.

Would you believe that Jackson, Georgia, is actually Eleven and the gang’s hometown? Downtown Jackson has been transformed into Hawkins, Indiana, since the first season of Stranger Things in 2015, and a quick stroll around the town’s square will excite fans of the show whether it’s remodeled or not. Between the city’s Welcome Center (Hawkins Library), the Jackson Presbyterian Church (Hawkins Presbyterian Church), and the downtown square, all visitors are taken back to 1980s Indiana the second they approach E. 2nd Street. For more information on how to attend Jackson’s official Stranger Things tour, visit StrangerTours.com.

The Tabernacle, a church-turned-concert hall, is one of Atlanta’s most iconic music venues. Its initial construction took place in 1911, and it was transformed into a music hall in 1996 to accommodate the Olympic Games. Since its conversion, the Tabernacle’s reputation has grown exponentially, and it now hosts more than 200 shows each year, propelling the space to one of the top music venues in the country. Its electric energy, inspiring architecture, and magnificent history is undeniable, and attending a show there is a must-do in Atlanta. For more information, call 404-659-9022 or visit TabernacleAtl.com.

Athens’s 40 Watt Club has revolutionized music since 1979. Whether it’s hosting R.E.M. in their heyday, or spotlighting the Cameron Sacky Band two weeks ago, the musical acts that have been born out of Athens are directly tied to this iconic venue. This club has been as much of a staple for the music scene as the Classic City itself. Take a trip down to Athens today and tour other venues, important landmarks, and iconic locations in the music world. For more information, call 706-357-4430, stop by the Welcome Center, or visit VisitAthensGa.com to schedule your tour today.

Everett’s Music Barn has brought bluegrass music to Suwanee since opening in 1964. This gem is located right down the road, and is still spreading the themes, history, and magic of the bluegrass genre to local residents. Founded by brothers Randall, Roger, and Leroy Everett, this barn began as a dream to share music with small audiences, but has become a landmark for introducing bluegrass music to a larger community. The Everett family continues to host live shows every Saturday at 7pm and survives solely on donations. For more information, call 770-722-1276 or visit EverettsMusicBarn.net.

Visit the home of Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, known as the Mother of the Blues, in Columbus. Ma Rainey’s House of Blues Museum, once considered her retirement home, has been transformed into one of Columbus’ most historic landmarks. Explore the city where Ma Rainey grew up and learn about her bountiful accomplishments as a musical revolutionary as well as her influence on the blues genre in the renowned city of Columbus. For more information, call 706-641-5933 or visit Parks.ColumbusGa.gov/Parks/MA-Rainey-Home.