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Whether you live in Dahlonega or you’re just visiting, the area’s rich history is sure to intrigue you. To learn more about the town’s past, visit some of these excellent historic sites that will provide you with a better understanding of the area and the people that helped it become what it is today.
Dahlonega Gold Museum
The Dahlonega Gold Museum is housed in one of Georgia’s oldest standing courthouses, which in itself makes this place worth visiting for history lovers. The Cherokee Nation in Georgia is the first true gold rush site in the country. Long before prospectors arrived in California, they flocked to this area in search of their fortune. In 1838 the U.S. Branch Mint opened and coined over $6 million in gold before closing its doors.
Today, visitors can see rare coins, a nugget weighing over 5 ounces, and a film telling the story of the gold rush. You can also explore the courthouse and some of the artifacts related to its history.
This museum is on the National Register of Historic Places, so an elevator to the second floor cannot be added, making it inaccessible to those in a wheelchair. However, there’s plenty to see on the grounds and first floor to make it well worth visiting.
Take the Ghost Tour
The 2012 Class of Leadership in Lumpkin County created the Dahlonega Self-Guided Haunts Tour to help visitors and residents alike explore the rich ghost lore of the town. There are two famous photographs of ghosts that Dahlonega is known for, which was part of the inspiration behind creating this fun and spooky self-guided tour. You’ll encounter 10 stops that will provide you with both historical information and stories that have been passed on over the years to residents.
Some of the stops include Park Place Hotel, where you’ll learn about mysterious moving dishes at the Fred Jones Building, where you’ll hear about its namesake’s unexplained death, and you might encounter ghost in the balcony at the Holly Theater. A few of the other tour locations are Mount Hope Cemetery, the Butler Building, and the Picnic Cafe.
Chestatee River Diving Bell
If you want to see an extremely rare artifact that may, in fact, be the only one of its kind, you’re going to want to make a trip to Hancock Park at Hawkins Street. This is where you’ll find the Chestatee River Diving Bell. The bell was originally used by divers to help them breath underwater while they scanned the bottom of rivers. It was first brought to Georgia in 1875 by an entrepreneur and inventor by the name of Philologus Loud. Later, a Southern Express wagon brought it to Dahlonega.
A year after its arrival, the ship that was carrying it sank and the bell remained underwater until it was rediscovered in 1983. After its restoration in 2003, it made its way back to Dahlonega where it can now be appreciated by residents and visitors alike.
When you’re looking for a fun place to learn about history, check out one of these Dahlonega historic sites.
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