Lake Oconee’s Ultimate Guide to Attractions, Art & Culture and History
Not only does Lake Oconee offer nearly 400 miles of scenic shoreline, and plenty of opportunities for swimming, water-skiing, boating, birdwatching, and sunbathing, the area also features friendly residents, dozens of great restaurants, fabulous boutique shopping, over 19,000 acres of award-winning golf courses, and a range of edifying and entertaining cultural, artistic, and historic attractions that can add some variety to your Lake Country getaway.
In no particular order below is a comprehensive guide to Lake Oconee's notable attractions, art and culture and history. Enjoy!
Local ATTRACTIONS
Rock Eagle Effigy Mound
350 Rock Eagle Road, Eatonton, GA 31024
North of Eatonton, Georgia and adjacent to the Oconee National Forest, Rock Eagle 4-H Center has nearly 1,500 acres of forest, a 110-acre lake, and the Rock Eagle Mound, a 2,000 year old, bird-shaped, stone effigy built by Native Americans, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The effigy mound is open to the public daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is free.
The Rock Eagle facilities provide a natural retreat atmosphere for group meetings and conferences, and include seven open air pavilions, a chapel, pools, a Natural History Museum, 54 cottages, an auditorium, and eight conference buildings. Rock Eagle is the largest of the University of Georgia’s 4-H centers, and hosts an annual Summer Camping Program. See their website for updates about the year-round adult and family programs offered here.
Rock Hawk Effigy and Trails
Lawrence Shoals Road, Eatonton, GA 31024
With hundreds of educational displays and 25 miles of trails through woods, wetlands, a lake and a river, Rock Hawk is a park and outdoor classroom centered around an ancient, Native American effigy. Indoor and outdoor interpretive centers educate about the local flora and fauna, as well as 12,000 years of the area’s history. Camping, fishing, boating, archery, nature watching, a beach, hiking and biking, and viewing towers, are all available to enjoy. Among the wildlife are over 200 species of birds, 25 of which are on the Audubon Society’s Priority Species list. Kiosks are located at each entrance of the trail. There are two parking lots – one at the entrance to the blue trail and one at the orange trail entrance. Trail maps can be obtained at these locations. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday to Saturday. Free admission and parking.
ART & CULTURE
Madison Morgan Cultural Center
434 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650
Since 1976, the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center has been housed in a beautifully-restored 1895 Romanesque Revival Building in the heart of the Madison, Georgia Historic District. The Center is a non-profit, multidisciplinary performing and visual arts facility that also features permanent collections featuring arts and history of the region. The building was a school until 1957, and the original school auditorium is where the Center holds its annual mainstage productions. Programming includes both popular and classical music, rotating visual arts exhibitions, storytelling, dance performances, humanities lectures, and programs for school-age children. Donations, grants, sponsorships and membership fees fund the Center, and membership can include advance and discount tickets, free admission to the center, the newsletter, invitations to special events, and ten percent off purchases made in the museum shop. Closed on Mondays and holidays; regular hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 1 - 4 p.m.
Georgia Writers Museum
109 South Jefferson Avenue, Eatonton, GA 31024
Inspired by the literary heritage of internationally acclaimed Georgia writers Flannery O’Connor and Alice Walker, the Georgia Writers Museum is a non-profit center promoting the literary arts in Eatonton and throughout Georgia. Their mission is to celebrate Georgia’s literary past, promote and advance current local writers, and to inspire future writers. The museum is worth visiting in its temporary location, but has begun renovations to the historic Eatonton Hotel, where there will be three floors to house the museum’s current permanent exhibits for Alice Walker, Flannery O’Connor and Joel Chandler Harris, rotating temporary exhibits, meeting and conference spaces for events, lectures, and workshops; a gift shop and book store, and a café. Visit the museum on Thursdays and Fridays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check the website for holiday closings.
Alice Walker Driving Tour
109 S. Jefferson Avenue, Eatonton, GA 31024
Alice Walker, author of Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Color Purple, was born in 1944 in Eatonton, Georgia. The Alice Walker Driving Tour is designed to take you past key locations from Walker’s life, including the Wards Chapel A.M.E. Church, where she was baptized and attended as a member, and her childhood home, which has a room inside dedicated to the Walker family, with items from the time of Alice Walker’s childhood. Start your trip at the Georgia Writers Museum, where you’ll learn about Alice’s life and works.
Steffen Thomas Museum of Art
4200 Bethany Road, Buckhead, GA 30625
The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is dedicated to offering art education projects and programs for children and adults in rural Georgia, using the work of Georgia artist Steffen Thomas as examples of Modern Art. The museum displays a large collection of Thomas’s paintings, ceramics, mosaics, sculptures, works on paper, furniture, artifacts and personal papers documenting his life. This non-profit museum provides the chance for adults and students to connect with Thomas’s art, their own talents, and their responsibility towards the environment. The facility also offers workshops, visiting exhibitions, and community outreach programming. The museum is closed on Sundays, Mondays and holidays and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mural Art
Looking for some publi eye-catching murals in historic downtown Eatonton, Greensboro, Madison and beyond. Check out our instagram-worthy murals that make for eye-catching photo backdrops for your “postcard” souvenirs to take back home.
HISTORY
Morgan County African American Museum
156 Academy Street, Madison, GA 30650
Founded in November 1993, the Morgan County African-American Museum is dedicated to researching, collecting, educating, and preserving the art and history of African-American culture. The Morgan County African-American Museum is housed in the historic old Horace Moore House, built in 1895, which was donated to the museum by the Reverend Alfred Murray, then moved to its current location in Madison, Georgia. The museum is open Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and every 1st and 3rd Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sundays and holidays. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students.
Morgan County Historical Society at Heritage Hall
277 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650
Heritage Hall is a beautiful Greek Revival home in the heart of historic downtown Madison, Georgia, built in 1811. Maintained by the Morgan County Historical Society since 1977, when it transitioned from a private residence into a museum and event space, the home was restored for its historic and architectural significance, complete with elegant period furnishings. It is a gorgeous place to have a party or wedding, so call ahead before you visit to make sure the home isn’t booked for a private function. Docent-led tours are available from Tuesday to Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Mondays and holidays. The tours last 50 minutes, after which visitors are encouraged to look around Heritage Hall on their own. Tour pricing at Heritage Hall is $10 for adults, and $7 for students; children under 12 are free. Group packages are also available.
Rogers House and Rose Cottage
179 East Jefferson Street, Madison, GA 30650
Built in 1809, the Rogers house is a lovely example of the Piedmont Plain-style architecture popular in the 18th century rural South. This two-over-two style historic home has been restored using photographs from the City of Madison archives, and features furnishings that are representative of the mid-19th century. Nearby Rose Cottage was built by Adeline Rose in 1891. Born into slavery, Adeline made her living by washing and ironing at 50 cents a load, primarily for the boarders of the Hardy House, which was owned by the mother of famous comedian Oliver Hardy. Adeline lived 68 years in her cottage, passing away in 1959. Both homes are open for docent-led tours and last approximately 30-40 minutes from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Mondays and holidays. Tours of Rogers House or a combination tour that includes Heritage Hall, Rogers House and Rose Cottage are scheduled on the hour by appointment; walk-ups are also taken on the hour. Appointments may be made on the day of the tour or scheduled in advance. Combination tour of Heritage Hall, Rogers House, and Rose Cottage is $15 for adults, $10 for students, and children under 12 are free.
Uncle Remus Museum
214 S. Oak Street, Eatonton, GA 31024
Located in Eatonton, Georgia, the Uncle Remus Museum exists to educate the public about the life and work of writer Joel Chandler Harris through antebellum period artifacts, dioramas of famous Uncle Remus characters, historic storytelling, local history from Harris’s formative years, and educational tours. From November 1st to February 28/29th, the museum is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with the last docent-led tour starting 30 minutes before closing. From March 1st to October 31st, the museum is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The museum closes for holidays, inclement weather, and from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and students with ID, $3 for children age 5 to 12, and children 4 and under get in free. Family and group rates are available.
Interested in learning more about the life of Uncle Remus author Joel Chandler Harris? A self driving tour is available; start your tour at the Georgia Writer’s Museum for more details.
Putnam County Veterans Wall of Honor
306 West Marion Street, Eatonton, GA 31024
Admission is free, all day, every day, for the Putnam County Veterans Wall of Honor Park. This Eatonton, Georgia monument has six walls that are made up of over 1500 bricks engraved with the names of men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. An 800 square-foot covered pavilion abuts with picnic-style tables with benches, an additional nine park benches, and solar lights.
Old School History Museum
305 N. Madison Avenue, Eatonton, GA 31024
Housed in four classrooms of the 1916 Eatonton School, which has since been converted into The Plaza Arts Center, The Old School History Museum features a vintage drugstore complete with a marble-topped soda fountain, ice cream chairs and tables, a 1940s jukebox, and period photographs; a reproduction of downtown Eatonton circa 1900; a gallery of Native American, frontier, Civil War, reconstruction, and 20th century history; and a historic classroom restored to its early 1900s state, with vintage desks, student memorabilia, and the original blackboard and cloakroom. The museum is open for self-guided tours Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for docent-led tours. Closed Sunday and Monday. Admission is free; donations are always appreciated.
The Old Gaol and L.L. Wyatt Museum
North East Street, Greensboro, GA 30642
The Old Gaol, or “rock gaol”, was built in 1807 after the Superior Court of Greene County requested the building of a substantial jail. Patterned after European bastilles, the jail is built from locally-quarried granite, with two-foot thick walls. It is the oldest masonry jail still standing in Georgia. The cells downstairs are like European catacomb cells, designed for prisoners to be chained to the wall, with a straw bed, a tin bucket toilet, and a candle as the only source of light. See the cells, the original gallows and trap door for hanging, and more. Stop by Genuine Georgia in Downtown Greensboro to check out the key so you can tour the inside! There is also a solar box outside of the Gaol to hear about its history. Located on the same block, the L.L. Wyatt Museum is housed in a circa 1890 building named after L.L. Wyatt, who served as sheriff of Greene County for 37 years. The museum exhibits a range of Greene County law enforcement memorabilia. By appointment only; call (706) 453-7592. Admission is free.
Greene County African American Museum
1415 Northeast Street, Greensboro, GA 30642
The Greene County African American Museum is dedicated to the empowerment of and truth-telling about African American lives in Greene County, Georgia. The Museum is designed to inspire a clarity of heart and mind by sharing with all the important contributions and stories of Greene County’s African American community throughout its history to the present day. Tours are $8; by appointment only.
Greene County History Museum
201 North East Street, Greensboro, GA 30642
The Greene County History Museum celebrates the lives of some of Greensboro’s most notable residents, educates about Greene County’s agricultural-based economy, and discusses the impact of Lake Oconee’s construction on the area from the 1970s to now. Experience the town’s living history through stories, artifacts and hear the experts recount the “days gone by".” Open the 1st Saturday of the month or by appointment.
North Georgia Narrated Tours
Owned and operated by Melissa Piche, a lifelong Georgian with a passion for Southern history, North Georgia Tours specializes in entertaining Madison visitors with narrated tours and ghost walks. Tours can be customized for any size group, from large school field trips to family outings, and include driving, walking, and cycling tours. A spooky and historically-enlightening Madison City Cemetery tour is available, as are house tours and more. Call for help with dining, and overnight accommodations to complete your experience. Most tours are $15 per person, with a 4 person/$50 minimum for the group. Discounts are provided for school groups and large groups, and children under 6 are free. Please call for family pricing.
Interested in more local activities? Check out the links below:
Lake Oconee Marinas
Campgrounds
Lodging & Accommodations
We hope you were able to find places to go and things to do while spending time in the Lake Oconee area. If you found this list helpful in planning your trip, please share it with your family and friends!
Best Wishes,
Your Friends at Lake Oconee Life