Hooray for History

The town of Dahlonega is well known for its gold-rush history, and what better place to document it than the gold museum located in the 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse, the oldest courthouse in Georgia. Housed in this beautiful building is the story of the thousands of prospectors who came to North Georgia, and the beginning of the first gold rush. In this historic structure in the center of the town square, you can view artifacts of the period, including gold nuggets, gold coins, and gold-panning equipment. There’s an educational film as well, and a gift shop. Visitors can also explore the features of the courthouse itself, including beautiful wooden chapel seats from 1889, and the judge’s chambers. Some exhibits are on the second floor and are not wheelchair accessible. Guidelines from the National Register of Historic Places prevent the addition of an elevator to this building.

Hours of operation are Monday-Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm; Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm. Take time to read all the wonderful stories of the past we’ve included in this issue; you’ll hear about the first telephones—and about a time when there was no McDonald’s in town! In April our regular columns will be back to inform and entertain you. 

See page 14 for more pictures and information about the folks and beautiful merchandise at White Interiors. They have so many unique things that will make your Christmas shopping fun and easy to do. But most of all, they make you feel special when you walk through the front doors. If you need some assistance with a room or your entire home, Designer Lauren Salter is there to help you. Remember, they can also decorate your home for the Christmas holidays. Stop in and let them help you with your decorating needs. They are located in Dawsonville, at 278 GA400, Suite 1100, behind Ryan’s.

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