History & Heritage

Georgia is an original. As one of the original 13 colonies, our place in American history is rich, storied and proud.

Founded in 1733 when British General James Oglethorpe landed on its coast, Georgia was established to provide a military buffer between the Spanish in Florida and the King of England’s South Carolina territory. Oglethorpe honored King George II by naming the new colony “Georgia.” On a bluff overlooking a river, Oglethorpe also established what would be America’s first planned city, Savannah. Since 1839 the city has been home to the Georgia Historical Society where researchers, scholars and students have gathered to learn about state history.

Few states were as impacted by the Civil War as Georgia, losing many lives and suffering immense destruction. Reminders of that historic time can be found all across the state, telling the tales of both sides of the conflict. Andersonville, site of the Confederacy’s largest Union prison camp, is now home to the National Prisoner of War Museum. Visit any of the memorials, museums, battlefields and cemeteries across Georgia, and you’ll step into the history of our nation.

You’ll also find the soul of Georgia in its rich African American heritage and culture. This is where the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born, where he preached from the pulpit and where his memorial, The King Center, continues to project freedom and justice today. Another inspiring Civil Rights landmark is Macon’s Tubman African American Museum, a must-see destination that you’ll never forget.

Come to Georgia and find inspiration in our past, present and future.

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Official website of the Georgia Department of Economic Development

Official website of the Georgia Department of Economic Development