This is a daylight only cache. The Old Governor's Mansion officially closes at 4:00 PM
but the grounds are still open to the public until dusk.
The Mansion
The Old Governor's Mansion, in Milledgeville, is a historic house, museum and a National Historic Landmark. It served as the executive mansion for Georgia from 1839 to 1868 and is now the office of the president of Georgia College and State University. The mansion is a prime example of Greek Revival architecture and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973.
A New Capital
In 1803, an act of the Georgia legislature called for the establishment and survey of a town to be named in honor of the current governor, John Milledge. In December 1804, the Georgia state legislature declared Milledgeville the new capital of Georgia. The planned town, modeled after Savannah and Washington, DC, stood on the edge of the frontier at the Atlantic fall line, where the Upper Coastal Plain meets the foothills and plateau of the Piedmont.
Initially, the Government House, which was located at the corner of Clarke and Greene Streets, served as the residence for the state's governors. It is notable for being the location where General Marquis de Lafayette stayed during his visit to the city from March 27 to 29, 1825.
A New Residence
The decision to construct the first official residence for the governor of Georgia was made by the state legislature in 1835. Construction for the mansion began in 1837 and continued for about three years until the summer of 1839. Designed by notable Irish architect Charles B. Cluskey, the Old Governor’s Mansion is built in the Greek Revival style. It is considered to be one of his finest works and one of the finest examples of Greek Revival style in the nation. Greek Revival style, popular in the mid-19th century is known for its emphasis on symmetry, proportion, and the use of classical Greek architectural elements such as columns and pediments. Cluskey's design for the mansion included these elements, creating a building that was elegant and imposing. The construction was supervised by Timothy Porter of Farmington, Connecticut.
The construction of the mansion was a significant undertaking. The building is a three-story structure with a stucco-over-brick construction, which was a common technique at the time. The bricks were manufactured locally as the red clay of Baldwin County is good for making bricks because it retains nutrients and water, which contributes to its ability to form strong, durable bricks. Additionally, the clay's composition, which includes iron oxides that give it a reddish color, makes it a suitable material for brick-making due to the way it crystallizes when baked. The traditional lime stucco was scored to simulate large stone blocks, its pale pink tint originating from the native red clay. The use of stucco over brick provided both durability and a smooth, aesthetically pleasing surface. The columns are granite, as are the window and door sills and the front door steps.
The facade of the rectangular main house faces west toward Clarke Street, and has a four-columned Greek temple portico projecting at its center. The two-story portico is supported by smooth Ionic brick columns with granite bases and capitals, and it supports an entablature and fully pedimented gable. The entablature is continued around the sides of the building, with pilastered corners. Windows have simple stone sills, and arched stone lintels. With a raised basement the walls are sixty feet on each side and granite trimmed walls.
The historic building was home to ten Georgia governor's and their families from 1839 – 1868. Charles J. McDonald was the first resident in the fall of 1839. Such noted state leaders as George Crawford, Howell Cobb, and Joseph E. Brown resided in the building and used it as a stage for speeches and to introduce guests of national standing.
One visitor to the mansion during the administration of Governor George W. Crawford was Sir Charles Lyell a Scottish geologist and author of the three volumes of "Principles of Geology" (1830-1833). Lyell was visiting Georgia while on a trip to study land formations in the south east during his tour of North America.
A New Era
During the Civil War, General William T. Sherman headquartered in the building on November 23, 1864. Following the war, Georgia's seat of government was relocated to Atlanta, and the mansion was abandoned. Given over to Georgia Normal & Industrial College (currently known as Georgia College) in 1889, the mansion served as the founding building of the institution.
Beginning in the late 1990s, an initative was begun to return the mansion to its antebellum condition. Following five years of historic, structural, and material research, Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion began its restoration in November 2001 and was completed in 2004. The restoration was engaged by Evergreene Architectural Arts to restore the exterior stucco and interior flat and ornamental plaster.
The refurbished mansion looms over Milledgeville with its stately columns and imposing facade, a grand reminder of Milledgeville’s historical importance.
Logging Requirements
- Please send a message with the answer to the following question: On the information sign located at the gate by the front entrance to the capital grounds, there is a picture of the mansion; what is the date under that picture?
- In your online log, please post a photo of yourself or a personal item/caching name with the Old Governor's Mansion in the background.
Sources
Georgia Historical Society, georgiahistory.com
Turner, James. "Old Governor’s Mansion," New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified Aug 7, 2013.
Turner, James C. with Matthew S. Davis and Travis Byrd, "The Old Governor’s Mansion Georgia’s First Executive Residence," Mercer University Press 2013.
Wilson, Robert. "Milledgeville." New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified Jul 12, 2022.
Virtual Rewards 5.0 - 2026-2027
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between February 3, 2026 and February 3, 2027. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 5.0 on the Geocaching Blog.