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Celebrate the Powerful and Compelling History of North Georgia along the Hospitality Highway
From antebellum plantations to the War Between the States, from fine wines and gold mines, and from NASCAR to moonshine, Georgia 400’s communities offer plenty of snapshots to the past
January 2008 – Reconnect and rediscover Georgia’s evocative history along the communities of Georgia 400, designated as the “Hospitality Highway” in 2007, an area that offers glimpses into other times, places, and eras. Ever since before General Sherman came ripping across North Georgia during the Civil War, each of the Hospitality Highway communities – Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Cumming/Forsyth County, Dawsonville/Dawson County, and Dahlonega – has always celebrated its heritage and bygone days with a plethora of festivals, fairs, and cultural events that link the past to the present. From “The War,” to the Native Americans to America’s first gold rush, the Hospitality Highway is cloaked with an air of historical intrigue. For more complete details on the history of each area and full listings of local events tied to heritage and culture, visit www.HospitalityHighway.com .
Sandy Springs: Linking pizzazz with the past
A sojourn to the years gone by in Sandy Springs (www.visitsandysprings.org ) begins at the circa-1869 “plain style” Williams-Payne House & Gardens, the city’s most historic site. The springs were originally a water source for local Native Americans, eventually becoming among other things a rest stop for early settlers traveling to and from Atlanta, a social gathering spot for local citizens, and even a camp meetings site. Today, the Williams-Payne House is the setting for weddings, concerts, and other social and cultural events, including portions of the lively Sandy Springs Festival in September of 2008, which highlights heritage, culture, and the arts of this vibrant, historic community.
Roswell: Antebellum wonder among the azaleas
Today’s Roswell (www.cvb.roswell.ga.us) is known for its eclectic collection of boutiques and galleries, cozy streets, and bustling bistros, but even now the town, founded on the banks of the Chattahoochee River in 1839, strongly suggests a rich history and lore. Strolling through and exploring the historic district, 640 acres of monuments, markers, cemeteries, churches, and antebellum homes – including Barrington Hall, built in 1842; Bulloch Hall, constructed in 1839; and the 1845 Smith Plantation House - is an inviting and ideal way to spend a warm afternoon. Topping the charm and beauty of Roswell are a number of special events hosted throughout the year that are linked closely to the history of the area, including Roswell Roots (February), Great American Cover-Up Annual Quilt Show at Barrington Hall (March), Roswell Memorial Day Ceremony and Picnic (May), and Christmas in Roswell (December).
Alpharetta: Always awesome, even after 150 years
The journey to discovering the past in Alpharetta (www.awesomealpharetta.com ) kicks off in 2008 with the town’s 150 th anniversary celebration, a year-long event that brings plenty of activities and events to the area. Of special interest to history buffs, the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau will unveil 13 historical markers around Alpharetta, complemented by the creation of a historical walking tour brochure. Additionally, visitors who enjoy heritage and cultural sites are also encouraged to visit the Milton Log Cabin on the campus of Milton High School. The cabin, built during the 1934-35 school year by the Future Farmers of America (FFA), is the only remaining FFA-constructed log cabin still in use today in the United States. Yet another stop in Alpharetta is the Mansell House, a circa-1912 Queen Anne-style antique-filled home and gardens currently maintained by the Alpharetta Garden Club.
Cumming and Forsyth County: From Native Americans to natural beauty
With a history rooted deeply in Cherokee culture, Forsyth County, established in 1832, and Cumming, its county seat that was incorporated in 1834 (www.cummingforsythchamber.org ), invite its visitors to explore Heritage Village and Indian Village at the Cumming Fairgrounds. Yet another showpiece of Cumming/Forsyth County is the Historic 1923 School and Playhouse, a stunningly renovated building that easily earned a coveted spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Now the heartbeat of the area’s cultural activities, the school also contains the Bell Research Center, a veritable wealth of information filled with genealogy, books, films, periodicals, artifacts, photographs, and other items relevant to Cumming/Forsyth County’s early history. For those more inclined toward historic and mechanical gizmos, the Steam, Antique Tractor, and Gas Engine Exposition in November is not only educational but also a thrilling look into the early days of power-driven vehicles.
Dawsonville/Dawson County: Soul-stirring Appalachian and modern day history
Immersed in southern culture and history, Dawsonville/Dawson County (www.dawson.org ) offers much more than incredible scenery. Not only will visitors to this gracious community find ancient Appalachian heritage among these hills, from eons-old mountains to deep forests of green to clear mountain streams, but also the true flavor of Dawsonville’s more recent past by taking part in the Annual Mountain Moonshine Festival in October, a glimpse of the gripping era when “moonshinin’” and “runnin’ shine” (the unofficial precursor to NASCAR) were ways of life and not an anomaly. And for more history, the oldest working courthouse in Georgia is in Dawsonville, with its origins dating to pre-Civil War 1859.
Dahlonega: A “Gold Mine” of North Georgia’s history
The mountain town of Dahlonega (www.dahlonega.org ), at the far northern end of Georgia 400, is a treasure chest of gems when it comes to history. The town, once part of the Cherokee Nation and the site of the first gold rush in America, contains several locations dedicated to the precious metal, including the Dahlonega Gold Museum, Crisson Gold Mine, and Consolidated Gold Mine, where the 2008 World Open Gold Panning Championship will be held in April. Additionally, the Gold Rush Days on October 18-19, 2008, as well as the living history presentation entitled “A Day in a Miner’s Life” held in June, are perfect opportunities to learn about Dahlonega in its infancy. For those interested in Georgia’s wine industry, learning about it is only a sip away. The industry, once thriving in the early 1900s but which evaporated away for several decades, is enjoying a true renaissance in Dahlonega with several wineries and vineyards dotting these verdant hills.
History, beauty, and nature: the Hospitality Highway is where it all blends together for year ‘round family fun and education.
Georgia’s Hospitality Highway, a stretch of Georgia 400 that meanders from Fulton County to Lumpkin County and includes the communities of Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Cumming/Forsyth County, Dawsonville and Dahlonega, contains a fusion of restaurants, shopping, historic sites, outdoor activities, and much more, all amidst some of the most dazzling scenery and green space in all of the state.
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Media Contact:
Dotty Etris, Executive Director
Historic Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau
1.770.640.3253; 1.800.776.7935
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