Newly launched tourism trail highlights Macon’s unique cultural and historic sites
A new tourist attraction unveiled Wednesday in Macon seeks to highlight a culturally-rich region of Georgia.
Visit Macon, in partnership with six other destination marketing organizations in the region, launched Georgia’s Trail of Legacy & Lore, a new self-guided trail which spans more than 90 miles. It features immersive attractions that reflect the best of the cultural arts, architecture and heritage in Macon, as well as Athens, Oconee County, Madison, Eatonton, Milledgeville and the Gray-Old Clinton area.
Gary Wheat, executive director and CEO of Visit Macon, said he was thrilled that Macon is a part of the newly launched Georgia’s Trail of Legacy & Lore.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to showcase beloved local sites, while also collaborating with neighboring communities to raise awareness about Georgia’s rich history and expand perceptions of its evolving destinations,” he said.
Georgia’s Trail of Legacy & Lore tells the stories of history, events and unique architectural, literary, musical, design and artistic endeavors of periods ranging from the earliest indigenous communities to Georgia’s iconic music scenes of the 1970s and ‘80s.
From the early frontier days and the Civil War to the Civil Rights era, unforgettable stories and traditions of the regions of Georgia connect visitors to the past all along the trail.
Straddling the Fall Line and the Ocmulgee River, Macon has seen 17,000 years of continuous human history beginning with the earliest indigenous settlers. Since the 1830s, Macon has been home to one of the largest rail yards, seeing over 10,000 rail cars per week, according to Visit Macon officials.
Macon is a key transportation hub and at the intersection of two highways connecting the world’s largest airport and the nation’s third largest port, leading to deep historical roots of the industrial era and Black heritage.
As the birthplace of southern rock, hometown of musical legends like Otis Redding and Little Richard and the location of historic Capricorn Records, Macon’s music heritage is even more vast.
A few notable sites along the trail in Macon include:
Capricorn Records
The Allman Brothers Museum at The Big House
Otis Redding Museum
H&H Restaurant
The Bell House/Robert McDuffie Center for Strings
Hay House
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
Woodruff House
Macon City Auditorium
Mercer University (Historic Quad and Mercer Law)
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
Cannonball House
Tubman Museum
Rose Hill Cemetery
Visit Macon’s own “Soul Sights Van Tours”
Now open for visitors and locals alike to explore, Visit Macon officials said Georgia’s Trail of Legacy & Lore is a collaborative effort to ignite community and regional pride, inspire learning, increase awareness and enlightenment, broaden perspectives and promote preservation, all while creating memorable moments along the way.
The new tourism trail website includes an interactive map to guide visitors along the 90 mile route, provides profiles of top cultural heritage attractions in each community, and includes themed itinerary ideas to suit a wide range of interests.
