Georgia Historical Society

For more than a decade, the Georgia Historical Marker Program has continued to evolve as an extremely effective tool for promoting Georgia history. In fact as part of Georgia's upcoming commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War GHS, in partnership with the Georgia Civil War 150 Commission, has begun a project to tell the complete story of Georgia's involvement in that war through roadside historical markers.

To that end, GHS conducted a survey of existing Civil War historical markers throughout the state.  As each marker was documented and plotted on a map with GPS coordinates, photos were taken and damage and accessibility evaluated.  The end result of this survey has been the development of online resources that allow users around the state to plot driving routes based on historical markers.  This unique tool will allow those with even a casual interest in historical markers, as well as history and Civil War enthusiasts, the opportunity to explore Georgia history through historical markers. 

Georgia currently has more historical markers than almost any other state, and the majority of those markers are on subjects associated with the Civil War.  However, despite the number of markers dedicated to that subject, countless stories related to those years of conflict have yet to be told in this fashion.  It is therefore a goal of this project to fill in the gaps -- to include markers on subjects of wartime industry and politics, and of minority groups like women, African Americans, and Southern Unionists.

This is an exciting project for the Georgia Historical Society and you are invited to  check up regularly on the development of this new tool for Georgia heritage tourism.  Throughout this project, markers will continue to be added to our Historical Marker Index.  Check back often to see our progress.  Another way to keep up with the 150th anniversary project is to read our Survey Coordinator's online journal and video blog.  Through weekly updates from the road, readers will see not only some of the most scenic areas of our state, but read interesting accounts of life on the road.

To search for markers and create your own driving route, click here . 

To see the Marker Survey blog, visit http://georgiamarkers.wordpress.com.

To read the press release on the  GHS Civil War 150 Project, click here .