Peach State Past
@peachstatepast.bsky.social
Stories of Georgia's history.
Managed by @andrewbramlett.bsky.social
More information here: https://archiveofthepast.wixsite.com/peachstatepast
Managed by @andrewbramlett.bsky.social
More information here: https://archiveofthepast.wixsite.com/peachstatepast
Happy Presidents’ Day!
Georgia is home to the birthplace of U.S. President Jimmy Carter. He was born in Plains in 1924. Our state was also the childhood home of Woodrow Wilson, who lived in Augusta from 1858 to 1870. He later briefly worked as a lawyer in Atlanta.
Georgia is home to the birthplace of U.S. President Jimmy Carter. He was born in Plains in 1924. Our state was also the childhood home of Woodrow Wilson, who lived in Augusta from 1858 to 1870. He later briefly worked as a lawyer in Atlanta.
February 16, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Happy Presidents’ Day!
Georgia is home to the birthplace of U.S. President Jimmy Carter. He was born in Plains in 1924. Our state was also the childhood home of Woodrow Wilson, who lived in Augusta from 1858 to 1870. He later briefly worked as a lawyer in Atlanta.
Georgia is home to the birthplace of U.S. President Jimmy Carter. He was born in Plains in 1924. Our state was also the childhood home of Woodrow Wilson, who lived in Augusta from 1858 to 1870. He later briefly worked as a lawyer in Atlanta.
Following his death in 1739, Yamacraw chief Tomochichi was buried in Savannah’s Percival Square. The site was forgotten over time, and in 1883 the William W. Gordon Monument was erected on the exact same site.
February 15, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Following his death in 1739, Yamacraw chief Tomochichi was buried in Savannah’s Percival Square. The site was forgotten over time, and in 1883 the William W. Gordon Monument was erected on the exact same site.
Happy Valentine’s Day from Peach State Past!
This Augusta newspaper from 1909 includes articles related to the holiday, along with numerous relevant advertisements.
This Augusta newspaper from 1909 includes articles related to the holiday, along with numerous relevant advertisements.
February 14, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Happy Valentine’s Day from Peach State Past!
This Augusta newspaper from 1909 includes articles related to the holiday, along with numerous relevant advertisements.
This Augusta newspaper from 1909 includes articles related to the holiday, along with numerous relevant advertisements.
James Oglethorpe and a group of English settlers arrived at the Yamacraw Bluff on February 12, 1733. There, they would establish the city of Savannah and the colony of Georgia. February 12 is today celebrated as Georgia Day to commemorate this important moment in our state’s history.
February 12, 2026 at 11:44 AM
James Oglethorpe and a group of English settlers arrived at the Yamacraw Bluff on February 12, 1733. There, they would establish the city of Savannah and the colony of Georgia. February 12 is today celebrated as Georgia Day to commemorate this important moment in our state’s history.
This elaborate façade belongs to the Emerson-Holmes Building on Macon’s Mulberry Street. The building was built in 1859 as a dentist’s office and is just 23 feet wide. The building to its left in the 1936 photograph has since been demolished.
February 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM
This elaborate façade belongs to the Emerson-Holmes Building on Macon’s Mulberry Street. The building was built in 1859 as a dentist’s office and is just 23 feet wide. The building to its left in the 1936 photograph has since been demolished.
Austin Dabney is Georgia’s most famous Black soldier of the American Revolution, though sadly no original drawing or portrait of him survives. Dabney was enslaved by Richard Aycock and sent to serve in Aycock’s place during the war.
February 8, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Austin Dabney is Georgia’s most famous Black soldier of the American Revolution, though sadly no original drawing or portrait of him survives. Dabney was enslaved by Richard Aycock and sent to serve in Aycock’s place during the war.
Atlanta University was founded in 1865, making it the first college for Black students in Georgia. It was founded by two formerly enslaved men.
February 7, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Atlanta University was founded in 1865, making it the first college for Black students in Georgia. It was founded by two formerly enslaved men.
This garage was located in Atlanta in the 1930s and was photographed by Walker Evans. The store was located on Marietta Street to the west of Georgia Tech. Very little is known about the store’s history, though they did at one time sponsor an early NASCAR driver.
February 5, 2026 at 11:41 AM
This garage was located in Atlanta in the 1930s and was photographed by Walker Evans. The store was located on Marietta Street to the west of Georgia Tech. Very little is known about the store’s history, though they did at one time sponsor an early NASCAR driver.
This 1869 marriage license was issued in Talbot County for Ezekiel Leonard and Mary Hammond, an African American couple who had presumably been enslaved prior to the end of the Civil War. The document is now preserved in the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
February 3, 2026 at 11:57 AM
This 1869 marriage license was issued in Talbot County for Ezekiel Leonard and Mary Hammond, an African American couple who had presumably been enslaved prior to the end of the Civil War. The document is now preserved in the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Book Review: “Race and the Atlanta Cotton States Exposition of 1895” by Theda Perdue
In 1895, Atlanta hosted the Cotton States Exposition at Piedmont Park, which attracted visitors from all over the world. The fair was modeled on the earlier 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
In 1895, Atlanta hosted the Cotton States Exposition at Piedmont Park, which attracted visitors from all over the world. The fair was modeled on the earlier 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
February 1, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Book Review: “Race and the Atlanta Cotton States Exposition of 1895” by Theda Perdue
In 1895, Atlanta hosted the Cotton States Exposition at Piedmont Park, which attracted visitors from all over the world. The fair was modeled on the earlier 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
In 1895, Atlanta hosted the Cotton States Exposition at Piedmont Park, which attracted visitors from all over the world. The fair was modeled on the earlier 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
This postcard was published by the Georgia Marble Company and shows a before and after shot of a bank in Thomasville. Based on the date chiseled in the building, the work was done in 1916. This structure is still standing with its marble façade but is no longer a bank.
January 31, 2026 at 11:53 AM
This postcard was published by the Georgia Marble Company and shows a before and after shot of a bank in Thomasville. Based on the date chiseled in the building, the work was done in 1916. This structure is still standing with its marble façade but is no longer a bank.
During the Great Depression, Marion Post Wolcott traveled across the state and documented life on the eve of World War II. In December 1940, she was in the Columbus and Fort Benning area and took this photograph of a discount store in downtown Columbus.
January 29, 2026 at 11:39 AM
During the Great Depression, Marion Post Wolcott traveled across the state and documented life on the eve of World War II. In December 1940, she was in the Columbus and Fort Benning area and took this photograph of a discount store in downtown Columbus.
John Forsyth was born in Virginia in 1780. He served as Governor of Georgia from 1829 to 1834, and afterwards served as Secretary of State for Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. He passed away in 1841. Forsyth is the namesake of Forsyth County, the city of Forsyth, and Savannah’s Forsyth Park.
January 27, 2026 at 11:41 AM
John Forsyth was born in Virginia in 1780. He served as Governor of Georgia from 1829 to 1834, and afterwards served as Secretary of State for Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. He passed away in 1841. Forsyth is the namesake of Forsyth County, the city of Forsyth, and Savannah’s Forsyth Park.
This image shows the detail of a 1705 map of Spanish Florida. In the area that is now Georgia, a variety of Native American villages are labeled. Because the map is not geographically accurate, it is hard to determine where the labeled villages once were.
January 25, 2026 at 11:47 AM
This image shows the detail of a 1705 map of Spanish Florida. In the area that is now Georgia, a variety of Native American villages are labeled. Because the map is not geographically accurate, it is hard to determine where the labeled villages once were.
The Radium Springs in Albany, Georgia, have drawn visitors since the Creek lived in the area. In 1927, they began to gain national appeal when a casino and a hotel were built. Visitors were drawn here due to the small amounts of radium in the water, which was thought to have health benefits.
January 24, 2026 at 11:31 AM
The Radium Springs in Albany, Georgia, have drawn visitors since the Creek lived in the area. In 1927, they began to gain national appeal when a casino and a hotel were built. Visitors were drawn here due to the small amounts of radium in the water, which was thought to have health benefits.
The popularity of the automobile brought about many changes, but the most prominent was better road infrastructure. This is clearly shown in this photo from the Dahlonega area: below is a dilapidated covered bridge, which was replaced by a modern steel bridge when Highway 52 was built.
January 22, 2026 at 11:46 AM
The popularity of the automobile brought about many changes, but the most prominent was better road infrastructure. This is clearly shown in this photo from the Dahlonega area: below is a dilapidated covered bridge, which was replaced by a modern steel bridge when Highway 52 was built.
In 1830, the legislature named the Cherokee Nation's land Cherokee County and split it into four large sections. After that, the land was split into lots and given to white settlers in a lottery concurrent with the Trail of Tears. This map shows the areas of Cobb and Cherokee counties.
January 20, 2026 at 11:50 AM
In 1830, the legislature named the Cherokee Nation's land Cherokee County and split it into four large sections. After that, the land was split into lots and given to white settlers in a lottery concurrent with the Trail of Tears. This map shows the areas of Cobb and Cherokee counties.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 15, 1929. During his career, he became the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. Since 1971, the third Monday in January has been set aside as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
January 19, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 15, 1929. During his career, he became the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. Since 1971, the third Monday in January has been set aside as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
This map of the Savannah and Warsaw [Wassaw] rivers was drawn in 1751. The city of Savannah is near the top right corner of the map. The large islands in the middle are Tybee Island, Little Tybee Island, and Wilmington Island.
January 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM
This map of the Savannah and Warsaw [Wassaw] rivers was drawn in 1751. The city of Savannah is near the top right corner of the map. The large islands in the middle are Tybee Island, Little Tybee Island, and Wilmington Island.
Wesleyan College in Macon was founded in 1836 and was the world’s first school established to grant degrees to women. By the 1920s, the school was too large for its original downtown campus. The firm of Walker and Weeks designed a new campus outside of Macon that opened in 1928.
January 17, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Wesleyan College in Macon was founded in 1836 and was the world’s first school established to grant degrees to women. By the 1920s, the school was too large for its original downtown campus. The firm of Walker and Weeks designed a new campus outside of Macon that opened in 1928.
Alma is best known for its blueberries and was founded in 1900 along the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. It is located in Bacon County. Ken Krakow’s book on Georgia place names gives two explanations for the city’s name.
January 15, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Alma is best known for its blueberries and was founded in 1900 along the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. It is located in Bacon County. Ken Krakow’s book on Georgia place names gives two explanations for the city’s name.
This photograph is in the Julia King Collection of the Midway Museum. It shows a street in an unidentified town, possibly along the Georgia coast. Do you know where this photo might have been taken?
January 13, 2026 at 11:53 AM
This photograph is in the Julia King Collection of the Midway Museum. It shows a street in an unidentified town, possibly along the Georgia coast. Do you know where this photo might have been taken?
Fort King George was located near the Altamaha River along the Atlantic Coast. It was built in 1721 to defend South Carolina from the Spanish. After Georgia was established, the fort was replaced by Fort Frederica and was demolished in 1738. The site is now a State Historic Site.
January 11, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Fort King George was located near the Altamaha River along the Atlantic Coast. It was built in 1721 to defend South Carolina from the Spanish. After Georgia was established, the fort was replaced by Fort Frederica and was demolished in 1738. The site is now a State Historic Site.
These twin postcards from around 1908 show the important sites of Macon and Savannah. The Macon postcard includes various street scenes, government buildings, and emphasizes the role of cotton in Macon.
January 10, 2026 at 11:54 AM
These twin postcards from around 1908 show the important sites of Macon and Savannah. The Macon postcard includes various street scenes, government buildings, and emphasizes the role of cotton in Macon.
These photographs show Kingsland, Georgia, in 1979, offering an interesting snapshot of rural Georgia during that era. Kingsland is located in Camden County, near the coast and the Florida border.
January 8, 2026 at 11:31 AM
These photographs show Kingsland, Georgia, in 1979, offering an interesting snapshot of rural Georgia during that era. Kingsland is located in Camden County, near the coast and the Florida border.