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Macon is a city in central Georgia with plenty to keep you busy for a day or two. As the birthplace or hometown of several great musicians, it’s a good place for music lovers. History and architecture buffs will also enjoy what they find. Macon’s slogan is “where soul lives”.
Introduction to Macon
Macon, located near the geographic center of Georgia, was settled on land originally inhabited by the Muscogee people. The first settlement was Fort Hawkins, which was built between 1806 and 1810 under orders by President Thomas Jefferson after he forced the Muscogee to cede their lands east of the Ocmulgee River. It was used during the War of 1812 and decommissioned around 1828.
The settlers around Fort Hawkins named their town Newtown in 1822. They officially renamed it Macon a year later, in honor of politician Nathaniel Macon (1757-1837). Cotton cultivation drove the local economy, and the arrival of the railroad in 1843 boosted prosperity.
During the Civil War, Macon served as the official arsenal of the Confederacy. The city was spared by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman on his March to the Sea. It fell to the Union on April 20, 1865, and after the war it became a transportation hub.
Macon has a rich musical heritage, and has produced several musicians, including The Allman Brothers Band, Otis Redding (1941-1967), Little Richard (1923-2020), Bill Berry of R.E.M., and Jason Aldean.
Getting to Macon
The only viable option to get to Macon is by car. There’s also Greyhound bus service. The small Middle Georgia Regional Airport (MCN) only provides commercial air service to Baltimore (as of January 2025).
Where to Stay in Macon
Marisol and I decided to make Macon an overnight stopping point on our road trip to Clearwater, Florida. We opted to keep it simple.
Super 8 Macon West
We stayed at the Super 8 Macon West, which is located right on I-475. It’s about a 15-minute drive into the city, but there are several fast food and chain restaurants nearby as well as a Walmart. Yes, it’s a Super 8, but it was comfortable, quiet, and clean. It served its purpose.
Where to Eat in Macon
Since we only had one full day in town, we were only able to grab lunch. Thankfully, we made an excellent choice.
H&H Restaurant
You can’t stop in Macon without grabbing lunch at H&H Restaurant. This is true Southern soul food, and it was a favorite hangout of the Allman Brothers Band. In fact, they loved it so much, when they became famous they made the owner, Mama Louise, their personal chef. Eating at H&H is a great complement to visiting the Big House Museum. It’s open daily except Mondays for breakfast and lunch.
I had meatloaf with mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, and cornbread. Marisol had the fried chicken with green beans, potato salad, and cornbread. We both loved our meals very much and would happily eaten there again. Also, prices are more than reasonable.
Visitors Center
The visitors center is located in the heart of downtown Macon. The friendly staff on-hand does a great job of suggesting what to see and where to eat. There’s also a small gift shop and museum with a timeline of the city’s history on the wall.
Downtown Macon
As soon as we arrived in Macon, Marisol and I decided to take a walk around downtown. We found it to be a pleasant and friendly place but a bit run down in parts. During our visit, it seemed like a whole section of town had been recently renovated while other sections were a work in progress.
We focused mostly on Cherry and Poplar Streets. Cherry Street is a nice place to walk. There were a few restaurants with outdoor seating and many of the people we passed on the sidewalk said hello.
Much of Poplar Street seemed like it was getting a makeover. There were almost no business at all, but there were a few buildings under construction.
Terminal Station
First, at the east end of Cherry Street is Terminal Station, which was a railroad station built in the Beaux-Arts style. It was designed by architect Alfred T. Fellheimer (1875–1959) and opened in 1916. Passenger trains stopped running in 1971 and the station remained empty until 1982, when it was converted into an office building. The city purchased the building in 2002, restored it, and gave it to the Macon Transit Authority in 2014.
Tubman Museum
In front of Terminal Station are two of Macon’s most important museums. On one side is the Tubman Museum, dedicated to African American art, history, and culture. Admission is US$10 for adults, US$9 for college students and seniors age 55+, US$6 for kids age 3-17, and free for kids under 3 (as of January 2025). It’s open Tuesday through Saturday.
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
Opposite is the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, which is the largest state sports hall of fame in the country. It was founded in 1956 and moved to the current building in 1999. There’s over 14,000 square feet of exhibition space. Admission is US$8 for adults, US$6 for college students and seniors age 55+, and US$3.50 for kids under 17 (as of January 2025). It’s open Tuesday through Saturday.
Tic Toc Room
A few steps south down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard we noticed the Tic Toc Room. One of Macon’s finest restaurants, it was the place where Little Richard (1932-2020) first laid the foundations for rock-and-roll. Otis Redding (1941-1967), James Brown (1933-2006), and other greats also performed there.
2nd & Cotton Streets
Once we got to 2nd Street, we turned right and found a nice block with a Confederate monument in the center. After years of legal battles, the monument was relocated to Whittle Park in June 2022. It was built in the late 1870s and featured an anonymous Confederate soldier. A time capsule was found during the move.
Otis Redding Foundation
The Otis Redding Foundation is also on the block. It was founded in 2007 by Redding’s wife, Zelma, to improve the lives of youth through music.
Bibb County Courthouse
Across Mulberry Street is the Bibb County Courthouse, which was completed in 1924. It was designed by architect Curran R. Ellis (1872-1934).
Rosa Parks Square
We then walked back down 1st Street where we stopped into Rosa Parks Square. Adjacent to the square is the Macon City Auditorium, which opened in 1925.
Macon City Hall
On the south side of the square is Macon City Hall, which was originally built in 1837. During the Civil War, it served as a Confederate military hospital starting in 1863. For a brief time between November 18, 1864, and March 11, 1865, it was the temporary Georgia state capitol. It currently holds the city council chambers as well as administrative offices, including that of the mayor.
Armory Building
On the east side of the square at Poplar Street, we noticed the Armory Building, which we think of as one of the more beautiful buildings downtown. It was built between 1884 and 1885 by the Macon Volunteers.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
From there, we walked to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. The beautiful building, which is the 3rd tallest in Macon, was built between 1888 and 1903. The congregation was formed in 1841 by Irish Catholic immigrants who had moved there in the 1830s.
The church, which is usually open from 8am to 4:30pm, is definitely worth popping into. There are over 60 stained glass windows and the interior is gorgeous.
First Baptist Church of Christ
Next door is the First Baptist Church of Christ, founded in 1826. The building, which is the congregation’s fourth location, was dedicated in 1887. We weren’t able to get inside.
Temple Beth Israel
Also nearby is the Temple Beth Israel, a synagogue completed in 1902 by a congregation of German Jews formed in 1859. The first building was constructed on the corner of Poplar and Second Streets between 1871 and 1874.
Coleman Hill Park
Northwest of downtown is Coleman Hill Park. It’s got great views of the city and some monuments and memorials scattered around. There’s even a slide on the top of the hill which is a fun distraction.
Mercer University School of Law
At the top of the hill is the Mercer University School of Law. Founded in 1873, it’s one of the oldest law schools in the country. The building is a three-story partial replica of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
Antebellum Homes in Macon
Macon has a good collection of antebellum homes just outside downtown. Most of the best homes are clustered around a small area near Coleman Hill Park.
Hay House
Perhaps the most impressive home is the Hay House, an Italian Renaissance Revival mansion built between 1855 and 1859. The original owners, the Johnstons, built the 18,000 square foot mansion after completing a three-year honeymoon to Italy.
The Hay House is open for tours from Wednesday to Sunday with the last tour beginning at 3pm. Adult admission is US$20 (as of March 2024) for a tour of the first two floors of the house. For an extra US$5, you can do the Top of the House Tour and go up into the Cupola. The Behind the Scenes Tour is available at 10:15am on the second and fourth Saturdays every month for US$35 (as of March 2024), and takes you to rooms inaccessible on the normal tour. The Legends and Lore Tour is a ghost tour available only a few times a year for US$45 (as of March 2024). Check the calendar on the website for planned tours and special events.
Our Tour of the Hay House
After purchasing tickets, we browsed through the museum on the ground floor. Our knowledgable guide then gathered the group and showed us the food pantry, where shelves were suspended in order to keep rats out of the stock.
We then went through several different rooms of the house, learning about the interesting architectural innovation that was used in order to keep the house symmetrical. The guide pointed out features such as hidden walls, mirrors, faux marble, and more.
The house is still undergoing renovation, with every meticulous detail researched in order to restore the home to its original glory. That was more evident on the second floor, where the original floor was exposed under the floorboards. There are also walls where paint had been peeled back to reveal the original murals.
From one of the second floor windows, we were able to get a view of three religious landmarks in town: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the First Baptist Church of Christ, and the Temple Beth Israel.
Overall, it was an enjoyable tour and the guide did an excellent job. However, at around 90 minutes, we thought it lasted a bit too long.
Cannonball House
Another important house is the Judge Asa Holt House, better known as the Cannonball House. It was built in 1853 but got its name after being hit by a cannonball fired during the Battle of Dunlap’s Hill (current site of Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park) on July 30, 1864. Tours of the house are offered Tuesday through Saturday and cost US$12 per adult (as of March 2024). They run every half hour from 10am to 3:30pm and last about 45 minutes. We didn’t have a chance to take the tour this time, but I remember taking it with my family on a drive down to Florida around 1990!
Woodruff House
Where Bond Street curves to the right overlooking Coleman Hill Park, you’ll find the Woodruff House. This Greek Revival mansion, also known as the Cowles-Bond House, was built in 1836. Major General James Harrison Wilson (1837-1925) used it as a Union headquarters during the occupation of Macon in 1865.
Other Homes
Other beautiful homes line Georgia Avenue, Orange and Bond Streets. The woman at the visitors center suggested walking up Georgia Avenue from Cannonball House, turning right on Orange Street, and making another right on Bond Street.
Big House Museum
Fans of the Allman Brothers Band can’t pass up a visit to the Big House Museum. Members of the band, their friends and families, and roadies lived in the house from January 1970 to 1973.
The house is open Thursday to Sunday. Admission is US$20 for adults, US$15 for seniors, military, and students, and US$10 for kids under 11 (as of January 2025). There are thousands of pieces of memorabilia on display in the Big House Museum. Important items are noted on a sheet given to visitors at the front desk. Each piece of memorabilia is behind a glass display in different rooms of the house.
Parlor
The tour of the house starts in the parlor. This is where Dickey Betts (1943-2024) often slept on a couch with his girlfriend, Sandy Blue Sky.
Fillmore East Room
Next is the Fillmore East Room, which highlights the band’s beginnings. Memorabilia in this room is from the original band members, including instruments, clothing, personal items, records, and much more. The band would rehearse in the Fillmore East Room.
Old Dining Room
The tour continues in the old dining room, where Gregg Allman (1947-2017) and Cher’s pool table sits in the center. Items from 1973 to the present are on display there.
Living Room
The living room is where instruments, equipment, hand-written song lyrics, and phone books are on display. Dickey Betts wrote “Blue Sky” in the room.
Duane Allman’s Bedroom
After admiring the lower level, it’s finally time to head upstairs to see the band’s living quarters. First is Duane Allman’s (1946-1971) bedroom, where his personal belongings are displayed as well as his posthumous award for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Brittany Oakley’s Bedroom
Next is the bedroom of Brittany Oakley, the daughter of Berry Oakley (1948-1972) and his wife, Linda. In the closet is the actual dress she wore on the back of the Brothers and Sisters album. Berry and Linda’s room follows.
Casbah Room
The Casbah Room is where the band chilled out and listened to music. The infamous seven-headed shower is located in the room.
Roadie Room
The last rooms upstairs are the roadie room and Candace Oakley and Gregg Allman’s room. The roadie room, which was originally Duane’s daughter Galadrielle’s nursery, contains a tribute to the band’s roadies. Candace and Gregg’s room contains concert posters and rare items.
Kitchen
Heading back downstairs, the kitchen has a table from H&H Restaurant, where the band often had their meals. It’s also where Dickey Betts wrote “Ramblin’ Man“. His guitar is on display there.
Gift Shop
Before leaving, the Big House Museum has a gift shop where you can purchase CDs and band memorabilia. Outside the back is a pavilion where performances are often given.
