Macon Historic District

Macon

One of Georgia’s most distinguished structures, the Johnston-Felton-Hay House in Macon was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974. It was built from 1855 to 1859 in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, a marked contrast to the more restrained Greek Revival architecture of the antebellum period. The 18,000-square-foot mansion spans four levels and is crowned by a three-story cupola. Commissioned by imaginative owners and constructed by the most skillful workers of the time, its technological amenities were unsurpassed in the mid-19th century: hot and cold running water, central heat, a speaker-tube system, in-house kitchen and an elaborate ventilation system. Only two families lived in Hay House over three generations. Most of the museum’s furnishings date from the Hay family’s occupancy (1926-1962). A few pieces are from the Johnston family (1860-1896), most notably the Eastlake-style dining room suite. The most important piece in the collection may be the 1857 marble statue, "Ruth Gleaning," by American expatriate sculptor Randolph Rogers. The Johnstons William Butler Johnston was no typical nineteenth-century Southerner. He obtained his substantial wealth through investments in banking, railroads and public utilities rather than from the agrarian cotton economy. In 1851, he married Anne Clark Tracy, 20 years his junior, and the two embarked on an extended honeymoon in Europe. During their trip, the Johnston's visited hundreds of museums, historic sites and art studios. They collected fine porcelains, sculptures and paintings as mementos of their Grand Tour. The Johnston's were inspired by the Italian architecture they observed and, upon their return to America, constructed a monumental Italian Renaissance Revival mansion in Macon. The Feltons Completed in 1859 and called the "Palace of the South," the residence was decorated and furnished in accordance with wealth and good taste. It became a beloved home for the Johnston's, their daughters and their extended family. After the death of Mrs. Johnston in 1896, daughter Mary Ellen and her husband William H. Felton lived in the house. They remodeled and redecorated parts of the house, updated the plumbing and added electricity. The Hays After the deaths of Judge and Ms. Felton in 1926, Felton heirs sold the house to Parks Lee Hay, founder of the Banker's Health & Life Insurance Company. The Hays substantially redecorated the house to reflect the changing character of twentieth-century living, and the house at 934 Georgia Avenue continued to be recognized as a local landmark for gracious living during the Hay ownership. After Mrs. Hay's death in 1962, her heirs established the P.L. Hay Foundation and operated the house as a private house museum. In 1977, ownership of the house was formally transferred to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. The house has been operated by the Trust since that time and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.
One of Georgia’s most distinguished structures, the Johnston-Felton-Hay House in Macon was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974. It was built from 1855 to 1859 in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, a marked contrast to the more restrained Greek Revival architecture of the antebellum period. The 18,000-square-foot mansion spans four levels and is crowned by a three-story cupola. Commissioned by imaginative owners and constructed by the most skillful workers of the time, its technological amenities were unsurpassed in the mid-19th century: hot and cold running water, central heat, a speaker-tube system, in-house kitchen and an elaborate ventilation system. Only two families lived in Hay House over three generations. Most of the museum’s furnishings date from the Hay family’s occupancy (1926-1962). A few pieces are from the Johnston family (1860-1896), most notably the Eastlake-style dining room suite. The most important piece in the collection may be the 1857 marble statue, "Ruth Gleaning," by American expatriate sculptor Randolph Rogers. The Johnstons William Butler Johnston was no typical nineteenth-century Southerner. He obtained his substantial wealth through investments in banking, railroads and public utilities rather than from the agrarian cotton economy. In 1851, he married Anne Clark Tracy, 20 years his junior, and the two embarked on an extended honeymoon in Europe. During their trip, the Johnston's visited hundreds of museums, historic sites and art studios. They collected fine porcelains, sculptures and paintings as mementos of their Grand Tour. The Johnston's were inspired by the Italian architecture they observed and, upon their return to America, constructed a monumental Italian Renaissance Revival mansion in Macon. The Feltons Completed in 1859 and called the "Palace of the South," the residence was decorated and furnished in accordance with wealth and good taste. It became a beloved home for the Johnston's, their daughters and their extended family. After the death of Mrs. Johnston in 1896, daughter Mary Ellen and her husband William H. Felton lived in the house. They remodeled and redecorated parts of the house, updated the plumbing and added electricity. The Hays After the deaths of Judge and Ms. Felton in 1926, Felton heirs sold the house to Parks Lee Hay, founder of the Banker's Health & Life Insurance Company. The Hays substantially redecorated the house to reflect the changing character of twentieth-century living, and the house at 934 Georgia Avenue continued to be recognized as a local landmark for gracious living during the Hay ownership. After Mrs. Hay's death in 1962, her heirs established the P.L. Hay Foundation and operated the house as a private house museum. In 1977, ownership of the house was formally transferred to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. The house has been operated by the Trust since that time and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.
The history of Roman Catholicism in Macon dates to a visit in 1829 by Bishop John England of the Diocese of Charleston and the subsequent migration of Irish Catholic families in the 1830s. In 1841, Macon's Catholics received their first pastor, Father James Graham. A succession of buildings and sites was purchased and used by Macon's Catholics during the nineteenth century, until the construction of St. Joseph's Catholic Church at this location from 1889-1903. This Gothic Revival structure, designed by Brother Cornelius Otten, features a domed cupola, flying buttresses, stained-glass windows from Bavaria, and a high altar of Carrara marble.
Cannonball House
Cannonball House

Popular places to visit

Harriet Tubman Museum

Tubman Museum

You can browse the exhibits at Tubman Museum, a museum with a storied past, during your trip to Macon. Stroll along the riverfront or experience the area's live music.

Tubman Museum
Hay House

Hay House

Find out why this stately Italian Renaissance Revival-style mansion has earned the nickname Palace of the South.

Hay House
Macon_GrandOperaHouse_553248621532654692_03

Grand Opera House

Enjoy a show at Grand Opera House, a theater with a story to tell in Macon. Experience the live music and entertainment venues in this family-friendly area.

Grand Opera House
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame

Georgia Sports Hall of Fame

You can browse the exhibits at Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, a museum with a storied past, during your travels to Macon. Experience the area's live music and entertainment venues.

Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
Douglass Theater

Douglass Theater

Get tickets for a show at Douglass Theater, a storied theater in Macon. Stroll along the riverfront or experience the area's live music.

Douglass Theater
Central Georgia

Sidney Lanier Cottage

You can browse the exhibits at Sidney Lanier Cottage, a museum with a story of its own, during your trip to Macon. Stroll along the riverfront or experience the area's live music.

Sidney Lanier Cottage

Things to do

Ocmulgee Mounds

Ocmulgee Mounds Smartphone (GPS/APP) Guided History Walking Tour

CA $10
per adult
Ocmulgee Mounds Smartphone (GPS/APP) Guided History Walking Tour
Awesome Scavenger Hunt: The Mysteries of Macon

Awesome Scavenger Hunt: The Mysteries of Macon

CA $17
per adult
Awesome Scavenger Hunt: The Mysteries of Macon
See all activities in Macon

Macon Historic District Hotel Deals

Hotel Forty Five, Macon, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Hotel Forty Five, Macon, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

4 out of 5
401 COTTON AVENUE Macon GA
The price is CA $243 per night from Mar 8 to Mar 9
CA $243
CA $286 total
Mar 8 - Mar 9
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Macon. Enjoy free WiFi, valet parking (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (279 reviews)
Loved it Clean , great service

Reviewed on Feb 21, 2026

Hotel Forty Five, Macon, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
1842 Inn

1842 Inn

3.5 out of 5
353 College St Macon GA
The price is CA $188 per night from Mar 4 to Mar 5
CA $188
CA $224 total
Mar 4 - Mar 5
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this golf B&B in Macon. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,001 reviews)
excellent place to stay. great staff, great breakfast.

Reviewed on Feb 26, 2026

1842 Inn
The Woodward Hotel

The Woodward Hotel

2 out of 5
350 2nd St Macon GA
Stay at this hotel in Macon. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and cable TV channels. Popular attractions Otis Redding Foundation and Grand Opera House are located ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (191 reviews)
The room was great and comfortable. However, it appeared the bar staff had get supplies out of the hallway which was right next to our room. We heard the constant beep of the door and opening and shutting of the door all the way to midnight. Also, the remote for the TV would only power on the TV ...

Reviewed on Feb 15, 2026

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The Woodward Hotel
Large New Downtown Loft

Large New Downtown Loft

Macon GA
The price is CA $195 per night from Mar 2 to Mar 3
CA $195
CA $314 total
Mar 2 - Mar 3
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this apartment in Macon. Enjoy an in-room coffeemaker and air conditioning. Popular attractions Grand Opera House and Otis Redding Foundation are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (2 reviews)
A very convenient place to stay for a show at the Capital Theater.

Reviewed on Jan 15, 2026

Large New Downtown Loft
Well Equipped Clean Comfy Downtown APT with Parking

Well Equipped Clean Comfy Downtown APT with Parking

Macon GA
The price is CA $116 per night from Mar 18 to Mar 19
CA $116
CA $211 total
Mar 18 - Mar 19
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this apartment in Macon. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Sidney Lanier Cottage and Carmichael House are ...
Well Equipped Clean Comfy Downtown APT with Parking
Historic Cottage Downtown Macon with off street parking

Historic Cottage Downtown Macon with off street parking

Macon GA
Stay at this vacation home in Macon. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Sidney Lanier Cottage and Carmichael ...
10/10 Exceptional! (21 reviews)
The plain facade of this bungalow did not prepare us for what awaited us inside. This place is adorable. I’ve stayed in many places, but this had the best supplied kitchen I’ve ever seen. It was impeccably clean, through out. The mattresses were wonderful, I’ll be getting one for my bed. The owner ...

Reviewed on Feb 11, 2026

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Historic Cottage Downtown Macon with off street parking
See all 384 properties in Macon Historic District
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Other neighbourhoods around Macon Historic District

Indian mounds in the distance

College Hill

While visiting College Hill, you might make a stop by sights like Hay House and Sidney Lanier Cottage.

College Hill
Macon skyline

Pleasant Hill Historic District

When in Pleasant Hill Historic District, you can plan a visit to The Allman Brothers Band Museum at the Big House and Hay House, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Pleasant Hill Historic District
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Tindall Heights Historic District

Though Tindall Heights Historic District might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Hawkins Arena and Tubman Museum.

Tindall Heights Historic District
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East Macon Historic District

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in East Macon Historic District and surrounding area, you can visit Macon Coliseum and Ocmulgee National Monument.

East Macon Historic District
The Allman Brothers Band Museum at the Big House featuring interior views and a house

Vineville Historic District

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Vineville Historic District and surrounding area, you can visit The Allman Brothers Band Museum at the Big House and Hay House.

Vineville Historic District
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Macon, Georgia, preserves earthworks built before 1000 CE by the South Appalachian Mississippian culture. Great Temple Mound, Lesser Temple Mound and trail

North Highlands Historic District

North Highlands Historic District might not have many top sights, but Macon Coliseum and Hay House are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

North Highlands Historic District

Macon Historic District

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