In Eatonton, different approaches to history and literature come together: a historic district, museums, and places connected with the Uncle Remus storytelling tradition. Those who would also like to explore landscapes and trails will find options for that as well. The different highlights are easy to distinguish—from historic homes and exhibitions to a multi-section trail.
Historic Homes and the Early Downtown
The residential and commercial areas of the Eatonton National Register Historic District include more than 246 buildings dating from the Antebellum and Victorian eras. This offers a look at a substantial collection of buildings from two historical periods. A historic tour visits more than 100 homes in the city and county. The architectural styles named include Greek Revival, Victorian, Queen Anne, Piedmont Plain, and Gothic Revival. While the district’s description highlights the residential and commercial areas and two periods, the tour brings in a wider variety of architectural styles and a connection to both the city and the rural county.
The Old School History Museum features a drugstore and the early center of Eatonton, with shops, a grocery store, and a theater. It complements the look at historic homes with a portrayal of business life and the establishments of the early downtown.
Museums Spanning Storytelling and Literature
The Uncle Remus Museum is located in downtown Eatonton and offers insight into Joel Chandler Harris’s inspiration for the Uncle Remus stories. It consists of two original log cabins from Putnam County, filled with artifacts and memorabilia connected with the stories. Group tours and individual storytelling sessions can be reserved by calling 706 485 6853. Check visitor details before your trip.
The Georgia Writers Museum is a literary gathering place for readers and writers, with exhibits about well-known Georgia writers. Here, the focus is on literary subjects, while the Uncle Remus Museum offers insight into the inspiration behind a particular storytelling tradition. Together, the two museums offer different perspectives on stories and writing in Georgia.
Rock Eagle Mound and Rock Hawk Trail
Rock Eagle Mound is a stone effigy shaped like a bird lying down. It is made entirely of milky-white quartz stones and is eight feet high at the breast. It was probably built by Native Americans about 2,000 years ago. In 1978, the U.S. Department of the Interior added the mound to the National Register of Historic Places. This description combines a specific shape and material with an approximate date and an explicitly uncertain attribution of its construction.
The similarly named Rock Hawk Trail offers a different focus: It is currently 15 miles long and divided into five color-coded sections. Interpretive signs line the trail, which offers opportunities for hiking, biking, and birdwatching. Observation towers provide views of wetlands and the Rock Hawk effigy. Thus, the focus at the mound is the individual stone effigy modeled after a bird lying down and its history, while the trail features multiple sections, activities, and opportunities to observe the landscape. Check current trail conditions before planning your visit.
Lakes in the Wider Putnam County Area
The lakes in the wider Putnam County area also differ in their described locations and the activities mentioned. Lake Sinclair borders the southern part of the county and offers fishing, boat ramps, and boat and jet ski rentals. Lake Oconee lies at the eastern end of Putnam County; boating and boat and jet ski rentals are listed there. This comparison can help with orientation: fishing is among the activities mentioned at Lake Sinclair, alongside boating options, while boating is mentioned at Lake Oconee alongside rental options. Both lakes thus complement Eatonton’s cultural and historical themes with a regional look at activities on the water.
For the broader travel overview: Putnam.
