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Newnan- Coweta Historical Society |
Dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the cultural, historical and architectural heritage of Coweta County.
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Male Academy Museum |
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The War Between the States is a significant part of the colorful history of Newnan and Coweta County. Newnan was known as the "hospital city of the Confederacy", having six field hospitals. They were located in churches, homes and other buildings and served as many as 10,000 wounded soldiers of the North and the South. Through the cooperation of the Daughters of the Confederacy and private collectors, the Museum has on permanent display an authentic Confederate battle flag, a large collection of weapons and equipment, period photographs and other artifacts.
The Male Academy Museum has received recognition and wide acclaim for its extensive collection of period clothing from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Many prominent families from the area have donated exquisite items of attire from bygone years, which textile experts have carefully reworked and preserved. Select exhibits from this vast collection are mounted throughout the year. Story boards identify the origin, fabric, style and donor of the article.
Coweta County, one of Georgia's original counties, was created by legislative act December 11, 1826, following the 1825 treaty ceding the Lower Creek Indian lands to Georgia. General William McIntosh, the half Scot- half Creek chief of the Cowetas, was responsible for the land cession. This resulted in his murder by the dissenting Upper Creeks. The state was then divided into land lots and sold to new settlers by means of a lottery. Most of them moved from the Carolinas and Virginia. One of the county's first settlers was Dr. Ira Ellis Smith, who brought his family from Virginia to Coweta County in 1828. The Museum permanently exhibits some of the furniture which they brought with them in their wagon to settle in their new home.
Newnan, established in 1828, is widely known as "the City of Homes" because of its many outstanding examples of period and contemporary architecture. Visitors will see beautifully preserved and restored homes of the Plantation, Colonial, Greek Revival, Federal, Georgian, Victorian and Craftsman styles of architecture. The Newnan-Coweta Historical Society has published a driving tour brochure of twenty-two antebellum houses which still remain. Another driving tour through Newnan's five National Register Historic Districts is clearly marked for the visitor. The Historical Society sponsors an annual Spring Tour of Homes, which includes the Male Academy Museum. The building that houses the Museum was Newnan's first private boys' school, which opened in 1883 with sixty students, The school closed in 1888, and the building was then moved and converted to a residence. It was relocated in 1976 to near its original site and restored by the City of Newnan. The Historical Society now uses the building to house a local history museum. Both permanent and special exhibits are featured.
Location: 30 Temple Avenue, Newnan GA The comer of College Street and
Temple Avenue Admission: $3..00 Adults; $1.00 Children under 12
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Copyright
2003, Newnan-Coweta Historical Society, Inc. Newnan Ga
