Macon Historic District Travel Guide

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 travels to Macon. Stroll along the riverfront or experience the area's live music.

Tubman Museum
Hay House

Hay House

4.5/5(2 reviews)

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 performance at Grand Opera House, a theatre 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

Enjoy a show at Douglass Theater, a popular theatre in Macon. Stroll along the riverfront or experience the area's live music.

Douglass Theater
Cannonball House

Cannonball House

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

Cannonball House

Things to do

Ocmulgee Mounds

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

฿236
per adult
Ocmulgee Mounds Smartphone (GPS/APP) Guided History Walking Tour
Macon Scavenger Hunt: The Mysteries of Macon

Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt: The Mysteries of Macon

฿387
per adult
Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt: The Mysteries of Macon
See all activities in Macon

Top hotels in Macon Historic District

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 ฿5,291 per night from 15 Feb to 16 Feb
฿5,291
฿6,241 total
15 Feb - 16 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Macon. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, valet parking (surcharge) and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (265 reviews)
Great staff, very clean and generous room size

Reviewed on 11 Jan 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 ฿4,486 per night from 26 Jan to 27 Jan
฿4,486
฿5,315 total
26 Jan - 27 Jan
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this golf B&B in Macon. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (679 reviews)
The staff were so welcoming and accommodating. We enjoyed the appetizers and the private breakfast served in the parlor…especially Lakecia’s delicious scones and French toast! The setting is so historic and beautifully maintained. I hope to have another visit to the Inn in the future.

Reviewed on 12 Jan 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 Wi-Fi, free parking and cable TV channels. Popular attractions Otis Redding Foundation and Grand Opera House are located ...
9/10 Wonderful! (188 reviews)
Awesome

Reviewed on 8 Jan 2026

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The Woodward Hotel
Best Western Riverside Inn

Best Western Riverside Inn

2.5 out of 5
2400 Riverside Dr Macon GA
The price is ฿2,317 per night from 25 Jan to 26 Jan
฿2,317
฿2,915 total
25 Jan - 26 Jan
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Macon. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,488 reviews)
Clean room breakfast was very good. Bathroom was too small barely enough room to turn around. Toilet 2 steps from door. Definitely need a bigger bathroom.

Reviewed on 20 Jan 2026

Best Western Riverside Inn
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Macon

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Macon

3 out of 5
4630 Sheraton Dr Macon GA
The price is ฿2,764 per night from 1 Feb to 2 Feb
฿2,764
฿3,334 total
1 Feb - 2 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Macon. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,225 reviews)
The room was spotless. Staff was efficient and friendly

Reviewed on 9 Jan 2026

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Macon
Wingate by Wyndham Macon I-75

Wingate by Wyndham Macon I-75

2.5 out of 5
100 Northcrest Blvd Macon GA
The price is ฿2,242 per night from 1 Feb to 2 Feb
฿2,242
฿2,826 total
1 Feb - 2 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Macon. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,008 reviews)
Helpful stuff and very clean room.

Reviewed on 16 Jan 2026

Wingate by Wyndham Macon I-75
See all 379 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.

Other neighbourhoods around Macon Historic District

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

College Hill

While visiting College Hill, you might make a stop by sights like Hay House and Ocmulgee Heritage Trail.

College Hill
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Pleasant Hill Historic District

While there might not be top attractions in Pleasant Hill Historic District, you can explore the larger area and discover places like The Allman Brothers Band Museum at the Big House and Hay House.

Pleasant Hill Historic District
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Tindall Heights Historic District

While Tindall Heights Historic District may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Tubman Museum and Grand Opera House.

Tindall Heights Historic District
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East Macon Historic District

Though East Macon Historic District may not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like 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
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North Highlands Historic District

While North Highlands Historic District may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Macon Coliseum and Grand Opera House.

North Highlands Historic District

Macon Historic District Travel Guide