Georgia – Eloray

River boat, Savannah, Georgia (Paulbr75, Pixabay)

Let’s Visit Georgia

Join our virtual tour highlighting the top tourist attractions in Georgia
For an overview of the state, see: National Geographic Kids. Georgia

Highlights

Georgia Aquarium (Ruben Perez, Wikimedia Commons)

Let’s learn more about some fascinating places worth seeing in Georgia.

Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta) is one of the largest aquariums in the world, famous for housing over 100,000 marine animals, including whale sharks, manta rays, and beluga whales.
Savannah Historic District (Savannah) is known for its beautifully preserved 18th- and 19th-century architecture, cobblestone streets, and its historic squares filled with live oak trees draped in Spanish moss.
Stone Mountain Park (Stone Mountain) is famous for its massive granite mountain, which features the largest high-relief sculpture in the world, depicting Confederate leaders, along with offering hiking trails and a scenic cable car.
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park (Atlanta) honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., featuring his childhood home, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the Center for Nonviolent Social Change.
Forsyth Park (Savannah) is renowned for its stunning landscape, iconic fountain, and role as a cultural hub in the heart of Savannah, often used for festivals, concerts, and recreation.
Callaway Gardens (Pine Mountain) is famous for its expansive botanical gardens, butterfly center, and outdoor recreational activities, making it a popular destination for nature lovers and families.
Okefenokee Swamp (Southern Georgia) is one of the largest and most well-preserved freshwater ecosystems in the U.S., known for its extensive wildlife, including alligators, and for offering unique swamp tours.
World of Coca-Cola (Atlanta) is a popular tourist destination that explores the history of the Coca-Cola Company, offering interactive exhibits and the chance to taste Coca-Cola products from around the world.
Fox Theatre (Atlanta) is a historic theater famous for its stunning architecture and design, regularly hosting Broadway shows, concerts, and movies in an opulent, 1920s-era setting.
Tallulah Gorge State Park (Tallulah Falls) is known for its breathtaking views of the two-mile-long, 1,000-foot-deep gorge and its challenging hiking trails, as well as opportunities for kayaking, rock climbing, and camping.

Intriguing mysteries and weird facts

Sculpture of John Pemberton, Inventor of Coca Cola (Ribastank, Pixabay)

Discover these little-known facts about Georgia.

Georgia is Home to the World’s Largest Drive-In Restaurant
The Varsity in Atlanta serves over 30,000 customers on a busy day, and it has its own unique ordering slang, making it a fun and quirky place to grab a burger.
Coca-Cola Was Invented in Georgia
John Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist, invented Coca-Cola in 1886. Originally, it contained coca leaf extract, which included cocaine, until it was removed in 1904.
An Entire Town Was Once Owned by a Movie Star
In 1989, actress Kim Basinger bought most of the small town of Braselton, Georgia, with the idea of turning it into a tourist destination.
Georgia Has an Island Full of Wild Horses
Cumberland Island is a beautiful national seashore where wild horses roam freely, offering a rare sight for visitors.
Georgia is the Pecan Capital of the World
The state produces more pecans than any other state in the U.S., and Georgia is known for its delicious pecan pies.
Stone Mountain is One of the Largest Pieces of Exposed Granite in the World
The massive granite mountain is so large and distinct that some people say it can be seen from outer space.
FDR Visited Georgia for Polio Treatment
President Franklin D. Roosevelt frequently visited Warm Springs, Georgia, to seek treatment for polio in the naturally warm waters.
Georgia Has Its Own Loch Ness Monster
In Lake Lanier, locals have reported sightings of a mysterious creature swimming in the waters, leading to rumors of Georgia’s own lake monster.
The Ocmulgee Mounds Date Back Over 17,000 Years
Located in Macon, Georgia, these ancient Native American earthworks are among the oldest archaeological sites in the U.S., providing a glimpse into prehistoric life.
Savannah is One of the Most Haunted Cities in the U.S.
With places like the Sorrel-Weed House, Savannah is famous for its ghost stories and haunted history, drawing in paranormal enthusiasts from around the world.

Notable People

Here are 10 famous men and women from Georgia.

Famous Men

Martin Luther King Jr. (Nobel Foundation, Wikimedia Commons)

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) was a civil rights leader born in Atlanta, Georgia. He is best known for his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement, his advocacy for nonviolent protest, and his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
Jimmy Carter (1924– ) is the 39th President of the United States, born in Plains, Georgia. He is known for his humanitarian work, global peace efforts, and for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 after his presidency.
Ray Charles (1930–2004) was a legendary musician born in Albany, Georgia. He pioneered soul music by combining blues, gospel, and jazz, with hits like “Georgia on My Mind” becoming iconic in American music history.
Tyler Perry (1969– ) is a filmmaker, actor, and playwright born in New Orleans but raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He is famous for creating the “Madea” character and building a media empire, including the first major African American-owned film studio in Atlanta.
Herschel Walker (1962– ) is a former professional football player from Wrightsville, Georgia. He gained fame for his college football career at the University of Georgia, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1982, and later having a successful career in the NFL.

Famous Women

Margaret Mitchell (Al Aumuller, Wikimedia Commons).

Juliette Gordon Low (1860–1927) was born in Savannah, Georgia, and is famous for founding the Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912, empowering generations of girls and promoting leadership and community service.
Gladys Knight (1944– ) is a legendary soul singer born in Atlanta, Georgia. She is known as the “Empress of Soul” and gained fame with her group Gladys Knight & the Pips, with hits like “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
Alice Walker (1944– ) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author born in Eatonton, Georgia. She is best known for her novel The Color Purple, which won her the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1983 and was adapted into a successful film and Broadway musical.
Stacey Abrams (1973– ) is a politician, lawyer, and voting rights activist from Atlanta, Georgia. She gained national recognition for her work in voter advocacy and for running for governor of Georgia in 2018, nearly becoming the first African American female governor in U.S. history.
Margaret Mitchell (1900–1949) was an author born in Atlanta, Georgia, famous for writing Gone with the Wind, one of the best-selling novels of all time. Her work won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1937 and became an iconic film in 1939.

Date of Ratification of the Articles of Confederation/

Admission to the Union

January 2, 1788 (4th)

State Capital

Georgia State Capitol Building in Atlanta (DXR, Wikimedia CCA 4.0)

Atlanta
Government of Georgia

Area and Total Population

Area: 57,513 square miles

Total Population: 10,097,000

Major cities and their population

City	Population
Atlanta	511,000
Augusta	205,000
Columbus	202,000
Macon	157,000
Savannah	148,000

Education

University of Georgia Old College, Athens (Coxonian, Wikimedia CCA 4.0)

Educational Resources

Twinkl. Georgia

Fairs and festivals

Georgia State Fair

Flag

The current flag for the State of Georgia was selected by statewide vote in 2004, The flag is still based on the Confederate flag’s red, white, and blue “stars and bars” but no longer has a St. Andrew’s–style cross that the Confederate flag once had.

The flag’s current iteration was adopted on February 19, 2003. It contains three horizontal stripes (a red-white-red triband) and features a blue square containing a ring of 13 white stars that encircle the state’s gold-colored coat of arms. The ring of stars symbolizes Georgia as one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Geography

Location

Google map of Georgia

Glimpses Into History

A sketch of Savannah by the river, 1734 (Wikimedia Commons)

History of Georgia

Breathtaking Landscapes

Check out these amazing landscapes and wildlife of Georgia.

National Landmarks and Historic Sites

A drawing of Andersonville Prison by Thomas O’Dea (Wikimedia Commons)

National Monuments

National and State Parks

Cloudland Canyon State Park (R. McClenny, Wikimedia Commons)

Sports

Professional Sports Teams

Atlanta

Major League Baseball (MLB): Atlanta Braves
Major League Soccer (MLS): Atlanta United FC
National Basketball Association (NBA): Atlanta Hawks
National Football League (NFL): Atlanta Falcons

NCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Association) Division I Teams

Georgia Bulldogs vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (Thomson20192, Wikimedia CCA 2.0)

State Motto

“Wisdom, Justice and Moderation”

State Nickname

The Peach State

State Symbols

Official state symbols. Georgia

Seal

The Great Seal of the State of Georgia shows an arch with three columns. The arch symbolizes the state’s Constitution and the columns represent the three branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial). The words of the official state motto, “Wisdom, Justice, Moderation,” are inscribed on scrolls that are wrapped around the columns.

A military figure dressed in colonial attire from the American Revolutionary War stands between the second and third columns. He holds a drawn sword in his right hand, representing the citizen/soldier’s defense of the state’s Constitution. A border surrounds the coat of arms with the motto “State of Georgia, 1776” inscribed.

License Plate