From fascinating tales to awe-inspiring architecture, these renowned sites across the South beckon to travelers seeking a glimpse of history.
Discover the allure of five Southern historic landmarks worth adding to your travel itinerary no matter the season. Browse our roundup of spectacular sites across the region.
1. Heyward-Washington House – Charleston, South Carolina
South Carolina’s first historic house museum, the Heyward-Washington House fit rights in amid Charleston’s antebellum façades. Step inside the Georgian-style estate and you’ll be immersed in a rich heritage that includes its namesake owner, who signed the Declaration of Independence; a visit from George Washington; and resilient female residents who effected change in our country.
The 18th-century residence, acquired by The Charleston Museum in 1929, is one of the only Colonial town houses in the city open to the public. The interiors play host to an extensive collection of furnishings recognized as some of the finest examples of American Colonial pieces, many produced in Charleston. Outside, a stunning ornamental garden showcases flowers and foliage native to the Lowcountry.
With a legacy that spans 300 years and continued research efforts yielding more discoveries every day, each tour is a unique experience.
Visit charlestonmuseum.org for hours and admission information.
Photography by John O’Hagan
2. Oakland Cemetery – Atlanta, Georgia
At Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery, you’re as likely to see a Gullah folk dance or a bit of theater as a tomb or an ornate monument. “We want people to come visit,” says Marcy Breffle, education manager at Oakland, one of Atlanta’s oldest historic sites. Scavenger hunts, music festivals, art shows, plant sales, tours, and even a 5K run lure the public to explore the lively necropolis throughout the year.
A virtual who’s who of artistic, social, and political elite rest side by side with unknown early citizens. Three popular residents include Pulitzer Prize-winning Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell; golfing great Bobby Jones, who helped found Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament; and Atlanta’s first Black mayor, Maynard Jackson.
The site was established in 1850 on the outskirts of the fast-growing railroad community, and early residents enjoyed the green space for leisure and picnics. “The Victorians had a tradition of visiting the cemetery and making it a place that was beautiful for the living and dead,” Sara says of the nationally registered landmark. Today, it’s a cornerstone of the residential Grant Park neighborhood, lined with Victorian homes and a 10-minute walk to downtown’s Georgia State Capitol.
Visit oaklandcemetery.com for hours and admission information.
Photography by John O’Hagan
3. Locust Grove – Louisville, Kentucky
Locust Grove is a storied Georgian mansion in the rolling hills of Louisville. Constructed in 1792, the same year Kentucky was granted statehood, the estate was a stepping-stone to the West, boasting visits from the likes of two presidents, explorers Lewis and Clark, and artist John James Audubon.
The final home of town founder George Rogers Clark, the town’s founder, Locust Grove is one of the oldest houses in Louisville. Tours shed light on the Clark family, famous visitors to the site, and the enslaved individuals who built and maintained the property.
Several outbuildings on the 55 acres include a hearth kitchen and a small farm distillery—complete with demonstrations on whiskey making. In the main house, Federal-period furnishings, wallpapers, and textiles reflect the style of the home’s heyday. As you stroll the manicured grounds, you’re sure to pass under the shade of a hardy locust tree.
Visit locustgrove.org for hours and admission information.
Photography by John O’Hagan
4. St. Luke’s Historic Church & Museum – Smithfield, Virginia
In a sleepy corner of southeast Virginia, St. Luke’s appears unassuming at first glance. Inside, dark beams and plaster walls are washed in sunlight filtered through panels of stained glass. You would never guess that three centuries ago, this serene space was swept up in the turbulence of America’s early days.
The Brick Church, as it was once known, was built in the late 1600s as the sole worship place in a swath of farm country. When church members decamped in the 1830s, the neglected building fell into ruin until locals stepped in to save the important piece of history. Their descendants, among others, founded the nonprofit Historic St. Luke’s Restoration as part of an extensive refurbishment completed in 1957.
While it’s no longer a place of worship, St. Luke’s carefully restored mix of architectural styles and its historical legacy appeal to those lured by tales of the past, period beauty, and simple moments of reflection on peaceful grounds.
Visit stlukesmuseum.org for hours and admission information.
Photography by Kip Dawkins
5. Old Courthouse Museum – Monroeville, Alabama
Fans of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird find a tangible connection to the story’s small-town setting, Maycomb, in the author’s native Monroeville. Off the beaten path in rural southwest Alabama, the Old Courthouse Museum allows visitors to imagine themselves among such iconic characters as Scout and Atticus Finch. Make your way to the balcony for a bird’s-eye view of the courtroom that inspired Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning tale.
The museum’s main floor houses permanent exhibits dedicated to Lee as well as her childhood friend Truman Capote, another literary giant who grew up in Monroeville. Informative panels share the history of the 1904 Romanesque structure, illuminate its bookish connections, and identify differences between the real-life space and the Hollywood version seen in the To Kill a Mockingbird film with Gregory Peck.
Every year, locals perform the stage adaptation of Lee’s best-selling novel on site. While the Old Courthouse is the gateway to this region, tourists will enjoy Monroeville’s Literary Capital Sculpture Trail, notable landmarks and small businesses that line historic downtown, and surrounding sites supported by the Monroe County Museum.
Visit monroecountymuseum.org for hours and admission information.
Photography by John O’Hagan
These destinations are featured in Southern Lady‘s Southern Historic Landmarks 2021 travel series. Read the full stories in our 2021 editions of March/April, May/June, July/August, September, and October.
Discover inspiring style ideas, seasonal recipes, and more by ordering your Southern Lady print subscription or digital subscription today!
