Old State Capitol
Also known as: Georgia Military College
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Why it's listed
Built as Georgia's statehouse in the new capital of Milledgeville, this three-story Gothic Revival building has crenelated brick and stucco walls four feet thick and a cupola. Construction began in 1807, and four wings were added by about 1833. The General Assembly met here until 1868, when the capital moved to Atlanta. Events within its walls included the 1861 Secession Convention and debates over states' rights and the Cherokee removal. General Sherman's troops staged a mock session in the legislative hall in 1864. After the capital left, the building held day schools, law offices and the county courthouse. In 1879 it became part of a military and agricultural college, later named Georgia Military College. Fires in 1894 and 1941 destroyed the interior, and the 1941 fire destroyed the whole building. It was rebuilt in 1942-43 using measured drawings from the Historic American Buildings Survey. Gothic Revival gates also frame the approach to the site.
Significance in brief: It housed the Georgia General Assembly from 1807 to 1868 and was the site of major events, including the 1861 Secession Convention. It is also described as the first state capitol built in the Gothic Revival style. After a 1941 fire, it was rebuilt from Historic American Buildings Survey drawings.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 70000195, listed May 13, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Greene St., Milledgeville |
|---|---|
| County | Baldwin County |
| Listed | May 13, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000195 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1807-1971 |
| Architect / builder | Jett Thomas and John Scott (contractors, 1805 contract); Joseph Lane (architect of the completion) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Education, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition and occupied, serving as the administration building of Georgia Military College; reconstructed in 1942-43 after the 1941 fire. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Within district | Milledgeville Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.07791, -83.22488 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 70000195.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16896137
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.