Raines-Carmichael House
Also known as: Carmichael House; Raines-Miller-Carmichael House
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Why it's listed
This frame house at 1183 Georgia Avenue in Macon's College Hill area was built in the late 1840s for Cadwallader W. Raines. Elam Alexander, a prominent Macon architect-builder, designed it in the form of a modified Greek Cross, with four arms of rooms branching from an octagonal central hall. A free-hanging stairway spirals up to a cupola and attic, and a colored plaster ceiling ornament crowns the stair hall. Porches fill the spaces between the arms, and large bay windows end the rooms. The front porch was later altered to a rounded form, and a solarium was added between two arms. Howard Major used the house in his book on early American domestic architecture to show the variety and individuality possible within Greek Revival style. Raines died in 1856, and the house was sold in 1869 to John E. Jones, president of the Central Bank of Georgia. It later passed to the Miller and Carmichael families. It sits at the intersection of College Street and Georgia Avenue.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of Macon's most prominent architectural landmarks, notable for its modified Greek Cross plan with an octagonal central hall and free-hanging stair. It was cited in Howard Major's book as an example of individuality within Greek Revival design. It is also a key surviving work of the builder Elam Alexander.
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 71000265, listed June 21, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1183 Georgia Ave., Macon |
|---|---|
| County | Bibb County |
| Listed | June 21, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000265 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1840s |
| Architect / builder | Elam Alexander, architect-builder; built by Cadwallader W. Raines |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated November 7, 1973 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition, and used as a private residence; the form says the owners maintain the house and grounds carefully. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Macon Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.84153, -83.63852 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 71000265.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5043660
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.