Glen Echo
Also known as: Bird-Everett-Morgan House
Why it's listed
Glen Echo, also known as the Bird-Everett-Morgan House, is a Plantation Plain style farmhouse on Georgia Highway 204 near Ellabelle in Bryan County. It sits on part of a 400-acre king's grant made in 1771 to Abraham and Israel Bird and Hugh Bryan. Family tradition dates the house to 1773, although details such as the boxed cornice and returns suggest a date in the early 1800s. Over its long life the house has been weatherboarded, enlarged and altered, yet the downstairs west room keeps beaded wall boards, wide pine floors and pegged rafters. The Bird family were millers, and later owner Albert Glen Smith farmed cotton, corn, cane and rice, served as a Confederate major and gave the house its Glen Echo name. The property was spared during the Civil War, though the outbuildings were burned. It is significant as a Plantation Plain example held by one family for over two centuries. The nominated area covers about seven acres.
Significance in brief: The house is significant as an example of the Plantation Plain type of Georgia structure, standing on land owned and occupied by the same family for over 200 years. The land was a 1771 king's grant to Abraham and Israel Bird and Hugh Bryan. The nearby Red Bug Road, a colonial supply route, adds to its historical interest.
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 78000965, listed January 9, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2 mi. (3.2 km) E of Ellabelle on GA 204, Ellabelle |
|---|---|
| County | Bryan County |
| Listed | January 9, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000965 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799, 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Plantation Plain |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a private residence; condition fair and altered. Original shed rooms were removed and a kitchen wing added at the rear. |
| Acreage | 7 |
| Coordinates | 32.13542, -81.46443 (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 78000965.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5567711
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.