Stephens, A. H., Memorial State Park
Also known as: A.H. Stephens State Historic Park; See Also:Liberty Hall
Why it's listed
A. H. Stephens Memorial State Park in Crawfordville, Georgia, grew from a small memorial around Liberty Hall, the c. 1875 home of Alexander H. Stephens, into a large recreational park built during the 1930s. After the state received 12 acres in 1932, the Civilian Conservation Corps arrived in 1933 and built Lake Liberty, a bathhouse, an observation tower, granite benches and trails, all in a white-painted classical style. From 1935 the Works Progress Administration added Federal Lake, an amphitheater and Camp Stephens, a group camp of rustic cabins, a dining hall and lodges built with stone foundations and rough-sawn boards. A 1936 landscape plan and 1937 master plan guided the layout. The district is recognized for its architecture, its landscape design, and its role as an example of New Deal work programs and early state park development in Georgia.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for its classical-style CCC buildings and rustic-style WPA buildings, and for its 1936-37 landscape and master plans for state park development. It is also a major example of New Deal conservation and recreation work in Georgia, including early restoration of Liberty Hall.
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 95000764, listed June 22, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | GA 22, N side, Crawfordville |
|---|---|
| County | Taliaferro County |
| Listed | June 22, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000764 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | C. 1875 - 1945 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival; Other: rustic style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Conservation, Social History, Politics/Government, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still a state park; many CCC and WPA buildings have been rehabilitated, and Liberty Hall was restored to its c. 1875 appearance in 1990. The observation tower serves as a museum and the former bathhouse as the park office. |
| Acreage | 1200 |
| Within district | Crawfordville Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.56925, -82.89537 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 95000764.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4647844
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.