- Okefenokee Swamp encompasses over 400,000 acres of
canals; moss draped cypress trees, and lily pad prairies
providing sanctuaries for hundreds of species of birds and
wildlife including several endangered species.
- Cumberland Island National Seashore contains the ruins
of Dungeness, the once magnificent Carnegie estate. In
addition, wild horses graze among wind swept dunes.
- The late John F. Kennedy, Jr. and his future wife
stopped in Kingsland on the way to their marriage on
Cumberland Island.
- Historic Saint Marys Georgia is the second oldest city
in the nation.
- The City of Savanna was the first steamship to cross the
Atlantic.
It sailed from Georgia.
- Ways Station was renamed Richmond Hill on May 1, 1941,
taking the name of automaker Henry Ford's winter estate.
- The pirate Edward "Blackbeard" Teach made a home on
Blackbeard Island. The United States Congress designated the
Blackbeard Island Wilderness Area in 1975 and it now has a
total of 3,000 acres.
- On January 19, 1861, Georgia joined the Confederacy.
- The official state fish is the largemouth bass.
- In Gainesville, the Chicken Capital of the World it is
illegal to eat chicken with a fork.
- Georgia was named for King George II of England.
- Stone Mountain near Atlanta is one of the largest single
masses of exposed granite in the world.
- Georgia is the nations number one producer of the three
Ps--peanuts, pecans, and peaches.
- At the Hawkinsville Civitan Club's Annual Shoot the Bull
Barbecue Championship, people from all over Georgia and
surrounding states flock to this small south Georgia town to
enter their tasty barbecue concoctions in this famous
cook-off. The funds raised from this event benefit the
Civitan International Research Center and its work toward a
cure for Down's syndrome and other developmental
disabilities.
- Each year Georgia serves as a host to the International
Poultry Trade Show, the largest poultry convention in the
world.
- The oldest portable steam engine in the United States is
on display at Historic Railroad Shops in Savannah.
- Known as the sweetest onion in the world, the Vidalia
onion can only be grown in the fields around Vidalia and
Glennville
- Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi
River.
- Georgia's population in 1776 was around 40,000.
- Cordele claims to be the watermelon capital of the
world.
- The annual Masters Golf Tournament is played at the
Augusta National in Augusta every first week of April.
- Georgia is often called the Empire State of the South
and is also known as the Peach State and Cracker State.
- In 1828 Auraria, near the city of Dahlongea, was the
site of the first Gold Rush in America.
- Coca-Cola was invented in May 1886 by Dr. John S.
Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia. The name "Coca-Cola" was
suggested by Dr. Pemberton's bookkeeper, Frank Robinson. He
penned the name Coca-Cola in the flowing script that is
famous today. Coca-Cola was first sold at a soda fountain in
Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta by Willis Venable.
- Berry College in Rome has the world's largest college
campus.
- The Little White House in Warm Springs was the
recuperative home of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- In 1942 Jekyll Island was a private resort sold to the
state by the owners, a group of millionaires.
- Providence Canyon State Park, near Lumpkin, is known as
the Little Grand Canyon of Georgia.
- The Cherokee rose is the official state flower, the live
oak the official tree; and the brown thrasher the official
bird.
- United States Highway 27 runs the length of Georgia and
is known as Martha Berry Highway, named after a pioneer
educator.
- Marshall Forest in Rome is the only natural forest
within a city limits in the United States.
- The popular theme park - Six Flags Over Georgia, was
actually named for six flags that flew over Georgia.
England, Spain, Liberty, Georgia, Confederate States of
America, and the United States.
- The locomotive engine popularly known as The General is
housed in the Big Shanty Museum in Kennesaw. It was stolen
in the Andrews Railroad Raid in 1862 and later depicted in
The Great Locomotive Chase, a popular movie.
- The name of the famous south Georgia swamp, the
Okefenokee, is derived from an Indian word meaning the
trembling earth.
- Brasstown Bald Mountain is the highest point in Georgia.
It has an elevation of 4,784 feet.
- The Cyclorama is a three dimensional panorama that
depicts the famous Battle of Atlanta, and is located in
Grant Park in Atlanta.
- Thomasville is known as the City of Roses.
- Chickamuga National Park is the site of the bloodiest
battle in American history.
- Plains is the home of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President.
- The figures of Stonewall Jackson, Jefferson Davis, and
Robert E. Lee make up the world's largest sculpture. It is
located on the face of Stone Mountain. Additionally Robert
E. Lee's horse, Traveler, is also carved at the same place.
- Savannah was the landing site for General James Edward
Oglethorpe, founder of Georgia.
- The world's largest Infantry training center is located
at Fort Benning.
- The largest Farmer's Market of its kind is located in
Forest Park.
- Ralph Bunch, United States diplomat, was the first
Georgian to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Callaway Gardens is a world famous family resort, known
for its azaleas.
- Wesleyan College in Macon was the first college in the
world chartered to grant degrees to women.
- Madison is known for its beautiful antebellum homes
spared during Sherman's fiery march to the sea.
- Chehaw in Albany is a well known wild animal park.
- Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon is the largest
archeological development east of the Mississippi River.
- Athens is the location of the first university chartered
and supported by state funds.
Thanks to:
Clyde Sherman,
meddy42, Jhirsch39, Gabbatha, Ken Tarter, lfreda
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