Travel Oracles 50 States: Georgia
As part of my summer series - Travel Oracles 50 States - I am revisiting each os the fifty American states as an overview on travel culture and history. Today: Georgia
Joined: Georgia voted on January 2, 1788 to ratify the recently drafted U.S. Constitution, becoming the fourth state to enter the Union, and was a significant battleground in the American Revolution.. Georgia was also one of the original seven slave states that formed the Confederate States of America in February 1861, triggering the U.S. Civil War.
Original Indigenous Peoples: The Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee, and The Lower Muscogee Creek Tribe
First Settlers: About 1540, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, on a quest for silver and gold, led the first European expedition into the area that is now Georgia. Later, a trust for establishing the colony of Georgia was granted a charter by George II of England (for whom the colony was named) in 1732, long after the large English migrations of the 17th century to North America
History moment: General Sherman of the Union Army burned Atlanta to the ground during the Civil War. When the city was rebuilt after the war, it adopted the symbol of the phoenix to symbolize how it rose from the ashes. Atlanta is known as the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement; you can find Martin Luther King Jr.’s house on Auburn Ave - In 1957, Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights advocates formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in Atlanta. Also, Coca-Cola, which was invented in Atlanta in 1886
Known for: Peaches, peanuts and pecans, southern hospitality, birthplace of Martin Luther King and former President Jimmy Carter
Places: Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Athens, Tybee Island
Movie setting: Gone with the wind, Driving Miss Daisy, Fried Green Tomatoes, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Musicians from: Ma Rainey, Otis Redding, Little Richard, Ray Charles, James Brown, Gladys Knight, Michael Stipe/REM, TLC, Outkast, Ludacris, Luke Bryan
Surprising facts: Cumberland Island, Georgia, is inhabited by wild horses. Although initially conceived of by James Oglethorpe as a refuge for London’s indebted prisoners, Georgia was ultimately established in 1732 to protect South Carolina and other southern colonies from Spanish invasion through Florida.
Georgia encompasses two Souths—the Old South of Savannah with its elegant homes, planned squares, and Spanish moss–draped live oaks, and the New South of Atlanta, a bustling high-rise metropolis with enough to keep visitors busy for weeks. For white-columned mansions and romantic visions of the past, look no further than Central Georgia. One of the most popular Civil War battlefields is in northern Georgia. There's coastline here, too, with lush barrier islands stretching all the way to Florida. Let’s travel to Georgia
My Experience: I have always enjoyed my time in Georgia, and have made several trips to Savannah In particular for which I have an old post but I need to update soon. I usually stop both there and Charleston on my trips as they are easily connected by train.
Atlanta: Originally built as the terminus of the Western & Atlantic Railroad, Atlanta remains a hub for transportation, with the world's busiest airport; industry, with the headquarters for CNN and Coca-Cola; art, with treasures on display at the High Museum of Art; and natural wonders, with the nation's largest aquarium. Things to do
Savannah: Savannah is such a warm, welcoming city that you may find it especially easy to get acquainted with the "Hostess City," as it is known to those smitten by its hospitality and charm. Savannah, Georgia's oldest city, began its modern history on February 12, 1733, when James Oglethorpe and 120 colonists arrived at Yamacraw Bluff on the Savannah River to found what would be the last British colony in the New World. It was America's first planned city and is perhaps most recognized for its 22 squares, the diverse group of parks that dot the Historic District. Definitely take a trolley or walking history tour. More things to Do
Nature: In addition to 11 national parks, Georgia is home to a wealth of National Park Service sites, including dozens of historic and natural landmarks, legendary trails, significant heritage areas, and thousands of properties on the National Register.
Ranking in US: Per the annual US News report, Georgia is currently ranked #18 out of 50 in 2021, down from #17 in 2019. It scores high in economy, infrastructure and opportunity, but struggles with healthcare, and voting inequality has been increasingly highlighted in the recent years.
