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Monday 10am - 5pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 5pm

Historic Athens Welcome Center

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Historic Athens Welcome Center

Your first stop in Athens, Georgia! Visitor Information for Athens and the entire State. Let us help you make the most of your visit to our Classic City.

Your Destination for History & Hospitality • Built in 1820 • Operated by Historic Athens (501c3) • Georgia Regional Visitor Information Center

https://linktr.ee/historicathenswelcomecenter We are located in the beautifully restored 1820 Federal Period home of two early presidents of the University of Georgia. Daily Heritage Tours and Special Tours by appointment: Music History, African American

History, Museum Mile, and more. Gift Shop featuring works by local artists, hand-crafted gift items, books and publications, local honey and BBQ sauce.

11/15/2024

Who are the friendly faces at the Historic Athens Welcome Center? Let's get to know them one by one!

Introducing... Concierge / Tour Guide Chris Mewbron (and foster kitten Doom)! We asked Chris a few questions to help y’all get to know him a little better.

What are your preferred pronouns?
- he/him

How long have you worked at HAWC?
- 3 years, give or take.

What is your favorite thing about working at HAWC?
- Uncovering links between the past and present, speaking to people I wouldn't have met otherwise, and continually learning more about our unique city.

What is your favorite genre of music?
- Currently it’s underground rap, but it changes often.

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens?
- Currently Mediterranean Grille, but that also changes pretty often.

What is one fun fact about yourself?
- I’ve been going to shows at the Georgia Theatre since before the fire.

11/13/2024

Overnight on November 12-13, 1833, people gathered outdoors in awe of the Leonid meteor shower. Among the witnesses of this incredible event were those enslaved by Dr. Moses Waddel in Willington, South Carolina.

On November 13, 1833, Dr. Waddel wrote the following in his diary: "Wednesday. Son Isaac called. A. Houston also. Wrote Mr. Blocker's a/c. Rec'd Mr. Deval's a/c. Wrote to James S. Miles. Solomon awaked me to see the amazing shooting of the stars, the most amazing phenomenon I ever saw. Saw John Young pass from Augusta. Louis Covin came at night & took the measures for negro-shoes."

Solomon appears throughout the diaries that have been available for study, written between 1821 and 1836, covering most of Dr. Waddel's time here in Athens as well as his return to Willington. While work is still being done with the later entries, you can read "Enslaved Persons in the World of Dr. Moses Waddel: 1821-1831" here: https://www.athenswelcomecenter.com/black-athenians/ #2

This famous engraving of the 1833 Leonid meteor shower was produced for the Adventist book Bible Readings for the Home Circle by Adolf Vollmy. It’s based on a painting by Swiss artist Karl Jauslin, which, in turn, was based on a first-person account of the 1833 storm by a minister, Joseph Harvey Waggoner, who saw the 1833 shower on his way from Florida to New Orleans

11/08/2024

Who are the friendly faces at the Historic Athens Welcome Center? Let’s get to know them one by one!

Introducing… Visitor Experience Specialist Caitlin Short! We asked Caitlin a few questions to help y’all get to know her better.

What are your preferred pronouns?
- she/her

How long have you worked at HAWC?
- 11.5 years

What is your favorite thing about working at HAWC?
- Being the steward of an over 200-year-old house, meeting unique and interesting people and sharing my passions and interests with visitors from around the world.

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens?
- Currently, South Kitchen & Bar. The food is delicious and the setting is a feast for the eyes, occupying a portion of the historic Georgian Hotel’s recently restored ballroom.

What is your favorite genre of music?
- I enjoy a little of everything, so it’s hard to choose just one genre. But my favorite band is Ween, in part because they perform in so many different musical styles throughout their discography (but also because they’re so eccentric).

What is one fun fact about yourself?
- I love to salvage clothing and other textiles left behind in abandoned homes so I can clean, mend and wear, preserve or repurpose depending on their age and condition.

11/04/2024

Did your first visit to the Church-Waddel-Brumby House Museum happen in October? If you’ve only seen the house with it’s mirrors covered and mantles draped in black, visit us again soon! As of today, all is back to normal.

11/01/2024

Who are the friendly faces at the Historic Athens Welcome Center? Let's get to know them one by one!

Introducing... Collections Assistant Jacob Richardson! We asked Jacob a few questions to help y'all get to know him a little better.

What are your preferred pronouns?
- he/him

How long have you worked at HAWC?
- 2.5 years

What is your favorite thing about working at HAWC?
- Getting training in multiple museum operations and getting to do historical research.

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens?
- Farm Burger

What is your favorite genre of music?
- Rock

What is one fun fact about yourself?
- I can fold a frying pan.

10/28/2024

Hello friends! We want to extend our thanks to everyone who helped us make this year's Death & Mourning tours a success. Whether you bought a ticket or simply spread the word among your friends, family, coworkers and colleagues, we greatly appreciate you!

📸: Sarah Frazer

10/25/2024

Who are the friendly faces at the Historic Athens Welcome Center? Let's get to know them one by one!

Introducing... Director Michelle Nguyen! We asked Michelle a few questions to help y'all get to know her a little better.

What are your preferred pronouns?
- she/her

How long have you worked at HAWC?
- Since January 2020

What is your favorite thing about working at HAWC?
- Sharing all my favorite Athens spots with visitors!

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens?
- This is a hard question to answer; I love so many. Currently, it's Pretty Boy.

What is your favorite genre of music?
- Anything I can dance to.

What is one fun fact about yourself?
- I'm fluent in Vietnamese!

10/23/2024

Hello, Athens and beyond! Our third and final Death & Mourning tour for this year has officially SOLD OUT! If you missed the tour this year, don’t fret… We plan to bring it back again next year. Thanks to everyone who attended, from all of us at the Historic Athens Welcome Center.

10/22/2024

Welcome home, Waddels! On this day in 1822, Dr. Waddel began moving the family into what we know today as the Church-Waddel-Brumby House. Prior to this, beginning in 1819, the Waddels lived in a two-story log structure on the college campus that was reserved as the home of the president.

About a week earlier, on October 16, Dr. Waddel noted that he visited a Mr. Moynehan lathing his new house. On October 25, he observed Mr. Moynehan applying plaster to said lath. On November 28, a Mr. Durand began painting the study, and two of Dr. Waddel’s sons, William and Isaac, began painting a fence that had been put up around the house.

10/18/2024

Who are the friendly faces at the Historic Athens Welcome Center? Let's get to know them one by one!

Introducing... Concierge / Tour Guide Libba Beaucham! We asked Libba a few questions to help y'all get to know her better.

What are your preferred pronouns?
- she/her

How long have you worked at HAWC?
- I started training as a tour guide in early October and can’t wait to dive into local history with visitors!

What is your favorite thing about working at HAWC?
- It's a special honor to share our community's history with newcomers, visitors, and locals and help them feel more connected and curious about the past.

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens?
- I love Preacher Green's on the East Side! Delicious Southern comfort food and great service every time.

What is your favorite genre of music?
- Electronic music with driving beats and soaring synths!

What is one fun fact about yourself?
- I have walked the 84-mile path of Hadrian's Wall in northern England twice and hope I'll have the chance to do it again.

10/16/2024

Hello, Athens and beyond! There are two days left to secure your tickets for the second to last of our three exclusive after-hours tours this month at the Historic Athens Welcome Center.

With the House’s parlor and dining room dressed in mourning, learn from one of our experienced tour guides how families handled the loss of a loved one in the early 19th century. Each tour guest should expect to receive something special to take home with them as a memento of the event.

Visit www.athenswelcomecenter.com/tours for tickets!

10/14/2024

Did you know? From simple observances of activity, to lodging them at his home, to receiving news of a significant treaty, our indigenous history is evident in Dr. Waddel's diaries. Here, you can read excerpts from those entries written between December of 1822 and March of 1826.

For those who may not be familiar with early 19th century language, here's a little extra information for added clarity. To "lodge" someone is to put them up in your home for the night. To see someone "start" is to see them depart for their next destination. To "call" on / at a person / place is to visit them.

10/14/2024

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day! Did you know that the Athens area was originally home to the Creek Indians?

Here are some facts about the indigenous peoples who originally called the present day Athens area home, and a list of sites significant to our state’s indigenous history that we highly encourage visiting.

While you’re online Googling directions to these special places, take a moment to navigate to our website and check out the Indigenous History self-guided tour for significant sites in Athens.

10/11/2024

Introducing... Meghan Mundy! Have you been enjoying our early morning Instagram posts on travel, dining, shopping and weekend recommendations from staff? You can thank Meghan for all of that!

During her fellowship this semester with Historic Athens, Meghan has been making a huge impact on the Historic Athens Welcome Center's Instagram presence while also working to develop a new self-guided tour for our website. Along with this, she has been working with our Historic Athens Engagement Coordinator, Denise Sunta.

10/10/2024

The Brumby Chair Company of Marietta, Georgia, has ties to the Brumbys of the Church-Waddel-Brumby House. In the late 1970s, we purchased three Brumby rockers for the House that have been enjoyed by staff and visitors alike for the past half-century.

Not long after this first photo was taken, the original caning came loose in one corner followed by a broken rail supporting the seat. We called on our friend Paul Waldroup of Old School Studios, who did a wonderful job refinishing our demilune table earlier this year.

Now, one of our three rockers has been fully restored by Paul, who repaired and refinished the structural elements, and by Steve Wortham, who gave the chair all new caning.

10/09/2024

Hello, Athens and beyond! There are two days left to secure your tickets for the first of only three exclusive after-hours tours this month at the Historic Athens Welcome Center.

With the House’s parlor and dining room dressed in mourning, learn from one of our experienced tour guides how families handled the loss of a loved one in the early 19th century. Each tour guest should expect to receive something special to take home with them as a memento of the event.

Visit www.athenswelcomecenter.com/tours for tickets!

10/06/2024

ATTENTION ATHENS: Are you organizing an event to benefit the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene? If you have a flier, bring one to us and we will pin it up on the bulletin board across from our restrooms.

Even if you do not have an event to promote, please share this to get the word around!

Address

280 E Dougherty Street
Athens, GA
30601

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	10am - 5pm

Website

http://athenswelcomecenter.com/

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Videos

Loom Craft Kit Instructional Video

Please enjoy this helpful instructional video to walk you through the process of using the cardstock loom craft kit!

Sundial Craft Kit Instructional Video

Please enjoy this helpful instructional video to walk you through the process of using the sundial craft kit!

Daffodil Craft Kit Instructional Video

Please enjoy this helpful instructional video to walk you through the process of using the paper daffodil craft kit!

Good afternoon! We apologize for the delay. Thank you for your patience. Please enjoy this informative video presentation about early nineteenth century death and mourning customs.

Arts & Architecture: Faux Bois with Sabrinna Cox

Learn about paint analysis and faux bois with SCAD Professor of Preservation Design , Sabrinna Cox.

Arts & Architecture: Federal Architecture with Lisa Gardiner.

Learn about the architecture of the Church-Waddel-Brumby House with architectural historian Lisa Gardiner.

Arts & Architecture: Woven Floor Coverings with Rabbit Good

Learn about woven floor coverings with master weaver Rabbit Goody of Thistle Hill Weavers. Rabbit wove the carpets installed in the Church-Waddel-Brumby House

Historic Wallpapers with Steve Larson

Learn about historic wallpapers with Steve Larson, co-owner of Adelphi Paper Hangings. Adelphi created the wallpapers installed in the Church-Waddel-Brumby House

Each Monday over the past six weeks, Caitlin has visited a different section on the north side of the river at Oconee Hill Cemetery to create a series of Instagram reels about gravestone symbolism. Now that the series is complete, we wanted to share with all of you here on Facebook throughout this week! Today’s video covers symbolism found along River Road. The descriptions are all based upon Caitlin’s online research. As there are several ways that symbols and combinations of symbols can be interpreted, this “Crash Course in Gravestone Symbolism” covers many but likely not all of their meanings.

Each Monday over the past six weeks, Caitlin has visited a different section on the north side of the river at Oconee Hill Cemetery to create a series of Instagram reels about gravestone symbolism. Now that the series is complete, we wanted to share with all of you here on Facebook throughout this week! Today’s video covers symbolism found in the Congregation Children of Israel burial ground. The descriptions are all based upon Caitlin’s online research. As there are several ways that symbols and combinations of symbols can be interpreted, this “Crash Course in Gravestone Symbolism” covers many but likely not all of their meanings.

Each Monday over the past six weeks, Caitlin has visited a different section on the north side of the river at Oconee Hill Cemetery to create a series of Instagram reels about gravestone symbolism. Now that the series is complete, we wanted to share with all of you here on Facebook throughout this week! Today’s video covers symbolism found on the West Hill. The descriptions are all based upon Caitlin’s online research. As there are several ways that symbols and combinations of symbols can be interpreted, this “Crash Course in Gravestone Symbolism” covers many but likely not all of their meanings.