ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Historic Sites of Eatonton, Georgia
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Historic Sites of Eatonton, Georgia
| Brer Rabbit in Eatonton, Georgia A statue of Brer Rabbit greets visitors from the lawn of the courthouse in Eatonton, Georgia. The town was the birthplace of Joel Chandler Harris. |
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Eatonton, Georgia
A Confederate monument
stands in Eatonton, Georgia.
The town was on the route of
Sherman's March to the Sea.
A Confederate monument
stands in Eatonton, Georgia.
The town was on the route of
Sherman's March to the Sea.
Uncle Remus Museum
A museum, made from two
slave cabins, interprets the
significance of the widely read
Uncle Remus stories.
A museum, made from two
slave cabins, interprets the
significance of the widely read
Uncle Remus stories.
The March to the Sea
Troops of General William
Tecumseh Sherman passed
through Eatonton during the
March to the Sea.
Troops of General William
Tecumseh Sherman passed
through Eatonton during the
March to the Sea.
Eatonton, Georgia - Historic Sites & Points of Interest
Brer Rabbit & the Rock Eagle
Rock Eagle Effigy Mound
The Rock Eagle, just north of
Eatonton, is one of the few
stone effigy mounds east of
the Mississippi River.
The Rock Eagle, just north of
Eatonton, is one of the few
stone effigy mounds east of
the Mississippi River.
| Copyright 2012 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. Last Update: July 12, 2012 |
A charming town in the heartland of Georgia,
Eatonton is rich in the heritage and folklore of
the Peach State.
Eatonton is located 39 miles north of Macon
and 77 miles southeast of Atlanta where U.S.
Highway 129 intersects with the Historic
Piedmont Scenic Byway (Georgia Highway
16). Visitors know they are in a special place
when the catch sight of the colorful statue of
Brer Rabbit on the courthouse lawn.
The Dairy Capital of Georgia, Eatonton is
surrounded by the beautiful pastures and
farms. Incorporated on December 12, 1809,
it is the county seat of Putnam County. The
city is named for William Eaton, a hero of the
war against the Barbary pirates, the conflict
immortalized today by the line "to the shores
of Tripoli" in the Marine Corps Hymn.
The history of Eatonton is extremely rich.
Thousands of years ago, the area was the
scene of a powerful Woodland era chiefdom.
It was during this era, roughly 200-300 A.D.,
that prehistoric Indians built the famed Rock
Eagle Effigy Mound and the less well-known
Rock Hawk Effigy Mound.
The only two confirmed stone effigy mounds
east of the Mississippi River, both of the
remarkable landmarks are just a short drive
from Eatonton. The entrance to Rock Eagle is
6.7 miles north on combined U.S. 129/441.
Rock Hawk is about 15 miles east on
Wallace Dam Road off Georgia Highway 16.
Hernando de Soto is thought to have passed
through the area in 1539, encountering
ancestors of the Creek Indians of historic
times. Although the whites later negotiated
the cession of Middle Georgia from the Creek
people, Indian tradition is alive and well in
Eatonton.
Many of the famed "Uncle Remus" stories
recorded and expanded by 19th century writer
Joel Chandler Harris have their roots in the
folklore of Creek story tellers. As early white
and black settlers moved into the area, they
heard stories from Indian story tellers. Elderly
slaves later told such stories as Brer Rabbit
and Brer Fox (Br'er is short for "brother") on
plantations around Eatonton. Harris heard
them there and later recorded them in his
books and newspaper columns.
Joel Chandler Harris was born to a poverty
stricken single mother in Eatonton shortly
before the Civil War and witnessed some of
the most turbulent years in the town's history.
He was still a teenager when troops from
Union General George Stoneman's column
fled through Eatonton following their defeat at
the Battle of Sunshine Church. Also in 1864,
Union soldiers inflicted much damage on the
area during Sherman's March to the Sea.
Eatonton is rich in the heritage and folklore of
the Peach State.
Eatonton is located 39 miles north of Macon
and 77 miles southeast of Atlanta where U.S.
Highway 129 intersects with the Historic
Piedmont Scenic Byway (Georgia Highway
16). Visitors know they are in a special place
when the catch sight of the colorful statue of
Brer Rabbit on the courthouse lawn.
The Dairy Capital of Georgia, Eatonton is
surrounded by the beautiful pastures and
farms. Incorporated on December 12, 1809,
it is the county seat of Putnam County. The
city is named for William Eaton, a hero of the
war against the Barbary pirates, the conflict
immortalized today by the line "to the shores
of Tripoli" in the Marine Corps Hymn.
The history of Eatonton is extremely rich.
Thousands of years ago, the area was the
scene of a powerful Woodland era chiefdom.
It was during this era, roughly 200-300 A.D.,
that prehistoric Indians built the famed Rock
Eagle Effigy Mound and the less well-known
Rock Hawk Effigy Mound.
The only two confirmed stone effigy mounds
east of the Mississippi River, both of the
remarkable landmarks are just a short drive
from Eatonton. The entrance to Rock Eagle is
6.7 miles north on combined U.S. 129/441.
Rock Hawk is about 15 miles east on
Wallace Dam Road off Georgia Highway 16.
Hernando de Soto is thought to have passed
through the area in 1539, encountering
ancestors of the Creek Indians of historic
times. Although the whites later negotiated
the cession of Middle Georgia from the Creek
people, Indian tradition is alive and well in
Eatonton.
Many of the famed "Uncle Remus" stories
recorded and expanded by 19th century writer
Joel Chandler Harris have their roots in the
folklore of Creek story tellers. As early white
and black settlers moved into the area, they
heard stories from Indian story tellers. Elderly
slaves later told such stories as Brer Rabbit
and Brer Fox (Br'er is short for "brother") on
plantations around Eatonton. Harris heard
them there and later recorded them in his
books and newspaper columns.
Joel Chandler Harris was born to a poverty
stricken single mother in Eatonton shortly
before the Civil War and witnessed some of
the most turbulent years in the town's history.
He was still a teenager when troops from
Union General George Stoneman's column
fled through Eatonton following their defeat at
the Battle of Sunshine Church. Also in 1864,
Union soldiers inflicted much damage on the
area during Sherman's March to the Sea.
Uncle Remus Museum
Rock Eagle Effigy Mound
Battle of Sunshine Church
Sherman's March to the Sea
Historic Sites in Georgia
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
Rock Eagle Effigy Mound
Battle of Sunshine Church
Sherman's March to the Sea
Historic Sites in Georgia
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
Over its years of history, Eatonton has played
a key role in the lives of some of America's
best known writers, business people and
business people.
In addition to Joel Chandler Harris, it was the
also the home of Alice Walker, who wrote
The Color Purple, and Henry Grady Weaver,
author of the popular libertarian volume, The
Mainspring of Human Progress.
Business leaders born in Eatonton include
S. Truett Cathy, inventor of the chicken
sandwich and founder and chairman of the
Chick-fil-A restaurant chain and a devoted
Christian who closes all of his more than
1,500 restaurants on Sundays. Operating
just six days a week, Chick-fil-A generates
sales of more than $3 billion a year. Cathy's
foundation sponsors long-term foster care
programs, summer camp for more than
1.900 kids and $30,000 scholarships for
more than 800 students at Georgia's Berry
College. Learn more at www.chickfila.com.
Eatonton is also the home of Olympic gold
medalist Vincent Hancock (2008, men's
skeet shooting).
The town is home to the Uncle Remus
Museum, a beautiful and historic downtown
area and is one of the key access points to
the Oconee National Forest and Lakes
Sinclair and Oconee. To learn more, please
visit www.eatonton.com.
a key role in the lives of some of America's
best known writers, business people and
business people.
In addition to Joel Chandler Harris, it was the
also the home of Alice Walker, who wrote
The Color Purple, and Henry Grady Weaver,
author of the popular libertarian volume, The
Mainspring of Human Progress.
Business leaders born in Eatonton include
S. Truett Cathy, inventor of the chicken
sandwich and founder and chairman of the
Chick-fil-A restaurant chain and a devoted
Christian who closes all of his more than
1,500 restaurants on Sundays. Operating
just six days a week, Chick-fil-A generates
sales of more than $3 billion a year. Cathy's
foundation sponsors long-term foster care
programs, summer camp for more than
1.900 kids and $30,000 scholarships for
more than 800 students at Georgia's Berry
College. Learn more at www.chickfila.com.
Eatonton is also the home of Olympic gold
medalist Vincent Hancock (2008, men's
skeet shooting).
The town is home to the Uncle Remus
Museum, a beautiful and historic downtown
area and is one of the key access points to
the Oconee National Forest and Lakes
Sinclair and Oconee. To learn more, please
visit www.eatonton.com.
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