This charming antebellum city of 120,000 has more houses, buildings and districts on the National Historic Register than any other American city. The founding fathers laid out the town site in 1822 according to their notion of the ancient Gardens of Babylon. There are wide avenues, landscaped boulevards and numerous parks and city gardens. For an overview of the historic district, we recommend a two-hour carriage ride with Sidney's Old South Historic Tours. Guides include legends and lore of the past and the ride makes stops at the Hay House, Sidney Lanier's Cottage, Cannonball House and the Harriet Tubman African American Museum.
Macon has a rich variety of architectural styles.
The city was spared the ravages of the Civil War because of its location south of Sherman's route to the sea. Architectural gems include the Greek Revival, French Second Empire, Italian Renaissance, Victorian, Federal and Mississippi Delta styles. The palatian Hay House, a five-story Italian Renaissance villa, was built in 1855 with central heating, a cooling system of sorts, an intercom system, indoor plumbing, hot and cold running water and many other luxuries long before they were available to the general public. The Charmichael House was built in 1840 in the shape of a modified Greek cross. A national landmark, its plans are on file in the Library of Congress.