Serving as the seat of Lumpkin County, Dahlonega is a historically rich city north of Atlanta. It was the location of the first major gold rush in the United States, with thousands of miners flocking here in 1829. Buildings dating from that period surround Dahlonega’s main square, which is home to art galleries, restaurants and tasting rooms.
Things to do in Dahlonega
Occupying the 1836-built Old Lumpkin County Courthouse is the Dahlonega Gold Museum, which details the history of gold mining in the area. Not only is the courthouse the oldest of its kind in Georgia but it was built using locally-made bricks with trace amounts of gold. In addition to admiring antique gold panning equipment and nuggets discovered during the gold rush, you can also explore the recreated judge’s chamber and jury room.
A short walk north is Hancock Park, where you’ll find a children’s playground and a pergola where live music concerts are regularly held. In one corner of the park is the 1875 Diving Bell, which was built to assist with mining for gold at the bottom of the Chestatee River. An information panel details the diving bell’s disappearance (along with its surface vessel) in mysterious circumstances.
Want to venture underground? Head to the Consolidated Gold Mine, which offers tours of mining chambers that have existed since the early 20th century. Learn about the struggles of local miners as they sought to uncover gold in the area’s large quartz veins, then try your hand at panning for gold and other precious gemstones.
Getting around Dahlonega
Dahlonega is around 1.5 hours’ drive from the centre of Atlanta and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Buses connect to Dahlonega and the city centre is small enough to explore on foot.