Located south-west of Atlanta, Newnan is a lively city that serves as the seat of Coweta County. It takes its name from Daniel Newnan, an American military leader and politician. Newnan was a hospital base for Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War and was largely left unscathed, with many of its early Neoclassical buildings still standing today.
Things to do in Newnan
In the heart of Newnan is the McRitchie-Hollis Museum, which occupies a beautifully restored Neoclassical residence that dates back to 1937. It is furnished with period pieces and houses historical displays about the people, events and industries that have shaped Coweta County. If you’re travelling with kids, head to the ChildrenConnect Museum with its hands-on and interactive exhibits.
At the Coweta County African American Heritage Museum, you’ll find artefacts and records detailing the area’s history as a cotton-growing hub. It occupies a shotgun-style house located adjacent to what is the largest slave cemetery in the South, where hundreds of African-Americans were buried in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
If you’re after a retail fix, you’ll find international chain stores and global eateries at the open-air shopping mall of Ashley Park. In addition to a Barnes & Noble and a Dick’s Sporting Goods, it’s home to a multi-screen cinema complex and a fitness centre. Kids will love the Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park where they can jump around and play dodgeball.
Getting around Newnan
Newnan is around an hour’s drive from the centre of Atlanta and 40 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect to Newnan and travel throughout the city, although renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around.