Top 15 Attractions and Activities in LaGrange, GA

The city of LaGrange is situated in Troup County, southwest of Atlanta, and conveniently close to the Alabama state border.

Named after a country estate near Paris, France, LaGrange was incorporated in 1828, establishing it as one of the earliest European-American settlements in the region.

The city rapidly amassed wealth through cotton production, and it experienced less devastation during the American Civil War, resulting in various historic sites that merit exploration.

Due to the generous contributions of the Callaway family, LaGrange boasts a range of attractions typically found in significantly larger cities.

Outlined below are the 15 premier activities and sites in and around LaGrange, Georgia.

1. Legacy Museum on Main

The Legacy Museum, located in the heart of downtown LaGrange, serves as a repository for the archives of Troup County.

Its dynamic gallery features rotating exhibitions, showcasing both its extensive archives and traveling displays from national institutions.

These exhibitions reflect the comprehensive history of LaGrange, from the initial settlement by European-Americans following the displacement of the Creek Indians to contemporary developments in the surrounding area.

The museum also houses a bale of Troup County cotton from the 1870s, recognized as the oldest of its kind in the United States.

2. LaGrange Art Museum

Housed within a late Victorian jailhouse, the LaGrange Art Museum showcases the architectural intricacies typical of the era.

Its grounds feature a sculpture garden, complemented by four galleries which collectively host a modest yet significant collection of approximately 500 contemporary American artworks.

Noteworthy artists, including Andy Warhol, share exhibition space with acclaimed Georgia artists such as Lamar Dodd and Mildred Thompson.

The museum frequently presents temporary exhibitions, rendering it an essential destination for aficionados of contemporary art.

3. West Point Lake

Shifting focus from art to nature, West Point Lake is located less than 13 km west of LaGrange.

This artificial reservoir, created by damming the Chattahoochee River, boasts nearly 1,000 km of picturesque shoreline.

Wildlife management areas and wetland regions, including Dixie Creek and Glover’s Creek, serve as vital habitats for numerous species, including the endangered Bald Eagle.

The lake is particularly popular among anglers, with species such as the bluestripe shiner prevalent. However, visitors should exercise caution as alligators have been observed in the area.

4. Biblical History Center

Formerly known as the Explorations in Antiquity Center, the Biblical History Center endeavors to recreate the era surrounding the birth of Christ.

The center utilizes archaeological discoveries and historical reconstructions to illustrate life during this significant period. Its time tunnel transports visitors to an era when the worship of pagan deities was prevalent in what is now Israel.

Guests can gain insights into the everyday lives of individuals from approximately 2,000 years ago, thereby understanding how Christ may have lived.

Notable exhibits include traditional goat hair tents utilized by shepherds, grape presses for winemaking, and recreations of typical foods from that time.

5. Bellevue Mansion

This antebellum residence exemplifies the Greek Revival architectural style prevalent in Georgia and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Commanding Ionic columns extend two stories across the front of the exterior porches. The interior showcases magnificent wood carvings, intricate plaster moldings on the ceilings, and marble fireplaces imported from Italy.

Rooms are furnished to reflect their 1850s grandeur, featuring a half-tester canopied bed in the upstairs bedroom.

Numerous family heirlooms integrated into the period furniture enhance the authentic atmosphere of this historic home.

6. Piedmont Mountains

Translating from the French as ‘foothills,’ this description does an injustice to the Piedmont Mountains.

This range extends from Alabama to the southern part of New York State, characterized by mountains near LaGrange, including Sweat, Alcovy, and Stone Mountain, which is approximately 1.5 hours away.

Stone Mountain, an isolated monadnock of quartz, possesses a distinctive rounded profile and nears the highest elevation in the greater Atlanta region.

Moreover, the mountain is renowned for being home to the world’s largest bas-relief carving, which controversially depicts three Confederate generals at what was formerly a memorial to southern soldiers.

7. Hills and Dales Estate

This remarkable estate was home to the Callaway family, who flourished in the local textile sector.

Resembling the residence of a small European noble family, the estate is encircled by meticulously maintained gardens originally designed by Sarah Ferrell in the late 1800s, some of the finest preserved in the United States.

Visitors have the opportunity to explore all three levels of this Italianate villa completed in 1916. Guided tours include a 15-minute film detailing the estate’s history and its owners.

8. Lamar Dodd Art Center

As the second art gallery in LaGrange, the Lamar Dodd Art Center is named in honor of the local artist. Situated on the campus of LaGrange College, this center features an ever-evolving collection of artworks within its expansive three-story, 3,000 square meter space.

With an elegant design featuring a sweeping staircase and well-lit rooms owing to numerous double-height windows, the center showcases a variety of artistic expressions.

Sculptures are judiciously positioned for optimal visual impact, while wall art encompasses mediums ranging from pencil sketches and paper cutouts to color photography.

9. Callaway Memorial Tower

It is challenging to overlook the Callaway name in LaGrange, given the significant contributions of the family to the city.

Constructed in 1929, this tower is inspired by the illustrious campanile in Venice, Italy, and honors the family’s founder, Fuller E. Callaway. It is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens, making it a delightful destination throughout the year.

Unimpeded views of the tower from multiple vantage points render it a frequent subject for amateur and professional photographers alike.

10. LaGrange College

Source: Rivers Langley; SaveRivers / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

LaGrange College is exceptional in its offerings, featuring the Lamar Dodd Art Center alongside a myriad of attractions within its 50-hectare campus.

Established just three years after the city’s founding, it is the oldest private institution in Georgia and is acclaimed nationally for the quality of its graduates.

Smith Hall is among the campus’s oldest buildings, while the chapel incorporates stones sourced from the ancient Greek temple of Apollo in Delphi and from Saint George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in the UK.

The chapel also showcases impressive examples of modern stained-glass artistry.

11. Former Coca-Cola Bottling Plant

Few beverage companies can boast a bottling facility as architecturally significant as this one situated along Broad Street.

Established in Atlanta in 1886 by John Pemberton, Coca-Cola rapidly expanded its influence by the early 1900s.

By the 1930s, the demand in LaGrange warranted the establishment of a local bottling facility, culminating in 1940 with a ‘streamline moderne’ art deco building characterized by curvilinear windows and brickwork.

The Coca-Cola branding remains evident, with its logo prominently etched above the main entrance and an intricately carved contour bottle within a scallop shell.

12. Cecil B Day Butterfly Center

This butterfly center comprises a large greenhouse located within Callaway Gardens, situated approximately 30 km southeast of LaGrange.

As the largest glass tropical conservatory in North America, it is home to over a thousand free-flying butterflies among lush greenery.

Housing more than 50 species, the center also features a screening room where the award-winning documentary “Wings of Wonder” is shown on a continuous loop.

Elsewhere in the gardens, guests can explore a 16 km bicycle trail or relax on the shores of Robin Lake Beach, the largest man-made beach globally.

13. Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center

While in Pine Mountain, visitors to the Cecil B Day Butterfly Center should not overlook the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center.

Named after one of the co-founders of Callaway Gardens, the center is nestled on the shores of Mountain Creek Lake and surrounded by venerable trees.

An information station provides insights into the establishment of the gardens and highlights its most significant features.

Among these are a cinema area showing a film about the gardens’ mission, a wildlife-friendly green space, and a small amphitheater hosting regular bird-of-prey demonstrations.

14. Stonewall Confederate Cemetery

The legacy of the American Civil War continues to evoke strong sentiments, particularly in the southern states that departed from the Union to form the Confederacy, ultimately facing defeat.

This makes sites like the Stonewall Confederate Cemetery particularly significant for recognizing the sacrifices made by soldiers defending their way of life, notwithstanding the discrepancies with contemporary ethical standards.

The cemetery is the final resting place for approximately 300 Confederate soldiers, most of whom succumbed to disease or wounds in local hospitals. Simple headstones mark their graves, reminiscent of the one honoring President Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.