Quitman's historic district brings together different architectural styles and periods. The business district features brick buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the district's residential area, homes built mainly with wood frames from various periods and in different styles shape the streetscape. This reveals two distinct architectural focal points: the brick buildings of the business district and the more varied residential architecture. Quitman has one of the largest historic districts per capita in Georgia.
Courthouse and Historical Context
Another historic landmark is the Brooks County Courthouse. It is one of two still-functioning courthouses in South Georgia dating from the American Civil War and was designed by architect John Wind. The 2.5-acre courthouse grounds in downtown Quitman can be explored on self-guided walking tours. The annual Skillet Festival is held on these grounds on the third Saturday in October. Check that year's program if you plan to time your visit around the festival.
Museum and Regional History
The Quitman Brooks County Museum focuses on a different subject from the district's buildings: it is dedicated to the cultural heritage and history of Brooks County. Free information brochures and books on regional history are available to visitors. Museum tours are available upon request. The museum thus offers a regional history perspective, while Quitman's historic district focuses on architectural styles and buildings.
Camellias and Seasonal Dates
The Betty Sheffield Memorial Garden offers a horticultural perspective on Quitman's camellia heritage. The garden features a statue of Betty and numerous camellia varieties descended from the camellias named for Betty Sheffield. The best time to see the camellias in the garden is January and February, when they are in full bloom.
Quitman and its Garden Club have held camellia shows since the 1930s. The show is open to the public on the first Saturday and Sunday in February each year; admission is free. If you plan your trip around the show, check the specific dates for that year in advance.
This makes for two seasonal highlights when planning your trip: the garden's camellias are at their best in January and February, and the show takes place on the first weekend in February, while the Skillet Festival is held in October. If you plan your stay around an event, check the specific dates and that year's program before traveling.
West End Cemetery
West End Cemetery was established in 1859 as Quitman's first historic cemetery. It is the final resting place of more than 460 Brooks County residents, many of whom played significant roles in the history of the county and the nation. Visitors can walk beneath oak trees draped with Spanish moss. The cemetery thus connects an early chapter in the town's history with the lives of people who played significant roles in the county and the nation.
Discover more destinations: Dixie.
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