A historic courthouse at the heart of a 15-block downtown district provides a clear landmark in Decatur. Other attractions include campus history, a tree walk, public art, and green spaces in gardens and cemeteries. You can focus your stay on history and architecture, campus sites, or nature in the middle of the city.
History Around The Square
The Square is in downtown Decatur, centered around the old DeKalb County Courthouse. The district covers 15 blocks and is easy to explore on foot. The county’s first courthouse was built in Decatur in 1823 as the seat of county government. At the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, surviving walls made of Lithonia granite form the foundation; today, it houses the DeKalb History Center. These sites offer tangible connections to both early county government and DeKalb County history. If you are interested in the region’s development, you can complement these historical connections with the buildings and collections on the Agnes Scott College campus.
Campus Buildings, Collection and Tree Walk
Agnes Scott “Main” Hall is the oldest building on campus. Built in 1891, it is still in use. McCain Library houses the Betty Pope Scott Noble ’44 College Heritage Center, a museum with historical documents, photographs and artifacts about Agnes Scott, the institution and the Scott family. Check access arrangements in advance if you plan to visit the Heritage Center.
Campus offerings also include a range of formats: the Agnes Scott Arboretum offers an interactive, interdisciplinary tree walk. Physical QR codes placed across the campus let you explore the walk. Agnes Scott College also provides an interactive virtual 360-degree campus tour. It features historic main buildings, including academic buildings, the Student Center and the Quad. You can choose between a themed tree walk and an overview of various campus buildings.
Garden, Cemetery and Public Art
Oakhurst Garden is in Decatur’s Oakhurst neighborhood at 435 Oakview Road, on the corner of South McDonough Street and Oakview Road. Rain gardens and small ecosystems shape the garden. Decatur Cemetery offers a different focus: this 58-acre green space is in the city center and combines walks with insights into the city’s past. The “Lives that Made the City” brochure is available for a self-guided tour. The cemetery is open to the public seven days a week until nightfall.
Public art is also part of the cityscape: it is accessible throughout the city of Decatur at all times. The Decatur Artway sculpture exhibition places ten works around the city; each work remains in place for two years. The exhibition is designed as a rotating installation. Gardens, the cemetery and public art thus offer different ways to include green spaces and public areas in your travel plans.
A Market Visit as Another Focus
The Decatur Farmers Market is at 308 Clairemont Avenue, on the corner of Clairemont Avenue and Commerce Drive, on the lawn in front of Decatur First Baptist Church. It offers fresh food and the chance to meet farmers, vendors and neighbors. Vendor offerings and market programs can change, so check what is currently planned before your visit. Along with its historic sites, campus offerings and green spaces, the market provides another distinct way to experience Decatur.
Discover more destinations: Tucker, Lithonia, Chamblee, Stone Mountain.
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