Discover Jackson County through its many different traces of the past: at Hurricane Shoals Park, relocated historic buildings stand alongside river and mill exhibits; elsewhere, historic structures remain at their original sites. Townscapes, a museum, and waterside trails also offer different ways to experience the area’s history and landscape.
Buildings in Their Original Locations and New Settings
The Welcome Center is located in the restored Jackson County Historic Courthouse. Another historic courthouse is the Jackson County Courthouse in Jefferson, built in 1879 with Neoclassical elements. The two buildings invite visitors to look for different architectural traces.
The Heritage Village at Hurricane Shoals Park includes a collection of historic buildings rescued and relocated there. The Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm offers an illuminating contrast: its collection of intact historic buildings remains at their original sites; the buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The sites therefore differ not only in their buildings, but also in whether those buildings have been relocated or preserved in their original places.
At the Crawford W. Long Museum, you can explore the Pendergrass General Store. The dry goods store opened in 1858 and is the only surviving pre-Civil War commercial building in Jefferson. The museum also commemorates Dr. Long’s discovery of the use of ether as an anesthetic on March 30, 1842. Here, a specific place of commerce and an important date in medical history come together.
Historic Townscapes and Stages
The historic downtown district of Commerce is tree-lined and easy to explore on foot. It includes shops, craft breweries, and local restaurants. More than 100 commercial buildings from the Italianate era are part of the Commerce Commercial Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Architectural history and a modern-day stroll through town come together in this compact streetscape.
Cultural events are another facet of the area’s communities. The Commerce Cultural Center, formerly the Historic Presbyterian Church, hosts theater performances, concerts, festivals, and pageants. At Jefferson Community Theatre, residents can take part in theater as actors, stage crew, or audience members. These examples show different forms of theater life, without requiring you to take on any particular role.
River, Mill, and Outdoor Trails
The Hurricane Shoals Nature Trail reveals the rugged beauty of the North Oconee River and is approximately 2 miles long in total. The grist mill in the same park was rebuilt in the 1980s. It is fully operational today and grinds cornmeal for the Art in the Park Festival. The river and mill themes thus highlight both the landscape and a practical craft.
Tubing is permitted in the rapids at Hurricane Shoals Park. Please note that playing and swimming are at your own risk. Sell’s Mill Park also combines water and activity: you can see rapids, a water wheel, and a millrace area, as well as hike the trails. The two parks thus offer different perspectives on waterways and traces of milling.
The Tumbling Waters Society sponsors the annual Art in the Park Festival and the annual 5K Millrace. The latter takes place on the third weekend in September. If you’re planning a trip to attend an event, it’s best to check the specific dates in advance.
Crow’s Lake focuses on family fishing and other outdoor agritourism activities. Its 1K, 5K, and 10K cross-country courses are open for running and cycling events. There are also horseback riding trails and an 18-hole disc golf course. The three course distances offer a clear comparison by length, while horseback riding and disc golf add other activities.
Discover more destinations: Jefferson, Braselton, Nicholson, Commerce, Fannin County, Fayette, Early, Pickens.
Return to the main travel overview: Georgia.
