In Liberty County, traces of history lead through many different chapters: The oldest of 34 surviving gravestones at Sunbury Cemetery dates to 1788. The cemetery is the final resting place of several of the first residents of Georgia’s coastal region. Museums, historic buildings, and landscapes add to this picture of the region.
History in Places and Collections
In Midway, the Congregational Church and adjacent cemetery tell a long story; both were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The Midway Museum displays exhibits, documents, and furnishings from homes in Georgia’s coastal region that were used from the colonial era through the beginning of the Civil War. The raised, cottage-style building recalls a design typical of 18th-century plantation houses. Together, the collection and architecture offer different ways to explore the same regional past.
Dorchester Academy also connects history with present-day use: It is one of eleven stops on Georgia’s U.S. Civil Rights Trail and today serves as a museum of African American history as well as a community center. In Hinesville, Old Liberty County Jail is one of the city’s earliest brick buildings and probably one of the county’s earliest as well. Tours can be arranged by appointment; confirm access arrangements in advance.
Other museums focus on different subjects. The 3rd Infantry Division Museum has more than 14,000 square feet of space and an interactive gallery on the development of Camp Stewart into Fort Stewart. The ITPA Telephone Museum houses an extensive collection of telephones and telephone equipment from the history of telecommunications. One institutional chapter in that history also leads to Hinesville: The ITPA National Office and Museum moved there from Washington, D.C., in 2001.
Gardens, Trails, and Wetlands
LeConte-Woodmanston brings history and nature together: LeConte-Woodmanston Plantation and Botanical Garden National Historic Site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Coastal Georgia Birding Trail. The site is currently open to the public for hiking every day; self-guided garden tours are also available. Since conditions may change, check the latest information before your visit.
At Fort Morris State Historic Site, visitors can walk along the well-preserved original earthen ramparts. A museum and a film cover the colonial port of Sunbury and the site’s history. Those looking to spend time outdoors can also find a walking trail at Historic Baptismal Trail, which includes a boardwalk, benches, picnic tables, and informational signs. An observation tower on the boardwalk offers wide-ranging views of the surrounding area.
Cay Creek Wetlands Interpretive Center showcases tide-influenced freshwater wetlands. This landscape provides habitat for birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Another site offers a different kind of water access: Sunbury Boat Ramp provides direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway. At Jones Creek Park, you can launch your kayak; check the tide before kayaking.
Plan Your Visit
Bryant Commons is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. Park rules and access may change; check before your visit. For help finding your way around the county, the Liberty County Convention and Visitors Bureau offers area maps, brochures on historic sites, event information, and the official Liberty County magazine.
A visit to Hinesville Area Arts Council Gallery can also round out your trip: Its exhibitions change monthly, and the gallery hosts a monthly reception for artists to mark the opening of a new exhibition. Exhibition dates may change, so it’s worth checking the latest calendar in advance. This makes it easy to combine a range of interests—from historic collections and outdoor trails to changing art exhibitions.
Discover more destinations: Hinesville, Newton County, Pulaski County, Ware, Fulton, Washington County, Richmond, Towns County.
Return to the main travel overview: Georgia.
