At Pickett’s Mill, you’ll encounter Paulding County as both a landscape and a setting of the American Civil War. Pickett’s Mill is one of the best-preserved Civil War battlefields in the United States. Visitors can follow roads used by Union and Confederate troops, see the earthworks they built, and walk through the gorge where hundreds died.

Pickett’s Mill: History in the Landscape

Pickett’s Mill Battlefield State Historic Site has four miles of hiking trails. Roads, earthworks, and the gorge make history tangible in specific places; the trails add the opportunity to explore the site on foot. The programs also cover different topics: one explores the lives of rural households in mid-19th-century Georgia, while a nature program explores forests, streams, and local wildlife through a nature walk and activities focused on observing and discovering nature.

In educational programs, students can learn about the equipment, food, and social lives of Union and Confederate soldiers. The programs are led by staff dressed in period clothing. Depending on the program, activities may include a museum tour, a guided battlefield hike, a student formation, a depiction of soldiers’ lives, or musket firing.

From the County’s Founding to Agriculture as the Main Occupation

Paulding County was established on December 3, 1832, as Georgia’s 89th county. It is named after John K. Paulding, a hero of the American Revolutionary War. In the 1832 Gold Lottery, the county was divided into 40-acre “gold lots.” After some settlers remained in the county for agricultural purposes, farming became the main occupation. The county’s history thus encompasses both the Gold Lottery and the later importance of agriculture.

Schoolhouses, a Museum, and Farm History

Hiram Rosenwald School opened in 1930 as Hiram Colored School and was the only Rosenwald School in Paulding County. The buildings on the grounds of the Paulding County Historical Society also tell stories from different eras: the Paulding County Historical Society Museum houses artifacts and memorabilia. The Little Red Schoolhouse Museum on the grounds was built in the 1860s; the site also includes a historic Old Jailhouse made of hand-hewn logs.

Fannin-Cooper Farm includes a main house, several historic outbuildings, and historic farmland. The distinction applies specifically to the main house: it is an outstanding and intact example of a late-19th-century farm in Paulding County and is historically significant for agriculture and architecture.

Forests, Water, and Trails

Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area is located in Paulding and Polk counties and covers 25,707 acres. Raccoon Creek within the area offers one of the southernmost opportunities for trout fishing. For visitors interested in nature and landscapes, this offers different points of interest from the battlefield history at Pickett’s Mill: forests, streams, and wildlife are also part of the experiences described here. Tara Drummond Memorial Park provides access to the Silver Comet Trail.

Plan Your Visit

Pickett’s Mill Battlefield State Historic Site is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is also open Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check the hours before your visit, especially if you plan to visit the museum.

Discover More Destinations

Hiram, Cook, Carroll County, Early, Lumpkin County, Hall, Toombs, Baldwin County

For the broader travel overview: Georgia.