Georgia Capitol Museum

Georgia Capitol Museum For over 130 years, the Georgia State Capitol has inspired people. The Georgia Capitol Museum is a f

Plan your visit with the Georgia Capitol Museum! When should my school visit? It depends! What do you want out of your e...
08/01/2026

Plan your visit with the Georgia Capitol Museum!

When should my school visit?
It depends! What do you want out of your experience?
Outside of legislative session (April through December), the Capitol is very quiet and best for concentrating.
During legislative session (January through late March/early April), the building is busy, but you can see the lawmaking process first-hand!

Why visit outside of legislative session?
From April to December, the Capitol is typically quiet. This means that students can focus on learning, especially if on a guided tour with museum staff.
During this time, our tour guides can accommodate up to 50 attendees per guide, so larger groups are more likely to get guided tours if reserved ahead of time.

Why visit during legislative session?
Legislative session is the period of time from the second Monday in January to late March or early April when all of Georgia’s state lawmakers vote on bills at the Capitol.
Students may have the opportunity to watch legislative session in the public galleries, but guided tour sizes are limited to 30 attendees per guide due to noise levels.

How do I book a guided tour?
You can book your tour with the Georgia Capitol Museum on our website (link in bio)

Please note that there are limits on tour sizes:
50 *people* per guide (April-December)
30 *people* per guide (January-March)
*This number includes students, teachers, & chaperones!

If you have more questions, feel free to reach out via phone or email!
Phone: (404) 463-4536
Email: [email protected]

HEY!If your girl works toward prison reform for debtors, hates lawyers, fought in a war over some guy's ear..... That's ...
07/01/2026

HEY!
If your girl works toward prison reform for debtors, hates lawyers, fought in a war over some guy's ear..... That's NOT your girl. That's James Oglethorpe!

If your girl is family-oriented, likes fair trade, is BFFs with James Oglethorpe..... That's NOT your girl. That's Chief Tomochichi!

If your girl is bilingual, is a girl boss, owns St. Catherine's Island.... That's NOT your girl. That's Mary Musgrove!

If your girl has a unique signature, makes questionable decisions, has a bitter mortal enemy, owns St. Catherine's Island.... That's NOT your girl. That's Button Gwinnett!

If your girl is fiercely loyal and quick-witted, is about six feet tall, has really, really good aim.... That's NOT your girl. That's Nancy Hart!

If your girl is really popular, appreciates diverse religious backgrounds, is the first elected leader of Georgia.... That's NOT your girl. That's John Adam Treutlen!

If your girl shares information about Georgia politics during the American revolution, is located at the Georgia Capitol, is available on most Thursdays at 2:00 pm.... That's NOT your girl. That's the Georgia Capitol Museum's FACES OF THE REVOLUTION TOUR (and you should book it!)

Volunteers needed! We are looking for volunteers to lead guided tours at the Capitol Museum!Want to teach people about G...
06/18/2026

Volunteers needed!
We are looking for volunteers to lead guided tours at the Capitol Museum!
Want to teach people about Georgia's history and government? Training begins mid-August!
Why should I volunteer at the Georgia Capitol Museum?
Volunteer positions offer opportunities to build skills, grow professionally, and contribute to strengthening our communities. Guides inspire a passion for civic engagement and a knowledge of the state's history in Georgia's next generation of voters.
What will I do?
Volunteers will lead tours and occasionally direct people around the building.
Where is the Capitol Museum?
Located inside of the state Capitol building at 206 Washington Street. Accessible via MARTA and I75/85, and I20.
When can I start?
Training will begin on August 17th, 2026
Can my volunteer hours count towards volunteer service requirements?
Yes!
How do I sign up?
Email us at [email protected]

It’s Flag Day Let’s talk about the history of this holiday and some of Georgia’s historic flags. Flag Day: June 14 Flag...
06/14/2026

It’s Flag Day

Let’s talk about the history of this holiday and some of Georgia’s historic flags.

Flag Day: June 14
Flag Day celebrates the adoption of the first national flag on June 14, 1777.
Flag Day celebrations began in 1861 to show loyalty to the Union during the Civil War.
President Woodrow Wilson recognized June 14 as Flag Day in 1916.
Flag Day is not an official federal holiday.

Georgia’s Historic Flags

January 19, 1861: Several newspapers reported the use of “secession flags” and described them as flags with a single star on a solid background. Some flags had a white star on a blue background. This became known as the “bonnie blue flag,” while others had a red star on a white background.

Following secession, new laws required the governor to supply flags to militia units. These flags were required to bear the “arms of state” against a solid background, called the field, but specific colors were unspecified. Many regiments carried flags made by their community.

1879: Legislation created a new flag. This design was based on the first national flag of the confederacy, but it featured no symbols from the state of Georgia.

1902: The Georgia General Assembly required the state flag to feature the state’s coat of arms.

1927: The Secretary of State’s office published a flag design featuring the entire state seal.

1956: State Senators introduced legislation to change the state flag. The new flag served to protest court-ordered school desegregation and federal civil rights initiatives. Opposition to the flag’s Confederate symbolism emerged soon after.

2000: Cecil Alexander, an Atlanta architect and civic leader, met with Governor Roy Barnes to propose a new flag design. A bill changing the flag passed in less than a week.

2002: Sonny Perdue campaigned for governor on a pledge to hold a state flag referendum. A 2004 referendum adopted the current state flag, which features thirteen stars to symbolize the 13 colonies and the coat of arms.

05/29/2026

Join us next Friday 6/5 for an arts and crafts program designed to teach young learners about the use of symbols in portraits. Leave with free art!

It’s AAPI heritage month. Why AAPI Heritage Month matters (more than you think) The label Asian American and Pacific Is...
05/14/2026

It’s AAPI heritage month.

Why AAPI Heritage Month matters

(more than you think)

The label Asian American and Pacific Islander describes Americans with roots in Asia and the Pacific Islands. It includes people from over 75 countries. The U.S. Census categorizes people from the following countries as AAPI, though there is some debate that countries in “West Asia/Middle East” should be included.

According to the most recent census data, Georgia’s population is 4.9% Asian and .1% Pacific Islander.

The Georgia General Assembly has one of the largest AAPI caucuses in the country. With ten members this caucus constitutes 4.2% of the Georgia General Assembly.

Meet Georgia’s AAPI Caucus!

And learn about some of their favorite foods!

Representative Akbar Ali Lawrenceville – District 106
Favorite food: Nihari, a Pakistani beef stew

Representative Michelle Au Johns Creek - District 50

Representative Charlice Byrd Woodstock - District 20

Representative Saira Draper Atlanta - District 90

Representative Soo Hong Lawrenceville - District 103

Representative Marvin Lim Norcross - District 98
Favorite food: Lumpia, a Filipino spring roll that can be served fried or fresh.

Representative Sam Park Lawrenceville - District 107
Favorite food: Korean-style fried okra

Representative Ruwa Romman Duluth - District 97
Favorite food: Maqluba, an upside down/flipped pot of potatoes, cauliflower, eggplant, chicken, beef, and rice.

Representative Long Tran Dunwoody - District 80

Senator Sheikh Rahman Lawrenceville - District 5

The State Capitol looks and sounds very different when lawmakers are out of legislative session. What to bring? We recom...
04/07/2026

The State Capitol looks and sounds very different when lawmakers are out of legislative session.
What to bring? We recommend headphones, sunglasses, a fidget, water, and snacks.
Note that all bags must pass through security. Do not bring prohibited items such as weapons. If you're visiting a lawmaker, have their name and office number written down.
The public entrance is on the south side of the building off Mitchell Street. For more information on accessibility, see GBA's guide link below.
The building's interior echoes; spaces on the first and second floor can be especially loud. Quieter areas of the building include the second floor's west alcove and lawmakers' offices. Outside of legislative session, the whole building is very quiet, as the lawmakers typically do not meet inside the Capitol outside of the first three months of the year.
The building is typically crowded from January to March, when lawmakers are in Atlanta. The building is most crowded Monday through Thursday, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. Exceptions include Crossover Day (middle of session) and Sine Die (last day of session) when the building is crowded all day. After legislative session ends around the beginning of April, the building is quiet and has infrequent visitors.
Meet your lawmaker! You can arrange to meet your lawmaker in their office by calling ahead, even outside of legislative session. During session, you can meet your lawmakers at the ropes on the third floor right outside the House or Senate chamber.
Observe legislative session! On the fourth floor, visitors can enter the public galleries and watch lawmakers at work from the second Monday in January to late March or early April. Visitors in the gallery may not disrupt legislative session with cheers, boos, or loud talking. Doorkeepers will explain the code of conduct for each chamber before you enter.
Explore the museum! The Capitol building displays exhibits with information on Georgia’s minerals, natural history, political history, and civics on the fourth floor. Visitors can join a free guided tour most days at 1:30 pm all year round.

03/21/2026

Learn more about Georgia's Original 33: the first Black lawmakers elected to the Georgia General Assembly. (part 3 of 3)

“Black Legislators during Reconstruction,” Edmund L. Drago, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Reconstruction Conventions,” George Justice, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Reconstruction in Georgia,” William Harris Bragg, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Henry McNeal Turner, 1834-1915,” Stephen Ward Angell, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Tunis Campbell, 1812-1891,” Russell Duncan, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Jefferson Franklin Long, 1836-1901,” Grace Hardwick, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Freedmen’s Bureau,” Edward A. Hatfield, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Georgia Constitution,” LaVerne W. Hill & Melvin B. Hill, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“House Bill 303: The Original 33 Memorial Act,” Reps. Gilliard, Mitchell, Lupton, Jackson, and Willis; https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69977.

03/20/2026

Learn more about Georgia's Original 33: the first Black lawmakers elected to the Georgia General Assembly. (part 2 of 3)

“Black Legislators during Reconstruction,” Edmund L. Drago, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Reconstruction Conventions,” George Justice, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Reconstruction in Georgia,” William Harris Bragg, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Henry McNeal Turner, 1834-1915,” Stephen Ward Angell, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Tunis Campbell, 1812-1891,” Russell Duncan, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Jefferson Franklin Long, 1836-1901,” Grace Hardwick, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Freedmen’s Bureau,” Edward A. Hatfield, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Georgia Constitution,” LaVerne W. Hill & Melvin B. Hill, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“House Bill 303: The Original 33 Memorial Act,” Reps. Gilliard, Mitchell, Lupton, Jackson, and Willis; https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69977.

03/19/2026

Learn more about the Original 33: Black lawmakers elected to the Georgia General Assembly during reconstruction in Georgia. (Part 1 of 3)

Sources:
“Black Legislators during Reconstruction,” Edmund L. Drago, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Reconstruction Conventions,” George Justice, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Reconstruction in Georgia,” William Harris Bragg, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Henry McNeal Turner, 1834-1915,” Stephen Ward Angell, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Tunis Campbell, 1812-1891,” Russell Duncan, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Jefferson Franklin Long, 1836-1901,” Grace Hardwick, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Freedmen’s Bureau,” Edward A. Hatfield, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Georgia Constitution,” LaVerne W. Hill & Melvin B. Hill, New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“House Bill 303: The Original 33 Memorial Act,” Reps. Gilliard, Mitchell, Lupton, Jackson, and Willis; https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69977.

Address

Atlanta, GA

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

(404) 463-4536

Website

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