Historic Jonesboro, Georgia, attractions offer visitors a look into Southern towns and the region's history. Located just 12 miles south of bustling Atlanta, Jonesboro is still steeped in the history of the Civil War. Whether you're a local looking for a day trip, a traveler looking for a quick getaway from the bustle of the city, or a history buff looking to see some sites, Jonesboro's unique combination of Southern history, culture, and recreation are worth visiting.
The Patrick Cleburne Confederate Cemetery is located near the site of the Battle of Jonesboro, a two day fight that resulted in the Confederate evacuation of Atlanta. Several hundred Confederate soldiers who were buried on the battlefield were relocated to this cemetery in 1872, including a recipient of the Confederate Medal of Honor. The cemetery features a number of unique elements, including headstones laid out in the shape of a Confederate flag, historic cannonballs, and a monument to the several hundred Confederate "unknown soldiers" buried there who are still unidentified.
Patrick Cleburne Confederate Cemetery
Johnson St & McDonough St
Jonesboro, GA 30236
The Road to Tara Museum is a tribute to the Margaret Mitchell classic "Gone With the Wind." The museum features a detailed collection of memorabilia, including some of Mitchell's personal effects and movie replicas. The site includes a bit of Civil War history, too. The Road to Tara Museum proudly features a "Sherman's Necktie" -- a piece of rail twisted by General Sherman's armies in order to disrupt the railroad supply networks. The museum is located in the historic Jonesboro Train Depot.
Road to Tara Museum
104 North Main Street
Jonesboro, GA 30236
770-478-4800
visitscarlett.com/roadtotaramuseum.html
Another homage to Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With the Wind," the Stately Oaks Plantation is a collection of mid-1800s period buildings assembled into a plantation worthy of the story. Believed to feature the home that inspired the story's Tara Plantation, Stately Oaks was created to save quickly disappearing pieces of history as they grew surrounded by Atlanta's suburbs. At Stately Oaks, you can take your time under the large oak trees in front of the 1839 Stately Oaks Plantation House, visit the Country Store for a cold Coca-Cola, or take a guided tour of the plantation given by docents in period dress.
Stately Oaks Plantation
100 Carriage Lane
Jonesboro, GA 30326
770-473-0197
historicaljonesboro.org/
One of the area's largest parks, Clayton County International Park has a wide variety of facilities and activities. Visitors can take a swim or a slide at The Beach, the park's swimming and volleyball center. The home of the 1996 Summer Olympic Volleyball competition, The Beach offers a large swimming lake with sandy beaches, water slides, and a kiddie pool. Other park features include a mini-golf course, fishing lakes, a tennis center, and soccer and football fields.
Clayton County International Park
2300 Highway 138 SE
Jonesboro, GA 30236
770-603-4000
claytonparks.com/InternationalPark/index.htm
