Original subtitles

GEORGIA...

\hFROM A STUNNING COAST WHERE NATURE RUNS WILD,

ACROSS FIELDS OF COTTON,

TO SNOW-DUSTED PEAKS

AT THE END OF ONE OF THE WORLD‘S LONGEST HIKING TRAILS.

\hTHIS IS A STATE LOVED BY PRESIDENTS, WRITERS,

\h\hAND A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER WHO SOUGHT TO HEAL THE NATION

WITH A TRANSCENDENT DREAM.

AERIAL GEORGIA EXPLORES THE RICH HISTORY OF THIS SOUTHERN STATE,

FROM MYSTERIOUS TRACES OF ITS ANCIENT PEOPLE,

\hTO PAINFUL MEMORIES OF AMERICA‘S WAR-TORN PAST.

\hIT WAS HERE THAT A VISIONARY AD MAN

REVOLUTIONIZED TELEVISION NEWS,

AND A TERRORIST TRIED TO DESTROY THE OLYMPIC DREAMS OF THOUSANDS.

WHERE A SMALL PIONEER TOWN

WAS HOME TO AMERICA‘S \h\h\hFIRST GOLD RUSH.

AND A CITY ONCE LEVELED BY WAR

ROSE AGAIN TO GLIMMER \h\h\hFROM THE ASHES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS IS GEORGIA, THE EMPIRE STATE OF THE SOUTH.

\hIN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF GEORGIA,

\hON THE BANKS OF THE ETOWAH RIVER,

STAND THE RELICS OF \h\h\hA LOST WORLD.

THESE EARTHEN MONUMENTS WERE BUILT BY AN ANCIENT SOCIETY

KNOWN TO ARCHAEOLOGISTS AS THE MISSISSIPPIAN MOUND BUILDERS.

\hTHESE PEOPLE AND THEIR STRUCTURES MAY BE GONE,

BUT THE OUTLINES OF THEIR ONCE SOPHISTICATED CULTURE REMAIN.

FROM THIS SIX-STORY-TALL MOUND,

\h\h\hIT‘S BELIEVED THAT THE CITY‘S CHIEF PRIEST

MAY HAVE PRESIDED \hOVER CEREMONIES

ON A BUSTLING PLAZA DOWN BELOW.

SMALLER MOUNDS MAY HAVE BEEN \h\h\h\hUSED AS BURIAL SITES

OR TO SUPPORT THE HOMES OF OTHER PROMINENT CITIZENS.

MANY DETAILS ABOUT THESE NATIVE AMERICANS AND THEIR CULTURE

REMAIN A MYSTERY.

\h\hMOUND BUILDERS WERE THE ANCESTORS

OF THE CREEK AND CHEROKEE,

\h\h\h\h\hWHO DOMINATED GEORGIA IN THE CENTURIES THAT FOLLOWED.

\h\h\h\hBUT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT EVENTUALLY PRESSED THESE TRIBES

TO MOVE TO OKLAHOMA--

AND IN 1838, FORCIBLY RELOCATED THOSE THAT REMAINED.

\h\hAN ESTIMATED 4,000 NATIVE AMERICANS DIED ON THE JOURNEY,

\hWHICH IS KNOWN AS THE TRAIL OF TEARS.

NEARBY, THE CHATTAHOOCHEE \h\h\h\h\hNATIONAL FOREST

COVERS ALMOST 750,000 ACRES \h\h\h\hOF RUGGED LANDSCAPE,

INCLUDING SPRINGER MOUNTAIN.

IT‘S THE SOUTHERN ENDPOINT OF \h\h\h\hTHE APPALACHIAN TRAIL,

WHICH STARTS 2,000 MILES NORTH \h\h\h\hIN THE STATE OF MAINE.

\h\h\h\hONE HISTORIAN DISMISSED THIS REGION

\h\h\hAS "NOTHING BUT A DESERT WITH TREES."

BUT RATTLESNAKES, COPPERHEADS, AND BLACK BEARS ALL LIVE HERE.

\hNORTH GEORGIA IS ALSO HOME TO HIDDEN TREASURE.

LEGEND HAS IT THAT IN 1828,

\h\h\h\hA DEER HUNTER HERE TRIPPED OVER A SHINY ROCK

THAT TURNED OUT TO BE \h\hNEARLY PURE GOLD.

\h\h\hA YEAR LATER, A NEWSPAPER REPORTED

THAT GOLD WAS DISCOVERED \h\hIN HABERSHAM COUNTY

AND PRACTICALLY OVERNIGHT, GIDDY PROSPECTORS BY THE THOUSANDS

\h\hPOURED INTO THE REGION LOOKING TO STRIKE IT RICH.

\hIT WAS THE NATION‘S FIRST MAJOR GOLD RUSH.

BY 1861, ENOUGH GOLD WAS DISCOVERED HERE

FOR THE LOCAL FEDERAL MINT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO PRODUCE

ONE AND A HALF MILLION \h\h\h\h\hGOLD COINS.

MUCH OF THE MINED GOLD \h\h\hWAS TRANSPORTED

ON THE NEWLY COMPLETED \h\h\hUNICOI TURNPIKE,

A TOLL ROAD WHICH STRETCHED FROM THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS

THROUGH THIS SWATH OF \h\hNORTHEAST GEORGIA.

\h\hALONG THIS ROUTE WAS A GOLD RUSH TOWN

\h\h\hNAMED DAHLONEGA, FROM THE CHEROKEE WORD FOR YELLOW MONEY.

THE CITY PROSPERED UNTIL 1849,

WHEN NEWS OF CALIFORNIA‘S \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGOLD RUSH

LURED THE MINERS WEST.

TODAY, DAHLONEGA IS HOME

TO NORTH GEORGIA COLLEGE \hAND STATE UNIVERSITY,

BUT THE TOWN DOESN‘T SHY AWAY \h\h\h\hFROM ITS GOLDEN PAST.

EVERY OCTOBER, VISITORS FROM \hAROUND THE WORLD COME HERE

\h\hTO CELEBRATE GOLD RUSH DAY, IN A TOWN CENTER THAT LOOKS LIKE

IT‘S RIGHT OUT OF THE 19th CENTURY.

\h\h\h\hBUT WHEN IT COMES TO GEORGIA‘S NATURAL RESOURCES,

\hNONE HAS SHAPED HER HISTORY AND ECONOMY LIKE THESE CROPS--

WHAT THE LOCALS CALL WHITE GOLD: COTTON.

\hCOTTONSEED WAS FIRST PLANTED HERE IN 1785,

THOUGH IT TOOK GROWERS NEARLY \h\h10 YEARS TO MAKE A PROFIT.

BY THE MID 19th CENTURY,

\hMOST OF GEORGIA‘S BOUNTY WAS BEING SHIPPED 1,000 MILES AWAY

\h\h\hTO FEED THE NORTH‘S PROSPEROUS TEXTILE MILLS,

WHILE THE SOUTH‘S ECONOMY \h\h\h\hLAGGED FAR BEHIND.

DETERMINED TO RIGHT \h\h\hTHE IMBALANCE,

A CIVIC LEADER PUT FORWARD \h\h\hAN INNOVATIVE PLAN--

TO BUILD AN INDUSTRIAL CANAL ALONGSIDE THE SAVANNAH RIVER

IN AUGUSTA.

IN 1845, THE FIRST SHOVELS \h\h\h\hBEGAN DIGGING OUT

AUGUSTA‘S RED, RICH CLAY.

AND A FEW YEARS LATER, WATER WAS COURSING THROUGH THIS CANAL--

WATER THAT SOON POWERED \hNEW TEXTILE FACTORIES.

TODAY, THIS APPROXIMATELY \h\h11-MILE-LONG WATERWAY

PRODUCES HYDROELECTRIC POWER.

THE CANAL AND MILLS ARE THE FIRST NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

\h\hIN GEORGIA DESIGNATED BY THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.

BY THE LATE 19th CENTURY, \h\h\hTHANKS TO ITS MILLS,

AUGUSTA WAS BOOMING.

AND IN 1897, BRICKS WERE LAID TO BUILD THIS CATHOLIC CHURCH.

\h\h\h\hTHREE YEARS LATER, THIS IMPRESSIVE STRUCTURE

\hWAS COMPLETE AND READY FOR WORSHIP.

BUT WITH MORE AND MORE AUGUSTANS MOVING TO THE SUBURBS

IN THE 20th CENTURY, \hTHIS GIANT CHURCH

\h\h\hCOULDN‘T SUSTAIN ITSELF AND CLOSED ITS DOORS IN 1971.

THE BUILDING ENDURED 16 YEARS \h\h\hOF VANDALISM AND NEGLECT

BEFORE BEING RENOVATED AND RE-OPENED IN 1987

AS THE SACRED HEART \h\hCULTURAL CENTER.

\hTODAY, IT‘S A VENUE FOR WEDDINGS, WINE FESTIVALS,

AND CONCERTS.

BUT AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, \h\hMAY BE BEST KNOWN

\h\hFOR THE AUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB.

\h\h\h\h\h\hEVERY APRIL, THE WORLD‘S BEST GOLFERS

\hDESCEND ON THIS FORMER PLANTATION

\h\h\h\h\hTO COMPETE IN THE MASTERS TOURNAMENT.

AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE CLUB \h\h\h\hPROVIDES A WINDOW

INTO A PRISTINE WORLD FEW PEOPLE EVER SEE IN PERSON.

TICKETS TO THE EVENT ARE AMONG \h\h\h\hTHE TOUGHEST TO OBTAIN

OF ANY SPORTING EVENT \h\h\hIN THE COUNTRY.

THEY HAVEN‘T BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC SINCE 1972.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRATES AUGUSTA AS THE BEST COURSE IN AMERICA.

\h\h\h\h\h\hITS EXCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP ROSTER INCLUDES

BILLIONAIRES BILL GATES \h\hAND WARREN BUFFETT,

AMONG OTHER PROMINENT NAMES.

NOTABLY ABSENT FROM THAT LIST \h\hIS A SINGLE FEMALE MEMBER.

WOMEN CAN PLAY HERE AS GUESTS \h\h\h\h\hAND WORK AS CADDIES,

\h\hBUT THE OLD BOYS‘ CLUB STANDS FIERCELY RESISTANT

TO CHANGING ITS WAYS.

ABOUT 90 MILES SOUTHEAST LIES \hA CITY WITH A COLORFUL PAST,

MILLEDGEVILLE.

THE TOWN WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1804 AS THE STATE CAPITAL,

\h\hON LAND ACQUIRED FROM CREEK INDIANS.

\h\hDURING ITS FIRST DECADE, THIS SCRAGGLY FRONTIER TOWN

WAS KNOWN FOR ITS SEEDY INNS, \h\h\hBORDELLOS, AND GAMBLING.

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT SLOWLY, THINGS BEGAN TO CHANGE.

ONE OF THE CAPITAL‘S MOST \hIMPORTANT NEW BUILDINGS

WAS THE GOVERNOR‘S MANSION.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUILT IN THE GREEK REVIVAL STYLE,

THE MANSION WAS RESTORED IN 2001

AND IS NOW A NATIONAL HISTORIC \h\h\h\hLANDMARK AND A MUSEUM.

\hMILLEDGEVILLE WAS ALSO HOME TO ONE OF GEORGIA‘S

MOST CELEBRATED AUTHORS: \h\h\hFLANNERY O‘CONNOR.

\h\hTHE BUDDING AUTHOR HAD MOVED TO THE NORTHEAST AFTER COLLEGE,

\hBUT A LUPUS DIAGNOSIS IN 1950 BROUGHT HER BACK TO THIS PLACE--

A 544-ACRE FAMILY FARM \h\hCALLED ANDALUSIA.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT WAS HERE, CARED FOR BY HER MOTHER,

\h\hTHAT SHE COMPLETED HER MOST FAMOUS NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND,

THAT EXPLORE THE THEME OF \h\h\h\hA DECAYING SOUTH.

O‘CONNOR SPENT HER FINAL DAYS \h\h\h\hDOING WHAT SHE LOVED,

\hRAISING PEACOCKS AND DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE LANDSCAPE

SURROUNDING ANDALUSIA.

SHE DIED OF LUPUS IN 1964 \h\hAT THE AGE OF JUST 39.

\h\h\h\hA FEW MILES AWAY STANDS THE OLD STATE CAPITOL BUILDING.

WITH ITS POINTED ARCHED WINDOWS AND ROOFTOP BATTLEMENTS,

\hIT‘S THE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE OLDEST PUBLIC BUILDINGS

\h\h\hIN AMERICA BUILT IN THE GOTHIC REVIVAL STYLE.

BUT IT‘S WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE \h\h\h\h\hTHAT FOREVER CHANGED

THE COURSE OF HISTORY.

IT WAS HERE IN JANUARY 1861 \h\h\hTHAT GEORGIA LAWMAKERS

\h\h\hVOTED 160 TO 130 IN FAVOR OF SECESSION

FROM THE UNITED STATES.

THIS 30-VOTE MAJORITY WOULD PLUNGE THE STATE

\h\hINTO FOUR YEARS OF WAR AND DEVASTATE MANY OF ITS CITIES.

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STATE

SITS THE CITY OF MACON,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNICKNAMED "THE HEART OF GEORGIA."

\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM THE AIR ITS QUAINT NEIGHBORHOODS

OFFER A STUNNING GLIMPSE \h\h\hOF THE OLD SOUTH.

THERE ARE DOZENS OF HOMES HERE \h\hTHAT LOOK JUST AS THEY DID

IN THE LATE 19th CENTURY.

MANY OF THEM WERE BUILT ON THE SPOILS OF KING COTTON.

\h\hBUT MACON‘S CROWN JEWEL IS THE MANSION ON GEORGIA AVENUE

KNOWN AS HAY HOUSE.

THE FOUR-STORY HOME WITH A CUPOLA ABOVE

WAS BUILT BETWEEN 1855 AND 1859

\h\hBY RAILROAD MAGNATE WILLIAM BUTLER JOHNSON.

HE AND HIS BRIDE HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH ITALIAN ARCHITECTURE

DURING THEIR HONEYMOON \h\h\h\h\h\hIN EUROPE

\h\h\h\h\hAND DECIDED TO BRING THE ELEGANCE OF THE OLD WORLD

BACK TO GEORGIA.

\hNOT ONLY WAS THE 24-ROOM, 16,000-SQUARE-FOOT RESIDENCE

MAGNIFICENT TO BEHOLD,

IT WAS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE HOMES OF ITS DAY,

COMPLETE WITH HOT AND COLD \h\h\h\h\h\hRUNNING WATER

AND CENTRAL HEATING.

NO WONDER HAY HOUSE EARNED THE NICKNAME,

THE PALACE OF THE SOUTH.

\h\hWITHIN JUST TWO YEARS OF THE COMPLETION OF HAY HOUSE,

THE GLORY DAYS OF THE OLD SOUTH

WERE SUBSUMED BY CANNON FIRE, \h\h\h\h\hBLOODSHED, AND FEAR.

IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA, THE LITTLE TOWN OF WASHINGTON IS BEST KNOWN

FOR AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY--

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE CASE OF THE LOST CONFEDERATE GOLD.

RIGHT AFTER THE CIVIL WAR ENDED, FEDERAL TROOPS SEIZED

\h\h\h\h\hWHAT WAS LEFT OF THE CONFEDERATE TREASURY.

BUT RIGHT OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON,

\hRENEGADES STOLE THE FORTUNE BACK.

THE STASH, NOW ESTIMATED TO BE \h\h\hWORTH A MILLION DOLLARS,

HAS NEVER BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR.

\h\hMANY ARE CONVINCED IT WAS HIDDEN NEARBY.

IN THE DISTANCE, A GIANT DOME \h\hPUSHES UP FROM THE EARTH.

THIS IS STONE MOUNTAIN--

\h\h\h\hAN 800-FOOT-TALL SOLID GRANITE MONOLITH.

\h\h\hIT WAS BORN OVER 300 MILLION YEARS AGO,

AT THE TIME THAT THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS WERE FORMED.

YOU‘D HAVE TO WALK FIVE MILES \h\h\hJUST TO CIRCLE ITS BASE.

\h\h\h\hA VISITOR CENTER AND TV/RADIO TRANSMITTER

NOW SIT ATOP STONE MOUNTAIN.

\h\h\h\hBUT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN IT WAS A MEETING PLACE

FOR THE KU KLUX KLAN--

\h\h\hITS PEAK CROWNED WITH A BURNING CROSS.

TODAY, STONE MOUNTAIN BEARS OTHER MEMORIES.

IN 1916, THE UNITED DAUGHTERS \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE CONFEDERACY

\h\h\h\hGOT PERMISSION TO OVERSEE THE CARVING

OF A CIVIL WAR MONUMENT HERE.

THE FINISHED WORK COVERS THREE ACRES OF ROCK FACE

AND TOOK 57 YEARS TO COMPLETE.

\h\hIT DEPICTS THREE CONFEDERATE HEROES--

PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS, \h\hGENERAL ROBERT E. LEE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND GENERAL THOMAS "STONEWALL" JACKSON.

\h\h\h\h\h\hBY THE 1960s, STONE MOUNTAIN HAD BECOME

\h\h\h\hSO EMBLEMATIC OF HATRED AND RACISM,

IT EVEN GOT A MENTION

\h\hIN MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.‘S FAMOUS "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH,

WHEN HE SAID, "LET FREEDOM RING FROM STONE MOUNTAIN IN GEORGIA."

LESS THAN 20 MILES AWAY STANDS \h\h\hTHE CITY THAT WOULD FEEL

THE CIVIL WAR‘S FIERY WRATH \h\hLIKE NO OTHER--ATLANTA.

\h\hIT WAS FOUNDED IN 1837 AND NAMED FOR THE RAILROAD

ON WHICH THE CITY WAS BUILT--

\hATLANTICA-PACIFICA, SHORTENED TO ATLANTA.

AND IN 1868, IT BECAME \h\hTHE STATE CAPITAL.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE DESIGN OF THE GEORGIA STATE HOUSE

FOLLOWED THE SAME NEOCLASSICAL STYLE

USED FOR THE U.S. CAPITOL \hBUILDING IN WASHINGTON,

\h\hBUT IT MAINTAINED SOME DISTINCTLY LOCAL TOUCHES--

INSIDE, 1 1/2 ACRES \hOF GEORGIA MARBLE

LINE ITS FLOORS AND HALLWAYS.

\hAMAZINGLY, THE BUILDING‘S DOME WAS ORIGINALLY ADORNED

WITH 43 OUNCES OF REAL 23-KARAT GEORGIA GOLD,

MINED NOT FAR AWAY IN LUMPKIN COUNTY.

ON TOP OF THE DOME IS A 15-FOOT TALL,

\h\h2,000-POUND STATUE KNOWN AS MISS FREEDOM.

JUST A STONE‘S THROW AWAY, \hCENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK

WAS CREATED TO BE A TOWN SQUARE FOR THE 1996 SUMMER OLYMPICS,

BUT IT‘S BEST REMEMBERED \h\h\h\h\h\hAS THE SCENE

OF A DOMESTIC TERRORIST ATTACK.

ONE THE NIGHT OF JULY 27, 1996,

THE LARGEST PIPE BOMB \h\h\hIN U.S. HISTORY

\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS DETONATED IN THE MIDST OF A CONCERT,

KILLING ONE PERSON AND \hINJURING 111 OTHERS.

\h\h\hCONFESSED BOMBER ERIC RUDOLPH HAD HOPED

TO FORCE THE CANCELLATION \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE GAMES,

\h\h\h\hBUT ATLANTA WOULD NOT BE BULLIED, AND THE GAMES WENT ON.

IT‘S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT \hTHE GLEAMING METROPOLIS

STANDING HERE TODAY WAS \h\h\hONCE A WASTELAND.

IN 1864,

AFTER A WEEKS-LONG ARTILLERY \h\hBOMBARDMENT OF THE CITY,

GENERAL WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN

ORDERED ALL CIVILIANS \h\h\h\h\hTO EVACUATE.

HIS TROOPS SET FIRE TO THE CITY.

AND EVERYTHING, EXCEPT FOR \hCHURCHES AND HOSPITALS,

BURNED TO THE GROUND.

\hFROM THE ASHES, ATLANTA SLOWLY BUT SURELY REBUILT.

HERE, IN THE 1920s, LIVED A STRUGGLING YOUNG WRITER

INSPIRED BY THE EPIC TALES OF \h\hHER STATE‘S WAR-TORN PAST.

\h\hIT WAS INSIDE APARTMENT NUMBER ONE OF THIS BUILDING

THAT MARGARET MITCHELL PENNED

MOST OF THE WILDLY POPULAR NOVEL GONE WITH THE WIND.

\h\h\h\hIN HER LATER YEARS, MITCHELL FREQUENTLY REMARKED

\h\h\h\hABOUT HOW MUCH SHE HATED LIVING HERE.

LITTLE COULD SHE HAVE IMAGINED,

THE APARTMENT SHE REFERRED TO \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS "THE DUMP"

\h\h\h\hWOULD ONE DAY SERVE AS THE MARGARET MITCHELL MUSEUM.

\h\hBUT WHILE MITCHELL‘S OWN ACCOMMODATIONS WERE HUMBLE,

THOSE OF HER CHARACTERS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWERE NOT.

ACCORDING TO GEORGIA LORE,

THIS PLANTATION HOUSE \hIN NEARBY JONESBORO

WAS MARGARET MITCHELL‘S \h\h\h\h\h\hINSPIRATION

FOR TARA, THE ICONIC SETTING \h\h\h\h\h\hGONE WITH THE WIND.

THIS GREEK REVIVAL STYLE \h\h\h\hPLANTATION HOUSE

\h\hWAS BUILT IN 1839, AND TRUE TO ITS NAME,

LIES AMIDST A GROVE OF STATELY OLD OAKS.

ONE CAN‘T HELP BUT IMAGINE \h\h\h\h\hSCARLETT O‘HARA

TWIRLING ABOUT THE PORCH, \h\h\h\hSIPPING LEMONADE.

ATLANTA‘S HISTORY, THOUGH, HAS \hBEEN ANYTHING BUT STORYBOOK.

A CENTURY AFTER THE CIVIL WAR,

THE CITY FELL AGAIN \h\h\hON HARD TIMES.

IN THE 1980s, IT WAS THIS \h\hCOMPANY‘S HEADQUARTERS

THAT CAME TO ATLANTA‘S RESCUE.

ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO BE AN ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX,

\h\hTHIS 100,000-SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING WAS BOUGHT IN 1985

BY A SUCCESSFUL GEORGIA AD MAN: TED TURNER.

HE USED IT TO HOUSE

THE WORLD‘S FIRST 24-HOUR \h\h\h\hNEWS CHANNEL, CNN.

BY LOCATING HIS COMPANY‘S \h\hHEADQUARTERS DOWNTOWN,

\h\h\hTURNER HELPED REVITALIZE THE CITY.

JUST A MILE FROM THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN ATLANTA LIES A PLACE

THAT WAS ONCE A WORLD AWAY--

THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF \h\h\hSWEET AUBURN.

IT WAS HERE ON JANUARY 15, 1929,

\hIN THE UPSTAIRS ROOM OF THIS YELLOW HOUSE,

\hWHERE ONE OF ATLANTA‘S MOST DISTINGUISHED SONS,

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS BORN.

\h\h\h\h\h\hHIS FATHER, MARTIN LUTHER KING, SR.,

\h\hWAS AN EARLY LEADER IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

\h\hAND PASTOR OF NEARBY EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH.

\hIT WAS HERE WHERE MARTIN, JR. WAS BOTH BAPTIZED AND ORDAINED.

AND IT WAS THE SITE OF \hHIS FUNERAL IN 1968.

BUT IT‘S THE KING CENTER \h\h\h\h\hJUST NEXT DOOR

THAT SERVES AS HIS MEMORIAL.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE MIDST OF WHAT‘S CALLED FREEDOM PLAZA,

SURROUNDED BY A 5-TIER \h\h\hREFLECTING POOL,

\h\h\h\hLIES THE BODY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

\h\hHIS MARBLE CRYPT BEARS THE WORDS, "FREE AT LAST,

\h\hFREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I‘M FREE AT LAST."

TWO MILES FROM DOWNTOWN,

\h\h\hON A HILL FROM WHICH GENERAL SHERMAN MONITORED

THE SIEGE OF ATLANTA, IS THE CARTER CENTER.

\h\h\h\h\h\hFOUNDED BY PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER

AND HIS WIFE ROSALYNN IN 1982,

THE CENTER‘S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS

AND END HUMAN SUFFERING \h\h\hAROUND THE WORLD.

\h\h\h\hFOUR OF THE FIVE INTERCONNECTED PAVILIONS

HOUSE STAFF OFFICES AND MEETING SPACES.

THE FIFTH IS HOME

\hTO THE JIMMY CARTER PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY.

150 MILES OUTSIDE OF ATLANTA \h\h\hLIES A WILDER GEORGIA.

MAGNOLIA SPRINGS STATE PARK

\h\h\h\hIS BEST KNOWN FOR ITS COOL SPRINGS,

WHICH PRODUCE CLOSE TO 9 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER A DAY,

AND FOR ITS PRISTINE \h\h\h28-ACRE LAKE.

IT MAY LOOK LIKE ANY OTHER \h\h\h\hUNSPOILED STRETCH

OF GEORGIA WILDERNESS,

BUT DURING THE CIVIL WAR,

IT WAS THE SETTING \hOF CAMP LAWTON,

A CONFEDERATE STOCKADE

THAT IMPRISONED ABOUT 10,000 UNION SOLDIERS,

500 OF WHOM DIED IN THE CAMP.

THOUGH NATURE HAS LARGELY ERASED THE PARK‘S WARTIME PAST,

\h\h\h\hIN THE SUMMER OF 2010, A TEAM OF ARCHAEOLOGY STUDENTS

DUG UP ABOUT 200 CIVIL WAR \h\h\hARTIFACTS FROM HERE.

\h\hTHE SITE, UNDISTURBED SINCE THE CAMP‘S ABANDONMENT IN 1864,

\h\h\hIS EXPECTED TO YIELD UNPRECEDENTED INFORMATION

ABOUT THE LIVES OF PRISONERS \h\hAND GUARDS AT THE CAMP.

THE VESTIGES OF AN EVEN LARGER \h\h\h\h\h\hCONFEDERATE PRISON

LIE ABOUT 130 MILES \hSOUTH OF ATLANTA--

\h\hTHE NOTORIOUS CAMP SUMTER, BETTER KNOWN AS ANDERSONVILLE.

THIS CLEARING WAS ONCE HOME \hTO A 26 1/2-ACRE STOCKADE.

SOME 45,000 PRISONERS \h\hENTERED ITS GATES

OVER ITS 14-MONTH EXISTENCE.

MANY NEVER MADE IT OUT.

OVERCROWDING, DISEASE, \h\h\h\hAND STARVATION

MADE FOR A GRIM EXISTENCE HERE.

\hSAID ONE UNION SOLDIER, "AS WE ENTERED THE PLACE,

A SPECTACLE MET OUR EYES

THAT ALMOST FROZE OUR BLOOD \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH HORROR--

\hSTALWART MEN, NOW NOTHING BUT MERE WALKING SKELETONS,

COVERED WITH FILTH AND VERMIN."

NO WONDER MANY OF THE PRISONERS BELIEVED THEY HAD DIED

AND GONE TO HELL.

15-FOOT WALLS LIKE THESE

\h\hONCE SURROUNDED THE ENTIRE STOCKADE.

MAKESHIFT TENTS AND HUTS \h\hWERE ALL THAT STOOD

BETWEEN THE PRISONERS \h\hAND THE ELEMENTS.

GUARDS WERE PERCHED IN TOWERS \h\h\h\hALONG THE FENCE LINE.

ANYONE GETTING WITHIN THREE FEET OF THE WALL WAS SHOT DEAD.

ALL TOLD, 13,000 SOULS PERISHED IN THE HELLHOLE

THAT WAS ANDERSONVILLE.

THEIR NAKED BODIES WERE \hCARTED OFF IN WAGONS,

BURIED SHOULDER TO SHOULDER IN THREE-FOOT-DEEP TRENCHES.

\h\hSO CRUEL AND INHUMANE WAS THE TREATMENT AT ANDERSONVILLE

\hTHAT AFTER THE WAR, THE PRISON COMMANDANT

WAS CONVICTED OF WAR CRIMES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND HANGED.

AFTER THE CAMP CLOSED,

\hCLARA BARTON LED A DETACHMENT HERE

\h\h\h\h\hTO IDENTIFY AND MARK THE GRAVES OF THE UNION DEAD.

\h\h\h\h\h\hON AUGUST 17, 1865, SHE RAISED THE STARS AND STRIPES

\hOVER THE CEMETERY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SINCE THE CIVIL WAR,

6,000 MORE VETERANS HAVE \h\h\hBEEN BURIED HERE,

INCLUDING ACTIVE DUTY SERVICEMEN KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ.

\h\hTHERE‘S A SLICE OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST

TUCKED INTO SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

IT‘S CALLED PROVIDENCE CANYON.

SEEING THIS NATURAL WONDER \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM THE AIR

OFFERS A CHANCE TO GLIMPSE \h\h\h16 DISTINCT GORGES,

SOME PLUNGING TO DEPTHS \hOF MORE THAN 100 FEET.

GEORGIANS CALL THIS PLACE \h\h"LITTLE GRAND CANYON,"

BUT THESE MASSIVE GULLIES

\hAREN‘T THE WORK OF MOTHER NATURE ALONE.

THE PRIMARY SCULPTOR IS RAINWATER RUNOFF

FROM POOR FARMING PRACTICES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE 1800s.

\hBUT WHAT BEAUTY THAT EROSION HAS REVEALED.

WITHIN PROVIDENCE CANYON, \h\hSEVERAL MILLION YEARS

OF GEORGIA‘S GEOLOGICAL RECORD \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSTAND EXPOSED--

\h\hTHE SANDS OF TIME, IN 43 DISTINCT COLORS.

35 MILES NORTH LIES \h\h\hFORT BENNING,

HOME OF THE U.S. ARMY \h\h\hINFANTRY SCHOOL,

NAMED FOR CONFEDERATE BRIGADIER GENERAL HENRY BENNING,

A NATIVE OF THE AREA.

IT WAS BUILT DURING WORLD WAR I, WITH THE EXPRESS PURPOSE

\hOF PRODUCING THE WORLD‘S FINEST COMBAT INFANTRYMEN.

FORT BENNING HAS TURNED OUT SUCH DISTINGUISHED MILITARY LEADERS

\hAS OMAR BRADLEY, DWIGHT EISENHOWER,

GEORGE PATTON, AND COLIN POWELL.

THE 287-SQUARE-MILE BASE \h\h\h\h\hALSO OPERATES

AN AIRBORNE SCHOOL FOR PARATROOPERS,

\h\h\hA RANGER SCHOOL FOR ELITE SKILLS AND TACTICS,

AND A PROGRAM THAT \hTEACHES SOLDIERS

\hHOW TO OPERATE M-2 BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLES IN COMBAT.

ABOUT 35 MILES NORTH, OUTSIDE \h\hTHE TOWN OF WARM SPRINGS,

IS A MUCH MORE PEACEFUL PLACE--

FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT‘S \h\h\h\hLITTLE WHITE HOUSE.

\h\h\h\hSTRICKEN WITH POLIO, FDR FIRST CAME HERE IN 1924

AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE SPRINGS‘ RESTORATIVE POWERS.

HE DIDN‘T FIND A CURE, BUT HE DID FALL IN LOVE WITH THE TOWN

AND PURCHASED 1,200 ACRES \h\h\h\h\h\hHERE IN 1926,

\h\h\h\h\h\hWHERE HE BUILT A POLIO TREATMENT CENTER.

THIS SIX-ROOM STRUCTURE \h\h\hWAS BUILT IN 1932,

A YEAR BEFORE ROOSEVELT \hWAS ELECTED PRESIDENT.

\h\h\hIT OFTEN SERVED AS A PRESIDENTIAL RETREAT.

ON APRIL 12, 1945, ROOSEVELT WAS INSIDE SITTING FOR A PORTRAIT

\hWHEN HE SUDDENLY GRABBED HIS HEAD,

COMPLAINING OF A SHARP PAIN.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, AMERICA‘S \h\hLONGEST-SERVING PRESIDENT

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWOULD BE DEAD OF A MASSIVE CEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE.

ROOSEVELT‘S LEGACY LIVES ON

\hIN A NATIONAL PARK THAT BEARS HIS NAME.

\h\h\h\hAFTER BATHING IN THE WARM SPRINGS NEARBY,

\h\hHE USED TO COME TO THIS PARK FOR PICNICS.

\hWITH 9,000 ACRES OF PROTECTED WILDERNESS,

THE F.D. ROOSEVELT STATE PARK

IS THE LARGEST STATE PARK \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN GEORGIA.

TO THE SOUTH, IN SUMMERVILLE,

IS A VERY DIFFERENT \h\h\hKIND OF PARK.

\h\hTHIS IS PARADISE GARDENS, THE LEGACY OF BAPTIST MINISTER

AND SELF-TAUGHT ARTIST \h\h\hHOWARD FINSTER.

IN 1961, FINSTER CLAIMED TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD

\h\h\h\hCOMMANDING HIM TO CREATE SACRED ART,

AND THE REVEREND OBEYED.

HE USED FOUND MATERIALS \h\h\hLIKE BOTTLE CAPS,

RUSTY BICYCLE PARTS, \h\hAND OLD JEWELRY

\hTO CONSTRUCT THOUSANDS OF UNUSUAL WORKS OF ART.

MANY CONSIDER THIS HANDCRAFTED, 5-STORY BUILDING

TO BE HIS MASTERPIECE.

\h\h\h\h\hBUILT AROUND A PRE-EXISTING CHURCH,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT‘S KNOWN AS THE WORLD‘S FOLK ART CHAPEL.

\hPARADISE GARDENS MAY LOOK FAMILIAR

TO FANS OF THE BAND R.E.M.

IT WAS FEATURED IN THE VIDEO FOR RADIO FREE EUROPE,

\hAND FINSTER THEN WENT ON TO PAINT THEIR NEXT ALBUM COVER.

\hR.E.M. WAS JUST ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT EMERGED

FROM THE MUSIC SCENE IN THIS \h\h\hCOLLEGE TOWN--ATHENS.

THE B-52s, PYLON, \hAND INDIGO GIRLS

ALSO GOT THEIR START HERE.

SO DID ACTRESS KIM BASINGER AND FOOTBALL LEGEND FRAN TARKENTON.

NOW THE FIFTH LARGEST \h\h\hCITY IN GEORGIA,

\h\hATHENS GREW UP AROUND THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.

\h\h\h\h\hOPENED IN 1801, IT WAS THE NATION‘S FIRST

CHARTERED STATE UNIVERSITY.

THE SCHOOL‘S FOOTBALL TEAM PLAYS ITS HOME GAMES HERE,

AT SANFORD STADIUM.

\h\h\h\h\h\hORIGINALLY BUILT IN THE LATE 1920s BY CONVICT LABOR,

IT HAS SINCE EXPANDED \h\h\h\h\hFROM 30,000

TO MORE THAN 90,000 SEATS.

FROM THE AIR, YOU CAN SEE \h\h\h\hTHE FAMOUS HEDGES

THAT HAVE ENCIRCLED THE FIELD EVER SINCE ITS OPENING GAME--

GEORGIA BULLDOGS VERSUS \h\hYALE BULLDOGS, 1929.

IT WAS THE YALE FOOTBALL TEAM‘S FIRST VISIT TO THE SOUTH.

BUT AFTER THE BULLDOGS \h\h\h\h\hHAD BATTLED,

YALE WENT HOME DEFEATED, \h\h\h\h\h15 TO NOTHING.

IT‘S ABOUT 100 MILES FROM ATHENS TO ROME,

AT LEAST IN GEORGIA.

HERE, IN FRONT OF CITY HALL, STANDS A PERMANENT REMINDER

\h\hOF THE BOND BETWEEN OLD ROME AND NEW ROME--

\h\hA BRONZE REPLICA OF ITALY‘S FAMED SCULPTURE

OF ROMULUS AND REMUS.

DURING WORLD WAR II, BECAUSE OF ITALY‘S TIES TO NAZI GERMANY,

THE SCULPTURE WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED BY AN AMERICAN FLAG.

IT WAS RETURNED TO THIS SPOT IN 1952.

\h\hROME PRIDES ITSELF ON ITS HISTORIC MAIN STREET.

REBUILT AFTER THE CIVIL WAR,

THIS REVITALIZED NEIGHBORHOOD

IS ONE OF THE BEST-PRESERVED \h\h\hVICTORIAN CITY CENTERS

IN ALL OF THE SOUTH.

SEEING GEORGIA FROM THE SKY, YOU QUICKLY COME TO REALIZE

\h\h\hHOW BEAUTIFUL, WILD, AND DIVERSE THIS STATE IS.

FROM A TIMBER TOWN TURNED BAVARIAN VILLAGE IN HELEN,

TO A GLOBAL VILLAGE

AT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY \h\h\h\h\h\hIN AMERICUS.

BUT ONE THING THAT‘S LONG \h\hHELD GEORGIA TOGETHER

IS ITS RAILROADS.

\h\h\h\hSINCE THE TRAINS FIRST RAN IN THE 1830s,

MORE THAN 100 RAILWAYS \hHAVE OPERATED HERE--

LIKE THE HOOK AND EYE LINE, \h\hTHE IRON BELT RAILROAD,

AND THE VIDALIA ROUTE.

DURING THE CIVIL WAR, THE RAILROADS PROVIDED

\h\h\h\h\hA CRITICAL NETWORK FOR CONFEDERATE TROOPS AND WEAPONS.

\h\h\hAS GENERAL SHERMAN BEGAN HIS FATEFUL MARCH

FROM ATLANTA TO SAVANNAH,

HE SET HIS SIGHTS \hON THE RAILWAYS,

HUNDREDS OF MILES WORTH.

THE MELTED, TWISTED TRACKS \h\h\h\h\h\hHE LEFT BEHIND

\h\hBECAME KNOWN AS SHERMAN‘S NECKTIES.

THIS HEARTH IS ALL THAT REMAINS OF A HOME HIS TROOPS BURNED--

\h\hALL PART OF AN EFFORT TO DESTROY SOUTHERN MORALE

AND FORCE A SURRENDER.

"I WANT TO MAKE GEORGIA HOWL," \h\hHE SAID--AND HE SUCCEEDED.

A MONTH INTO SHERMAN‘S MARCH,

\hHIS TROOPS WERE NEARING SAVANNAH,

BUT THEY WERE IN DESPERATE \h\h\h\hNEED OF SUPPLIES.

THE OGEECHEE RIVER COULD PROVIDE

\hA PERFECT DELIVERY ROUTE FOR OFFSHORE UNION SHIPS.

BUT THE OGEECHEE WAS UNDER THE PROTECTION

\hOF AN EARTHEN-WALLED CONFEDERATE STRONGHOLD

CALLED FORT McALLISTER.

\h\h\hDURING THE WAR, THE FORT HAD REPELLED

SEVEN ATTACKS FROM THE SEA,

BUT IT WAS VIRTUALLY HELPLESS AGAINST A STRONG LAND ATTACK.

\h\h\hON DECEMBER 13, 1864, A DIVISION OF UNION SOLDIERS

LAID SIEGE TO THE FORT.

JUST 15 MINUTES LATER, THEY DECLARED VICTORY.

\hUNION SHIPS WERE NOW ABLE TO RENDEZVOUS WITH SHERMAN‘S ARMY

\hAND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SUPPLIES THEY NEEDED

\h\h\hTO STAGE THEIR ATTACK ON SAVANNAH.

\hBEFORE SHERMAN‘S MEN EVEN ENTERED THE CITY,

THE OPPOSING CONFEDERATE GENERAL TURNED TAIL AND DISAPPEARED.

THE NEXT MORNING,

SAVANNAH‘S MAYOR OFFERED \h\hA FORMAL SURRENDER.

TODAY, SAVANNAH IS A BUSTLING \h\h\h\h\h\hINDUSTRIAL CENTER

AND THE LARGEST PORT IN GEORGIA.

BUT THAT‘S NOT WHAT DRAWS TOURISTS HERE.

THEY COME HERE FROM \hALL OVER THE WORLD

TO EXPERIENCE SOUTHERN CHARM, \h\h\h\hRICH CULTURAL HISTORY,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND, IN THIS CASE, A SPOOKY CONNECTION TO THE PAST.

SAVANNAH‘S BONAVENTURE CEMETERY IS THE TITLE CHARACTER

IN AUTHOR JOHN BERENDT‘S \h\hBEST-SELLING NOVEL,

MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN \h\h\hOF GOOD AND EVIL,

WITH THE CEMETERY FEATURED \h\h\hHEAVILY IN THE PLOT.

THE BIRD GIRL SCULPTURE THAT \h\hGRACES THE BOOK‘S COVER

\h\hWAS REMOVED FROM HERE SHORTLY AFTER PUBLICATION

AND DONATED TO A LOCAL MUSEUM TO KEEP IT SAFE FROM TOURISTS.

BUT OTHER GHOSTLY FIGURES \h\hCAN STILL BE GLIMPSED

BETWEEN THE MOURNFUL TREES, \h\hDRAPED IN SPANISH MOSS.

AMONG THE NOTEWORTHY \h\h\hRESIDENTS HERE

ARE SONGWRITER JOHNNY MERCER, \h\h\h\h\hWRITER CONRAD AIKEN,

AND 6-YEAR-OLD GRACIE WATSON, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hA SAVANNAH GIRL

WHO DIED OF PNEUMONIA JUST BEFORE EASTER SUNDAY 1889.

ONE NEW ORLEANS MINISTER \h\h\hWROTE TO HIS WIFE,

\h"BONAVENTURE CEMETERY IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO DIE."

HE THEN TRAVELED STRAIGHT HERE \h\h\h\hAND COMMITTED SUICIDE.

MANY GHOST HUNTERS CLAIM THAT \h\h\hTHIS IS THE MOST HAUNTED

CEMETERY IN THE UNITED STATES.

IF ONLY THE SPIRITS COULD TALK, WHAT TALES THEY WOULD TELL

OF 200 DRAMATIC YEARS \hIN GEORGIA HISTORY.

GEORGIA‘S 100-MILE-LONG \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCOASTLINE

\h\h\hIS ONE OF AMERICA‘S GREAT NATURAL TREASURES--

THE LONGEST UNBROKEN STRETCH OF

WILD ATLANTIC BEACHFRONT AND \h\hMARSH ON THE EAST COAST.

\hAND THERE‘S NO BETTER WAY TO TAKE IN ITS RUGGED BEAUTY

THAN FROM THE AIR.

\h\h\h\h13 BARRIER ISLANDS, NICKNAMED THE GOLDEN ISLES,

\h\h\h\h\h\hLINE THE COAST, SEPARATED FROM THE MAINLAND

BY DEEP TIDAL INLETS.

SOARING OVER THESE ISLANDS

\h\h\hIS A JOURNEY INTO GEORGIA‘S COLONIAL PAST.

AT THEIR NORTHERNMOST POINT

A 150-YEAR-OLD LIGHTHOUSE \hGUARDS COCKSPUR ISLAND.

THE COAST PROBABLY LOOKS MUCH THE SAME AS IT DID

WHEN ENGLISH CHAPLAIN \h\h\h\h\hJOHN WESLEY,

ONE OF THE FOUNDERS \h\h\hOF METHODISM,

FIRST ARRIVED HERE IN 1736, \h\hON HIS WAY TO SAVANNAH.

LONG AFTER WESLEY SAILED AWAY, \h\h\h\hTHE ISLAND BECAME HOME

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO FORT PULASKI, BUILT BETWEEN 1829 AND 1847

TO PROTECT THE EASTERN SEABOARD.

THE MOAT SURROUNDING THE FORT IS BETWEEN 30 AND 48 FEET WIDE

WITH AN AVERAGE DEPTH OF 8 FEET.

TODAY, TURTLES AND ALLIGATORS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hMAKE THEIR HOME

JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE.

WHEN THIS OUTPOST WAS BUILT, BRICK FORTS WERE CONSIDERED

THE BEST FORM OF DEFENSE \h\h\h\h\hIN THE WORLD.

BUT THAT WOULD CHANGE DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

ON APRIL 10, 1862, UNION TROOPS LAUNCHED THEIR ATTACK

ON FORT PULASKI WITH A BRAND NEW TECHNOLOGY: THE RIFLED CANNON.

ABLE TO FIRE LONGER DISTANCES \h\h\h\hWITH GREATER ACCURACY,

THIS WEAPONRY COMPLETELY \h\h\hDOMINATED THE FORT

IN A MATTER OF 30 HOURS.

THE DAMAGE IS STILL VISIBLE.

\h\h\hNOT WANTING TO EXPOSE THE GARRISON TO FURTHER DESTRUCTION,

\h\h\h\h\hCONFEDERATE GENERAL CHARLES OLMSTEAD SURRENDERED.

\h\h\h\hNO ONE WOULD EVER BUILD A BRICK FORT AGAIN.

NONE OF GEORGIA‘S \hBARRIER ISLANDS

HAS A MORE FASCINATING HISTORY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAN THIS ONE--

A MORE THAN 5,000-ACRE \h\h\hWILDLIFE REFUGE

NAMED FOR THE WORLD‘S MOST \h\h\hNOTORIOUS BUCCANEER.

THIS IS BLACKBEARD ISLAND.

\h\h\hBLACKBEARD WAS KNOWN TO PLUNDER MERCHANT SHIPS

\h\hOFF THE GEORGIA COAST IN THE EARLY 18th CENTURY.

LEGEND HAS IT, HE AND HIS MEN \h\h\h\h\hCAME TO THIS ISLAND

TO STASH THEIR LOOT AND HIDE OUT BETWEEN RAIDS.

BLACKBEARD‘S CAREER CAME TO A GRISLY END IN 1718,

WHEN HE DIED IN A BLOODY BATTLE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

IT‘S SAID HIS HEADLESS GHOST \h\hSTILL WALKS THIS ISLAND,

GUARDING HIS BURIED TREASURE.

\h\h\hIN 1800, THE U.S. NAVY PURCHASED BLACKBEARD ISLAND

AS A SOURCE OF LUMBER \h\hFOR SHIPBUILDING.

THEN, IN 1880, IT BECAME \h\hA QUARANTINE STATION

TO MONITOR INCOMING SAILORS \h\h\h\h\hFOR YELLOW FEVER.

\h\h\h\hA FEW YEARS EARLIER, THIS MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASE

\h\h\h\h\hHAD REACHED EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS,

KILLING 1,000 PEOPLE \hIN SAVANNAH ALONE.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE ISLAND IS NOW A NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE,

PROVIDING SAFE HAVEN FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS

\h\h\h\h\hAND ENDANGERED LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES.

SOME 10 MILES AWAY

IS THE MOST REMOTE AND DESOLATE OF GEORGIA‘S COASTAL JEWELS--

LITTLE ST. SIMON‘S ISLAND.

IT‘S LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.

IN 1908, NEW YORK‘S EAGLE PENCIL COMPANY

\h\hPURCHASED THIS 10,000-ACRE ISLAND

WITH THE INTENTION OF HARVESTING ITS VAST RED CEDAR FORESTS.

\h\hBUT AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT, THE WOOD HERE WAS TOO DAMAGED

\hBY SALT AND WIND FOR PENCIL MAKING.

BY THE TIME EAGLE WAS READY \h\h\h\h\hTO CALL IT QUITS,

THE COMPANY‘S OWNER HAD FALLEN \h\h\hIN LOVE WITH THIS PLACE

AND BOUGHT IT FOR HIMSELF.

THE ISLAND REMAINS \h\hIN HIS FAMILY,

UNDEVELOPED AND ACCESSIBLE \h\h\h\h\h\hONLY BY BOAT.

TO HELP PROTECT ITS UNSPOILED \h\h\h\h\h\hWILDLIFE HABITATS,

ONLY 32 VISITORS ARE ALLOWED \h\h\hON LITTLE ST. SIMON‘S

AT ANY ONE TIME.

JEKYLL ISLAND, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS A TOURIST PARADISE,

\h\hITS COASTS LINED WITH VACATION HOMES.

THE ISLAND WAS FIRST DEVELOPED \h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE LATE 1800s

AS A WINTER RESORT FOR NORTHERN BUSINESSMEN,

LIKE J.P. MORGAN, \hJOSEPH PULITZER,

\hAND WILLIAM VANDERBILT, WHO BUILT ELABORATE ESTATES HERE.

\h\hTHEY WERE AMONG THE CHARTER MEMBERS

OF THE JEKYLL ISLAND CLUB, DESCRIBED AS "THE RICHEST,

\h\hTHE MOST EXCLUSIVE, THE MOST INACCESSIBLE CLUB IN THE WORLD."

TODAY, THE CLUBHOUSE \hHAS BEEN RENOVATED

INTO A LUXURIOUS HOTEL.

\h\h\hTHE BUILDING IS STEEPED IN THE GRANDEUR OF THE GILDED AGE,

AND THE GROUNDS ARE HOME

TO A TOURNAMENT-LEVEL \h\h\h\hCROQUET GREEN.

\h\h\hTHE LARGEST JEWEL IN GEORGIA‘S COASTAL NECKLACE

IS CUMBERLAND ISLAND, KNOWN FOR ITS PRISTINE MARITIME FORESTS,

\hLUSH MARSHES, AND UNDEVELOPED BEACHES.

SPANISH EXPLORERS FIRST \hARRIVED HERE IN 1566,

NAMING THE ISLAND SAN PEDRO.

OVER THE NEXT 100 YEARS, THEY BUILT FORTS AND MISSIONS HERE.

BUT BY THE TIME ENGLISH GENERAL JAMES OGLETHORPE ARRIVED

IN 1736, THE SPANIARDS \h\h\h\h\h\hWERE GONE.

IN 1955, THE NATIONAL PARK \hSERVICE NAMED THE ISLAND

\h\h\h\hONE OF THE BEST COASTAL RECREATION AREAS IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT WHILE MUCH OF THE ISLAND‘S \h\h\h\h\hUNTOUCHED COASTLINE

LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING FROM ANOTHER WORLD,

LIFELESS IT IS NOT.

LEGEND HAS IT THAT WILD PONIES \h\hLIKE THESE HAVE BEEN HERE

AS FAR BACK AS THE 16th CENTURY,

THE LEGACY OF ITS EARLIEST \h\h\h\hSPANISH SETTLERS.

LOOK FROM ABOVE, AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE A HUMAN FOOTPRINT,

OR AT LEAST THE REMAINS OF ONE.

\hDUNGENESS MANSION WAS BUILT BY THOMAS CARNEGIE

\h\hAS A WINTER RETREAT FOR HIS WIFE AND NINE CHILDREN.

IN ITS HEYDAY,

THIS SCOTTISH-STYLE CASTLE WAS THE HEIGHT OF EXCESS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hBOASTING 59 ROOMS, SWIMMING POOLS, A GOLF COURSE,

AND A STAFF OF 200 SERVANTS.

THE CARNEGIES LEFT THE ISLAND \h\hAFTER THE GREAT DEPRESSION

AND IN 1959, A SUSPICIOUS FIRE

TURNED THE ONCE GLORIOUS MANSION INTO RUBBLE.

\hABOUT 50 MILES INLAND FROM THE GEORGIA COAST,

\hWATER MEETS EARTH IN A DRAMATIC DANCE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS IS THE 402,000-ACRE SWAMPLAND

KNOWN AS THE OKEFENOKEE-- \h\hA NATIVE AMERICAN TERM

\h\h\hMEANING "THE LAND OF THE TREMBLING EARTH."

SURE ENOUGH, SOFT PEAT DEPOSITS, SOME UP TO 15 FEET DEEP,

COVER THE REGION.

JUMP UP AND DOWN IN SOME PLACES AND THE TREES AROUND YOU SHAKE.

\h\h\h\hIT‘S THE LARGEST INTACT WETLAND SWAMP IN NORTH AMERICA.

FOR DECADES, INDUSTRY EXPLOITED THE SWAMP‘S RESOURCES,

PLUNDERING ITS FORESTS \h\h\h\h\hFOR LUMBER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT IN 1936, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT STEPPED IN

TO PROTECT THIS WONDROUS PLACE \h\h\h\h\h\hAND ITS WILDLIFE.

\h\hTODAY, THE OKEFENOKEE IS THE EPITOME OF WILD GEORGIA

AND A CELEBRATION OF NATURE‘S \h\hVICTORY OVER HUMAN GREED.

FROM ITS WILD SWAMPS, TO ITS HIGHEST PEAKS,

DOWN ITS FREE-SPIRITED COAST,

\hGEORGIA IS A STATE AS RICH IN NATURAL WONDERS

AS IT IS IN ITS SPAN OF HISTORY.

\h\hFROM THE SITE OF AN ANCIENT MYSTERY,

TO KEY BATTLEFIELDS OF \h\h\h\hTHE CIVIL WAR,

\hTO CITIES AND TOWNS DECIMATED BY CONFLICT

AND ECONOMIC HARD TIMES.

\h\h\h\hTHROUGH IT ALL, GEORGIA HAS PERSEVERED,

PRODUCING GREAT WRITERS, \h\h\h\h\h\hA PRESIDENT,

AND ONE OF THE GREATEST \h\hCIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS

THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.

IT‘S EASY TO SEE WHY GEORGIA \h\h\h\hHAS EARNED THE TITLE

"THE EMPIRE STATE OF THE SOUTH."