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McDonough is the county seat of Henry County, about 30 miles south of downtown Atlanta along Interstate 75. Founded in 1823 and named for Commodore Thomas Macdonough, the naval hero of the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812, it grew up around a classic courthouse square that still anchors the city. It has grown quickly with metro Atlanta, to about 29,000 people at the 2020 census.
The McDonough Square is the heart of town, framed by the 1897 Henry County Courthouse and its white clock tower, and by blocks of restored brick storefronts with restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques. The square fills up every May for the Geranium Festival, and lantern-lit ghost tours walk the old streets after dark.
A short drive away, Heritage Park keeps the county's past alive with an 1827 log cabin, an old schoolhouse and a 1934 steam locomotive, next to a veterans museum in a red barn. The Hood Street Art Center brings plays, dance and gallery shows to town, and Southern Belle Farm welcomes families for hayrides, berry picking and a fall corn maze. Civil War history waits at Nash Farm Battlefield in western Henry County, and Panola Mountain State Park is a short drive north near Stockbridge.
The heart of McDonough is a classic Georgia courthouse square, ringed by restored brick storefronts with cafes, boutiques, antique shops and restaurants around a shaded green. Concerts, seasonal markets and holiday events gather here. Park once near the welcome center and explore the square and side streets on foot.
A National Register historic district just north of McDonough Square, where Lawrenceville Street is lined with Victorian and early 20th-century houses, among them the 1916 Turner House, under big shade trees. It is a pleasant short stroll from the square. The homes are private residences, so admire them from the sidewalk.
Built in 1897, the red-brick Henry County Courthouse rises over McDonough Square with a tall clock tower that serves as the town's best-known landmark. It still houses county offices, so the interior keeps business hours, but the exterior and its lawn are the classic photo stop. Morning light is best for pictures.
A small history park south of downtown where a log cabin, an old schoolhouse and other historic buildings moved from around Henry County show rural life in the 1800s. The grounds host living-history days, craft fairs and the county's veterans museum. Buildings open on limited days, so check the schedule before you go.
A county-owned park west of McDonough, near Hampton, preserving fields where Union and Confederate cavalry clashed during Kilpatrick's Raid in August 1864. Walking paths and markers explain the fighting, and a small museum displays artifacts. Reenactments are held some years. Wear sturdy shoes, as paths cross open, sunny fields.
Inside Heritage Park, this volunteer-run museum honors Henry County service members with uniforms, medals, photographs, weapons and equipment from World War I onward, plus stories of local veterans. Volunteers, many of them veterans themselves, often guide visitors. Opening days are limited, so call or check online first.
A community arts venue near downtown McDonough that hosts local theater, dance recitals, art exhibits, classes and small concerts through the year. Shows are intimate and inexpensive, a good way to catch the town's creative side on a weekend evening. See the current calendar, as performances run on select dates.
A family-run working farm on the edge of McDonough known for pick-your-own strawberries in spring, peaches and sunflowers in summer, and a big fall season with a corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides and farm animals. A farm market sells fresh produce and treats. Seasons and hours change, so check what is open before driving out.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: qwesy qwesy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: John Trainor from Roswell, GA, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jud McCranie, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jud McCranie, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jud McCranie, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jud McCranie, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jud McCranie, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Bubba73, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Bubba73, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Bubba73, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Bubba73, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Bubba73, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Bubba73, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Bubba73, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Bubba73, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Bubba73, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
