Serving as the seat of Spalding County, Griffin is a historic city that forms part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. It was founded in 1840 and named after a local landowner, with its heritage-listed historic core featuring an impressive collection of architectural landmarks dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Things to do in Griffin
Begin your visit with a stroll through the Griffin Commercial Historic District, which includes more than 90 buildings that are collectively listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Highlights include the red-brick Griffin City Hall and the Romanesque-style Opera House, as well as the U-shaped Griffin Hotel dating from 1910. Also not to miss is Bailey-Tebault House, a Greek Revival masterpiece that was constructed as the start of the American Civil War.
The Griffin Grocery Company Building houses the Griffin Art Gallery and the History of Griffin Museum, where local artefacts and artwork are displayed. Privately run is the Walker Hill Museum, which occupies the site of a historic dairy dating from the 1860s. Its eclectic collection of objects showcases life in the early 1900s and includes a full-size carousel.
Green thumbs shouldn’t miss a visit to the UGA Research and Education Garden, which sprawls across 26 hectares north-west of the city centre. It showcases the native flora of the southern United States, with picnic tables and a shady arboretum where you can enjoy the tranquility. The garden regularly hosts art exhibitions and star-gazing events.
Getting around Griffin
Griffin is just under an hour’s drive from Atlanta and 45 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Buses connect from the Georgia capital to Griffin and travel throughout the city. The Griffin Commercial Historic District can easily be explored on foot.