With all the beautiful landscapes Georgia has to offer, its scenery is one of the best reasons to visit. One of the most popular areas of Georgia, the Chattooga River is a must-see destination. Its visitors can enjoy the magnificent waterfalls of Tallulah Gorge, plus area attractions like Christmas tree farms, dairies, and even golf courses. The Appalachian Mountains, running across the north, provide travelers with beautiful forests, outdoor fun, and old time country hospitality that's hard to find elsewhere in the United States.
But you'll find more than just bountiful sightseeing options in Georgia. The state boasts many artistic offerings, with a rich cultural history dating back to the 18th Century.
Getting Crafty
The crafts created in early Georgia weren't just aesthetic, they eased the burden of frontier life. Both women and men specialized in weaving cloth, making clothes, rugs, blankets, quilts, and even carpets. Weaving was such a widely popular skill that the vast majority of Georgia households in the 19th Century owned a spinning wheel or loom. Even slaves during this time learned weaving talents and crafted works of their own, which can still be seen in museums today.
Other craft skills thrived during this period as well. Stone and clay objects, such as pots, were created to store food and water. However, by the 1800s, businesses which manufactured stone products had opened in the south. This greatly diminished the need for people to make their own.
While weaving was a pastime amongst most southern women, woodworking was the answer for men. At an early age, boys in Georgia found their first pocket knife thrust into their hands and began learning the art of woodworking. Many kept it up as a hobby, while some became professional woodworkers, often specializing in furniture or cabinetry.
Although many crafts and skills in early Georgia developed out of necessity, crafters took great pride in their finished work. They understood that their crafts needed to be dependable and long lasting, but they also strove to make them pleasing to the eye. Visitors to museums and craft fairs in the state will find a legacy of sturdy, yet beautiful work.
Gone With the Box Office
When discussing movies about Georgia, the best known is undeniably Gone With the Wind. Although both Margaret Mitchell's original novel and its film adaptation garnered scores of fans, the depiction of plantation life differed between the two. Literary critics today agree that the novel successfully portrayed the hardships faced by southerners and blacks during the Civil War and Reconstruction. On the other hand, many film critics felt the movie showed a romantic view of plantation life, as well as racist and sexist stereotypes. But they were wowed by the movie's visual impact, stellar cast, and sprawling scope, which set the bar high for future Hollywood epics.
Probably the most famous silver screen legend born in Georgia is Burt Reynolds, renowned for his roles in movies such as Smokey and the Bandit and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. At one time, Burt Reynolds was so popular and so loved in Hollywood that he helped Georgia become the number three filming location in the nation for five years straight.
Making Music
Country music may not have gotten its start in Georgia, but the state has been a significant force in pushing country music into the mainstream. Some country greats, like Travis Tritt and Trisha Yearwood, were born and bred here. Others have called it home for a while, such as Ronnie Milsap, who got his start in Atlanta. The long tradition of country music in Georgia continues to grow, and with the new mixing of rock'n' roll with country, a new legacy of country is emerging.
But country isn't the only music Georgia's been instrumental in developing. From R&B greats like Ray Charles to such popular rock groups as the B-52s and R.E.M., the state's musicians have made their marks in a variety of genres.
Infinite Art and Precedent Setting Theater
Georgia's fine art scene first blossomed with the opening of The Telfair Academy of Art and Sciences in Savannah in 1886. Nine years later, art exhibits at the Cotton States Exposition in Atlanta led to the foundation of several art institutions. As fine arts grew in popularity in Georgia, more galleries opened, and increasing numbers of artists began visiting the state. However, Georgia was not without homegrown artists of its own.
Theater came a bit later, with the state's first theater houses raising their curtains in the early 1900s. Despite Georgia's history of slavery, one of these theaters was the first in the country to be built, owned, and operated by an African-American. Today, many of these historic theaters still host great plays and highly talented acting troupes.
In fact, all of the arts continue to thrive in Georgia today. The state's vibrant cultural history comes alive not only in works from the past but in contemporary arts as well. Whether you want to check out a hot new band, attend a classic Shakespearean play, or stroll through a top-notch museum, you'll find plenty of artistic entertainment in Georgia.
