8 Best Museums In Georgia

Museums often make up the best local attractions, wherever you may go. We certainly think so, and today, we hope to put you in the know as to where the best destinations are all across Georgia. From highlighting regional industries to giving you a detailed window into the past, these top-notch museums in the Peach State cater to a wide variety of interests. Whether you are exploring Atlanta or vacationing on the Atlantic coast, check out the eight best museums in Georgia for a day of learning and fun.

Savannah History Museum (Savannah)

Located in the historic Central of Georgia Railway Train Shed, the Savannah History Museum provides a concise overview of this longstanding city’s past, from its 1733 founding to modern day. Exhibits cover a variety of topics, from military history to economic development, and the city’s role in major national events, including the American Revolution and Civil War.

The museum houses over 10,000 eclectic artifacts, including personal items from historic figures like Juliette Gordon Low and a carriage used in the film Forrest Gump. The adjacent Battlefield Memorial Park commemorates the 1779 siege of Savannah, one of the bloodiest engagements of the war for independence. Here, you can take part in guided tours and living history demonstrations that offer a look into Savannah’s evolution over the centuries.

Its location within Tricentennial Park allows for convenient access to two other institutions, the Georgia State Railroad Museum and the Savannah Children’s Museum. Together, these sites form a sort of compact educational district suited for all kinds of interests.

World of Coca-Cola (Atlanta)

One of Georgia's most visited attractions in general, the World of Coca-Cola is a museum dedicated to the history and production of America's favorite drink. Located at Pemberton Place in downtown Atlanta, the facility covers about 20 acres and includes permanent and rotating exhibits focused on advertising, bottling processes, sub-brands of Coca-Cola, and the company's international expansion.

The museum includes historical artifacts such as a 19th-century soda fountain and original bottling equipment, as well as an extensive collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia. You can view a fully operational bottling line too, and explore the “Vault of the Secret Formula,” which highlights the brand’s most guarded trade secret, its recipe, without giving too much away. However, the global tasting room is what most come to experience, where samples of Coca-Cola products from around the world can be enjoyed.

Right across the street from the World of Coca-Cola is another one of Atlanta's most beloved landmarks, Centennial Olympic Park. This urban greenspace was the center of the 1996 Olympic games, and now makes for an idyllic place for taking a stroll through its gardens and fountains at the heart of Georgia's capital.

Museum of Aviation (Warner Robins)

The Museum of Aviation, nestled adjacent to Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, is the second-largest aerospace museum run by the United States Air Force. Spanning 51 acres, it houses over 85 historic aircraft and other air-related exhibits across four buildings. Notable displays include the SR-71 Blackbird, B-1 Lancer, B-29 Superfortress, and F-15 Eagle.

This museum features the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame, honoring individuals who have significantly contributed to aviation in the state. It is also a draw for its educational programs, which focus on STEM subjects and offer interactive exhibits along with virtual reality experiences.

Admission is free, and the museum attracts nearly half a million visitors annually, making it one of the most visited museums in the entire Department of Defense. ​The surrounding town of Warner Robins, located just south of Macon, is fairly quiet and uneventful, but nearby eatery The Taco Shed is a highly rated joint if you're hungry after a day of exploration. There are also several hotels and motels in the area, mainly serving visitors to the base, but are open to the general public too.

Tellus Science Museum (Cartersville)

The Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville is a sizable 120,000-square-foot facility dedicated to natural history and science education. As a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate, the museum features four very well-curated primary galleries: the Weinman Mineral Gallery, the Fossil Gallery, Science in Motion, and the Collins Family My Big Backyard.

The Weinman Mineral Gallery displays thousands of specimens, making it one of the largest mineral collections in the Southeast. On The Fossil Gallery includes a 40-foot Tyrannosaurus rex named Stan and other prehistoric exhibits. On the other hand, Science in Motion explores technological advancements in transportation, while My Big Backyard offers more interactive science activities aimed at children.

Additional facilities include the Bentley Planetarium with 120 seats and an observatory equipped with a 20-inch state-of-the-art Planewave reflecting telescope. The museum also offers hands-on experiences such as fossil digging and gem panning.

Be sure to check out the Savoy Automobile Museum in Carterville, too, which is also accessible just off Interstate 75. With a constantly rotating selection of exhibits, this is a wonderland for auto enthusiasts, with displays ranging from famous vehicles that appeared on the big screen to tiny cars, brand-specific showrooms, and more.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Atlanta)

The Fernbank Museum of Natural History takes a look at natural history through its extensive array of indoor and outdoor exhibits. Here, you can gaze upon permanent exhibitions such as "Giants of the Mesozoic," showcasing a 123-foot-long Argentinosaurus skeleton, and "A Walk Through Time in Georgia," detailing the state's natural history and geological timeline. Other exhibits, like the interactive "Fernbank NatureQuest," provide engaging, hands-on learning experiences for children.

Fernbank also includes the Rankin M. Smith, Sr. Giant Screen Theater, which mainly presents educational films on a ginormous four-story screen. On the other hand, the museum's outdoor offerings allow you to explore WildWoods, a 10-acre area with trails and yet more interactive exhibits, and Fernbank Forest, a 65-acre old-growth forest accessible to all visitors.

Nearby are some of Atlanta's other renowned museums and attractions, like the Michael C. Carlos Museum, which hosts a collection of ancient artifacts, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, famous for its recreated Oval Office, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and the High Museum of Art, among many other areas of interest.

St. Simons Island Lighthouse Museum (St. Simons Island)

The St. Simons Lighthouse Museum sits on the southern tip of St. Simons Island and includes one of the few operational 19th-century lighthouses still in use on the southeastern coast. Built in 1872 to replace the original structure destroyed during the Civil War, the lighthouse stands at 104 feet and uses a third-order Fresnel lens that continues to aid navigation on the picturesque island. You can climb its 129 cast-iron steps to the top for a view of the surrounding coast and Atlantic waters.

The adjacent Keeper’s Dwelling has been restored and converted into a museum, with period-accurate rooms, historical photographs, and interpretive exhibits that explain lighthouse technology and the responsibilities of the keepers. This destination also explores the broader maritime history of Georgia’s Golden Isles. The site is managed by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society and maintains regular open hours throughout the week.

Any trip to Georgia's lengthy coastline comes with other draws, like fresh seafood restaurants, pristine parklands, and, of course, beaches. The community of St. Simons Island contains all three. It also houses another highly notable museum, the World War II Home Front Museum. Located in a historic Coast Guard station, this one takes an in-depth look into Georgia's many contributions to the Second World War and is part of the World War II Heritage Trail, which features 11 other sites across the state.

Little White House Historic Site (Warm Springs)

The Little White House Historic Site in the tiny rural town of Warm Springs was the personal retreat of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Constructed in 1932, this modest six-room cottage served as a place of respite for Roosevelt during his presidency.

He first visited Warm Springs in 1924 seeking relief from polio symptoms and was drawn to the therapeutic qualities of the area's warm mineral waters. Roosevelt clearly loved the place and even passed away at the Little White House on April 12, 1945, while sitting for a portrait that still remains unfinished.

Today, the site is preserved as it was on that day, offering you an intricate glimpse into the personal life of the beloved 32nd president. The museum contains the home's original furnishings, Roosevelt's 1938 Ford convertible, and the now-famous "Unfinished Portrait." Additional exhibits include the guest house, servants' quarters, and the historic spring-fed pools that attracted Roosevelt to the area in the first place.

Although temporarily closed for renovations, when they are open, the Roosevelt Historic Pools & Warm Springs allow visitors to dip their hands in a basin that still collects some of the warm and mineral-rich water that gave the town its name.

American Prohibition Museum (Savannah)

Resting in Savannah's City Market in its Historic District, the American Prohibition Museum is the only museum in the United States dedicated solely to the history of prohibition. It offers a comprehensive examination of the temperance movement, the enactment and impact of the 18th Amendment, and its eventual repeal through the 21st Amendment.

This museum features over 200 historic artifacts related to the subject, including restored Prohibition-era vehicles used to smuggle booze and an extensive collection of moonshine stills. Interactive exhibits and dioramas further illuminate the social and political climate of the early 20th century and what led to the banning of alcohol, highlighting figures on either side of the issue, both bootleggers and temperance advocates. The museum also includes a functioning speakeasy, Congress Street Up, which serves period-accurate cocktails and gives you a fun taste of the kinds of clandestine bars common in the roaring 1920s.

Being located steps away from the Savannah River waterfront, you can also spend some time while in the area watching as old-timey paddleboats and modern-day transport ships pass by together, or walk along River Street, where numerous bars, restaurants, hotels, and other historic landmarks are located.

Learn More About Georgia Today at These Museums

Georgia is home to numerous world-class museums, and we have only scratched the surface here. From deep looks at American history to the less heady World of Coca-Cola, this list hopefully provides you with a good idea of where to start. And whether you're a resident or a visitor, you really can't go wrong with any of the above-mentioned entries if you're looking for a good way to kill an afternoon. So, how many of these museums in the Peach State will you check out this year?