The Georgia Capitol Museum is a public educational institution housed in the State Capitol building under the administration of the Office of Secretary of State. It is a unit of the Division of Archives and History. The Museum seeks to preserve and interpret the history of the Georgia State Capitol building itself as well as the events that have taken place within its walls. To carry out this purpose, the Museum collects, maintains, and exhibits significant artifacts, including historic flags and works of art, within the State Capitol.

In 1889 the Georgia General Assembly revived the office of state geologist and directed him “to collect, analyze and classify specimens of minerals, plants and soils.”  The collections were to illustrate Georgia’s scientific and economic resources.  A year later the governor designated the corridors of the fourth floor of the Capitol as temporary quarters to house the museum.

In 1955 the General Assembly created the Georgia State Museum of Science and Industry, a new division in the Office of Secretary of State.  Following the transfer from the Department of Mines and Mining, the state museum’s collections increased and broadened in scope.

Funding for the Capitol’s restoration provided for improvement in the museum’s exhibitions.  The Commission on the Preservation of the Georgia State Capitol was charged in 1994 to provide advice and guidance for the care, conservation, and exhibition of the collection in the Georgia Capitol Museum, officially renamed in 1997. The new design allowed the interpretation of the Atlanta Capitol—its history, construction, and uses—to be exhibited with a fresh, modern approach. The Hall of Valor was added to the first floor, displaying historic battle flags within a museum environment.

The museum is located in downtown Atlanta at the intersection of I-20 and I-75/85 (near the Five Points and Georgia State MARTA stations) and is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

We continue to look for artifacts to tell the story of Georgia's Capitol. If you have historical memorabilia you would like to donate, please contact the Georgia Capitol Museum at: tfrilingos@sos.state.ga.us or 404-656-2846

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