Decatur: History, Campus and Green Spaces

You can explore Decatur during your stay through several interests: county history around The Square, campus history at Agnes Scott, green spaces, public art and a farmers market. If you’re looking for a hotel in Decatur, you can first consider which of these themes you’d like to shape your stay. The locations and activities offer different points of focus—from historic buildings to a tree tour, as well as walks and art around the city.

The Square and County History

The Square covers 15 blocks in downtown Decatur and is grouped around the old DeKalb County Courthouse. The area is considered easy to explore on foot. This means that, for orientation, what matters is not just a single building but a clearly defined downtown area. A specific starting point for county history is 1823: that was when DeKalb County’s first courthouse was built in Decatur as the seat of county government.

Preserved walls made of Lithonia granite form the foundation of the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, which now houses the DeKalb History Center. The year the first courthouse was built and the preserved granite structure of the Historic DeKalb Courthouse highlight different aspects of the past. Those interested in Decatur’s history can thus find both a reference to its early administrative role and a specific architectural feature.

Campus History and Tours

Historic buildings stand alongside different tour options on the Agnes Scott College campus. Agnes Scott “Main” Hall is the oldest building on campus. It was built in 1891 and is still in use. McCain Library houses the Betty Pope Scott Noble ’44 College Heritage Center, a museum with historical documents, photographs and artifacts related to Agnes Scott, the institution and the Scott family.

The Agnes Scott Arboretum offers an interactive, interdisciplinary tree tour on campus. You can explore it using physical QR codes posted throughout the campus. The college also offers an interactive virtual 360-degree campus tour. It includes historic main buildings, such as academic buildings, the Student Center and the Quad. The difference between the formats can help you narrow down your interests: the arboretum tour focuses on trees, while the virtual tour features selected historic campus buildings.

Gardens, Cemetery and Walks

Oakhurst Garden is located at 435 Oakview Road in Decatur’s Oakhurst neighborhood, at the corner of South McDonough Street and Oakview Road. Rain gardens and small ecosystems are among the garden’s features. Its precise address places it in the Oakhurst neighborhood and also distinguishes it from the city’s other green spaces.

Decatur Cemetery is a 58-acre green space in the city center. You can walk there and learn about the city’s past. The cemetery is open to the public seven days a week until nightfall. A brochure titled “Lives that Made the City” is available for a self-guided tour. Unlike the arboretum tour, which focuses on trees, a walk through the cemetery combines green space with city history.

Public Art and Farmers Market

Decatur Artway places ten sculptures around the city, with each work remaining in place for two years. Public art can be accessed throughout the city at any time. This art program offers a different focus from a visit to a single museum or campus: the works are spread throughout the city and each one remains on display for a set period.

The Decatur Farmers Market is located at 308 Clairemont Avenue, at the corner of Clairemont Avenue and Commerce Drive, on the lawn in front of Decatur First Baptist Church. The market offers fresh food and an opportunity to meet farmers, vendors and neighbors. Specific offerings and market programs may change. While Decatur Artway brings public art to the city through rotating presentations, each lasting two years, the farmers market brings food and community together at a precise address.

Discover more destinations: Chamblee, Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Tucker.

View the main travel overview: DeKalb.