McDuffie County: Experience History, Art and Nature

The settlement of Wrightsboro, founded in 1768, the Hickory Hill estate, regional art and landscapes around Clarks Hill Lake represent the many facets of McDuffie County. This gives you several areas to focus on when planning your trip: historic sites, nature, activities and art.

Landscapes Between the Lake and the Arboretum

The Clarks Hill Wildlife Management Area–East is located in McDuffie, Wilkes and Lincoln counties and borders the Little River arm of Clarks Hill Lake. Its named connection to the lake is part of the landscape, as is its expanse across three counties. Hickory Hill offers a different landscape: The nearly 270-acre estate includes an arboretum with paths through beech and oak avenues and an orchard. Here, a large natural area by the water and a landscaped estate with different tree and garden areas stand side by side as two distinct features.

History in Wrightsboro and Hickory Hill

The history of McDuffie County dates back to the settlement of Wrightsboro, founded in 1768. Wrightsboro is considered the southernmost point of Quaker migration in North America. The old Wrightsboro Church and cemetery have been preserved in Historic Wrightsboro; both were built around 1810.

Another historic connection leads to Thomas E. Watson: He bought the house he called “Hickory Hill” in 1900 and moved in in 1904. The sequence of events distinguishes the purchase from his later move into the house. Near Thomson, the historic marker “The Birthplace of George McDuffie,” erected in 1964, commemorates George McDuffie’s rise to become a congressman, senator and governor of South Carolina. It offers a different historical point of reference from the history of Wrightsboro and Hickory Hill.

Museum, Art and Local Stories

The McDuffie Museum is dedicated to the history of Thomson and McDuffie County. Its exhibits cover Indigenous tribes, the Quaker colony of Wrightsboro and residents who played an important role in the history of the United States. Different chapters and perspectives of regional history come together in one house.

In downtown Thomson, the MAC on Main Art Gallery and Studio presents local and regional art in a restored gallery and a studio. The public art project McTell’s 12-String Strut also has a distinctive format: several seven-foot-high replicas of Stella guitars were designed and hand-painted by local visual artists. Together, the museum, gallery and art project offer different ways to engage with history and art, without being limited to the same subject.

Activities and Events

The McDuffie Environmental Education Center offers fishing events for children at a stocked pond by request. The events include instruction, fishing rods and bait. They have a clear format: They are for children and take place by request. Sweetwater Park has an 18-hole disc golf course, adding another specific activity to the options.

At the Belle Meade Hunt Opening Meet, held annually on the first Saturday in November, a tally-ho wagon ride travels through the McDuffie County countryside while a fox hunt is simulated. If you want to plan your trip around the event, check the date in advance. Its set annual schedule and the distinctive nature of the ride make it a different kind of reason to travel than the year-round opportunity to explore history or art.

Farming and Tours

White Hills Farm grows lavender, other herbs and flowers, then harvests and dries them to make handcrafted products such as teas, sachets and bath products. The steps from growing to processing offer insight into how these products are made. The farm offers private events and tours by appointment.

Hillcrest Farms in Dearing showcases its technology, sustainable practices, environmental management practices and cows to the public, and offers tours. The two farms have different focuses: White Hills Farm highlights plants, processing and handcrafted products; Hillcrest Farms showcases its farming practices and cows. If you plan a tour or private event, keep in mind that White Hills Farm requires an appointment.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Thomson, Muscogee, Screven, Columbia, Burke County, Bryan, Dekalb, Jefferson County.

For the broader travel overview: Georgia.