Discover Sumter: Andersonville, Jimmy Carter, and farm history

Commemoration and Civil War history in Andersonville

Andersonville National Historic Site combines a comprehensive memorial purpose with a specific site from the American Civil War. It is the only national park that serves as a memorial to all Americans who were ever held as prisoners of war, while also preserving the site of the largest of the Confederate military prisons established during the war. These two perspectives make Andersonville a notable focal point for anyone interested in the remembrance of captivity and the history of the Civil War.

Jimmy Carter’s life story across several sites

Plains High School has been converted into a park museum and visitor center. The museum includes a 25-minute video about Jimmy Carter’s life and achievements. Since this is a specific program offering, check the program details before your trip.

At the Boyhood Farm, there is a walking path with informative interpretive panels. Audio stations let visitors hear Jimmy Carter tell stories from his childhood. The Plains Depot, the oldest building in Plains, houses a museum about Carter’s life and political career that visitors can explore on their own.

The different formats of these experiences are also useful for planning: the Plains High School museum features a video with a set running time, at the farm you can listen to childhood stories at audio stations, and at the depot you can explore the museum on your own. This lets you focus on film, spoken recollections, or his political career.

Farm history and rural communities

The Pioneer Farm in Andersonville is a seven-acre site depicting life on a one-person farm in the mid-19th century. It includes a working gristmill and an authentic log cabin. The historical interpretation and these two farm features give the site a different emphasis from the museums: here, farm life takes center stage.

Koinonia Farm is a Christian community in Americus, Georgia, founded in 1942. It has miles of walking trails and offers organic blueberries, grapes, and other produce. This adds trails and agricultural products as distinct themes alongside the historic sites.

Americus and the train ride to Plains

The Americus Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 1, 1976. Together with Koinonia Farm, founded in 1942, Americus offers different points of interest: the district provides historical context, while Koinonia Farm combines a Christian community with walking trails and produce.

The Americus Local from Americus to Plains is a shorter route segment offered on every SAM Shortline trip. If you plan to take this train ride, check the schedule before your trip.

To plan your stay, you can first choose your focus: the memorial and farm history in Andersonville, Jimmy Carter’s life story, or the historic district and Koinonia Farm in Americus. If you’re looking for a hotel, plan around the places you’d like to make the focus of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Americus, Jefferson County, Gilmer County, Burke County, Ben Hill County, Richmond, Mcduffie County, Mitchell County.

Return to the main travel overview: Georgia.