As America prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary in 2026, travelers are increasingly seeking meaningful destinations that tell the story of our nation’s past. This President’s Day, Georgia offers a surprising collection of authentic places where visitors can walk in the footsteps of U.S. presidents, witness the moments that shaped their lives, and connect to American history in a personal way.
From FDR’s treasured retreat in Warm Springs to Woodrow Wilson’s boyhood home and the hometown roots of Jimmy Carter, Georgia’s presidential sites offer immersive and often intimate windows into leadership, resilience, and turning points that shaped our country.
Below are several story-rich stops perfect for your President’s Day travel.
Augusta: Walk Through the Early Life of Woodrow Wilson
At the boyhood home of Woodrow Wilson, visitors explore the childhood experiences that influenced America’s 28th president during a turbulent era of Civil War and Reconstruction. This National Historic Landmark offers guided tours that illuminate Wilson’s upbringing and the Georgia setting that helped inform his worldview. WilsonBoyhoodHome.org
The Partridge Inn, Augusta: Dine Where President Warren Harding Was Honored
In 1923, The Partridge Inn hosted an elaborate dinner for President Warren Harding that was once described as “the grandest in the history of the city.” Today, the hotel remains one of Georgia’s most iconic heritage properties, offering a rare glimpse into the glamour and political culture of the early 20th century. PartridgeInn.com
Warm Springs: Experience FDR’s Most Personal Presidential Legacy
Perhaps the most emotionally powerful presidential site in the Southeast, Roosevelt’s Little White House captures the president’s search for healing and his deep ties to Georgia. Roosevelt first came to Warm Springs in 1924 hoping to find a cure for his infantile paralysis (polio) that had struck him in 1921. Swimming in the 88-degree, buoyant spring waters brought him no miracle cure, but it did bring improvement. The pools are still present and, along with the Historic Pools Museum, just underwent a renovation in 2025. The museum includes FDR’s 1938 Ford convertible and the unfinished portrait he was sitting for at the time of his death. Nearby, F.D. Roosevelt State Park invites visitors to enjoy scenic overlooks like Dowdell’s Knob, which was known to be one of the president’s favorite places to reflect. GaStateParks.org/LittleWhiteHouse
SAM Shortline Train, Cordele to Plains: Ride the Rails to Jimmy Carter’s Hometown
A vintage 1949 railcar journey on the SAM Shortline takes travelers through rural Georgia landscapes to Plains, hometown of President Jimmy Carter. Stops along the route include Carter’s boyhood home, his campaign headquarters at the historic train depot, and the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, which offers a nuanced look at his early life, presidency, and decades of humanitarian work. GaStateParks.org/SAMShortline
Jefferson Davis Memorial Site, Fitzgerald: A Complex Chapter of American History
While the Confederate president might not be a traditional first thought for President’s Day, a visit to Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site signifies the monument where he was arrested by Union forces in 1865. Davis and his remaining staff members were camped in this pine forest, not knowing that pursuit was so close behind. At dawn, gunfire ensued until the federal forces realized they had been shooting at one another. Today, visit the monument to learn more about this battle, and the site also offers a museum and gift shop. GaStateParks.org/JeffersonDavisMemorial