Celebration of History & Culture | Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites

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    •  Northeast
      • Amicalola Falls State Park
      • Black Rock Mountain State Park
      • Bobby Brown State Outdoor Recreation Area
      • Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site
      • Don Carter State Park
      • Elijah Clark State Park
      • Fort Yargo State Park
      • Hardman Farm Historic Site
      • Hart State Outdoor Recreation Area
      • Moccasin Creek State Park
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      • Travelers Rest Historic Site
      • Tugaloo State Park
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      • Victoria Bryant State Park
      • Vogel State Park
      • Watson Mill Bridge State Park
    •  Northwest
      • Chief Vann House Historic Site
      • Cloudland Canyon State Park
      • Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site
      • Fort Mountain State Park
      • James H. (Sloppy) Floyd State Park
      • New Echota Historic Site
      • Pickett's Mill Battlefield Historic Site
      • Red Top Mountain State Park
    •  Central
      • A.H. Stephens
      • Chattahoochee Bend State Park
      • F.D. Roosevelt State Park
      • George L. Smith State Park
      • Hamburg State Park
      • Hard Labor Creek State Park
      • High Falls State Park
      • Indian Springs State Park
      • Jarrell Plantation Historic Site
      • Magnolia Springs State Park
      • Mistletoe State Park
      • Panola Mountain State Park
      • Robert Toombs House Historic Site
      • Roosevelt's Little White House Historic Site
      • Sweetwater Creek State Park
    •  Southern
      • Florence Marina State Park
      • General Coffee State Park
      • George T. Bagby State Park
      • Georgia Veterans State Park
      • Jack Hill State Park
      • Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site
      • Kolomoki Mounds Historic Park
      • Laura S. Walker State Park
      • Little Ocmulgee State Park and Lodge
      • Providence Canyon State Outdoor Recreation Area
      • Reed Bingham State Park
      • SAM Shortline Excursion Train
      • Seminole State Park
      • Stephen C. Foster State Park
    •  Coastal
      • Crooked River State Park
      • Fort King George Historic Site
      • Fort McAllister Historic Park
      • Fort Morris Historic Site
      • Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation Historic Site
      • Skidaway Island State Park
      • Wormsloe Historic Site
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Celebration of History & Culture

Friends believes Georgia's rich history is worth preserving and sharing with everyone.  Our parks and historic sites interpret days past for today's children and tomorrow's future.  By interpreting, enhancing and supporting the rich culture of Georgia, we work to provide every Georgian with a window to the past.

The SAM train made its first public trip from Cordele through Leslie, Americus, and Plains to Archery on October 26th, 2002. That run capped two years of planning and fulfilled the desire of former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn to maintain the prosperity of their hometown of Plains.

Since that inaugural run, the SAM has contributed millions of dollars in economic stimulus to the area. Despite social distancing in 2021, which reduced the passenger load, the train hosted 17,000 riders. According to the...

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Chapters in Action

SAM Is Celebrating 20 years!
SAM Shortline Excursion Train
Cabin behind the main house at A.H. Stephens Historic Site
The Solo Adventurer’s Guide to...A.H. Stephens!
A.H. Stephens
Golden exhibit featuring a television
Dahlonega Gold Museum Grand Re-Opening
Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site
New Friends Chapter Has Formed!
Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site
Christmas at the Inn
Travelers Rest Historic Site
more

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