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.
Celebration of History & Culture
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...
