Explore the history of the gold rush & tour BabyLand General Hospital on this Dahlonega roadtrip
+10 Explore the history of the gold rush & tour BabyLand General Hospital on this Dahlonega roadtrip
Explore the history of the gold rush & tour BabyLand General Hospital on this Dahlonega roadtrip
Explore the history of the gold rush & tour BabyLand General Hospital on this Dahlonega roadtrip
Explore the history of the gold rush & tour BabyLand General Hospital on this Dahlonega roadtrip
Explore the history of the gold rush & tour BabyLand General Hospital on this Dahlonega roadtrip
Explore the history of the gold rush & tour BabyLand General Hospital on this Dahlonega roadtrip
Explore the history of the gold rush & tour BabyLand General Hospital on this Dahlonega roadtrip
Explore the history of the gold rush & tour BabyLand General Hospital on this Dahlonega roadtrip
Explore the history of the gold rush & tour BabyLand General Hospital on this Dahlonega roadtrip
Explore the history of the gold rush & tour BabyLand General Hospital on this Dahlonega roadtrip
Explore the history of the gold rush & tour BabyLand General Hospital on this Dahlonega roadtrip
Explore the history of the gold rush & tour BabyLand General Hospital on this Dahlonega roadtrip
Explore the history of the gold rush & tour BabyLand General Hospital on this Dahlonega roadtrip
The historic town of Dahlonega, Georgia, located roughly 40 minutes south of the Alpine-esque Helen, Georgia, is a beautiful and unique town nestled in the mountains of North Georgia that is well worth a visit. Dahlonega is the site of the first major U.S. Gold Rush in 1828 (twenty years before the California Gold Rush). This small town is bursting with Southern charm, earning it Southern Living Magazine’s award for “The South’s Best Mountain Towns.” While on our visit we were able to explore the Dahlonega Gold Museum in the heart of Downtown Dahlonega and the Consolidated Gold Mine. Dahlonega is also famous for its antique shops, where amateur and professional antiquing is a stone’s throw away from almost anywhere in town. Between Helen and Dahlonega rests the small mountain town of Cleveland, Georgia. Here you will feel the nostalgia of the 1980s’ most famous babies, the Cabbage Patch Kids. Intrigued? Read on to learn more!
Dahlonega Gold Museum and Downtown
The Dahlonega Gold Museum is inside the historic Lumpkin County Courthouse. Built in 1836, it is one of the oldest courthouses in Georgia. Dahlonega was even the site of a thriving U.S. Mint branch from 1838-1861, coining more than $6 million in gold. At the Museum, you get to see several of these rare coins and other gilded artifacts, including a gold nugget weighing more than five ounces.
There are also several gold mining and historical exhibits, like the large hydraulic cannon used to blast rock from mountainsides, the old judge’s chambers and jury room, and more. Be sure to watch the short film on America’s First Gold Rush to learn why prospectors flocked to North Georgia to strike it rich! Once you finish seeing the museum, the surrounding square is easily walkable and has an eclectic array of restaurants, cafes and shopping. Our favorite was the Dahlonega General Store, which sells everything from souvenirs to handcrafted decorations.
Things to Know Before You Go:
Address: 1 Public Square N, Dahlonega, GA 30533 (map)
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Phone: (706) 864-2257
Admission for Self-Guided Gold Museum Tour – Children ages 7-17 are $6; Adults are $8.50; Seniors are $8; and ages 6 and under are free.
Hours – Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Parking – Free street parking around the square
Restrooms – Inside the museum (no baby changing stations). Additional restrooms in the Visitor’s Center along the square.
Allotted time – Around 1 hour for museum only, longer if walking around the square and stopping in at a restaurant/café.
Other – Some exhibits are on the second floor of the Museum and are not wheelchair/stroller accessible.
Consolidated Gold Mine
Established in 1895, Consolidated Gold Mine in Dahlonega is the largest gold mining operation ever established east of the Mississippi River. The guided tours let you experience what it was like to be a gold miner 200 feet underground. On this 40-minute guided tour, you will hear the tales of miners’ struggles to uncover gold deep within large quartz veins and unfortunately, why the Mine suddenly closed in 1906. Our tour guide (an actual miner himself) was very entertaining and informative about the inner workings of the Mine. As we walked along the original cart rails, our guide described numerous techniques used to uncover the gold, showed us the mining machinery, demonstrated what is was like to work in total darkness and discussed the dangers of working in the Mine. Once the tour is over, guests receive a demonstration on how to pan for gold and then give it a try for themselves.
Things to Know Before You Go:
Address: 185 Consolidated Gold Mine Road, Dahlonega, GA 30533 (map)
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Phone: (706) 864-8473
Admission for Underground Guided Tour – Children ages 3-12 are $14.95; Anyone 13 and over are $21.95; ages 2 and under are free.
Hours – Monday thru Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Saturday thru Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tours depart every 20-35 minutes throughout the day.
Parking – Ample on-site and free
Restrooms – Inside the gift shop with no baby changing stations.
Allotted time – Approximately 1 – 2 hours
Other – No strollers allowed on the tour, only baby carriers. No reservations required. The Mine remains at a cool 60 degrees year-round with closed-toed shoes only. The walking tour consists of descending three flights of stairs and two ramps with some slick spots.
Babyland General Hospital
The most adorable toy store you’ll ever visit is “Home of the Cabbage Patch Kids” aka Babyland General Hospital. In fact, the Travel Channel voted this as one of the Top Ten Toylands. As soon as you walk in, past the pictures/autographs of all the famous people who have visited, you are met by a Babyland nurse (all staff are decked out in nurse and doctor uniforms) and led to a showroom of rare Cabbage Patch Kids (available for purchase but at a hefty price tag).
Once you pass the Nurse Station, you walk directly into the Cabbage Patch Nursery, where everything here looks and feels like you are in a real hospital nursery. After the Nursery, you will be mesmerized by the beautifully decorated and wonderfully detailed toy store, where the main center of attraction is the Magic Crystal Tree. Here, Mother Cabbage creates a new baby with the assistance of Licensed Patch Doctors and Nurses. Once you have explored the various themed rooms and absorbed all of the wonderment, your child can hand pick the Cabbage Patch doll of their dreams (and the cost is within your budget). Every adopted doll comes with an Oath of Adoption Birth Certificate. Higher end dolls include additional perks, such as a special Mother Cabbage ceremony for your child’s new doll, photos and more.
Things to Know Before You Go:
Address: 300 NOK Drive, Cleveland, GA 30528 (map)
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Phone: (706) 865-2171
Admission for Self-Guided Tour – FREE!!
Hours – Monday thru Thursday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Friday thru Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Parking – Ample on-site and free
Restrooms – Inside with baby changing stations.
Allotted time – Approximately 1- 2 hours
Other – Strollers and baby carriers are permitted
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