Visiting the Hay House in Macon, GA
Touring a Historic Antebellum Home in Middle Georgia
After a three-year honeymoon in Europe, jeweler and investor William Butler Johnston and his betrothed, Anne Clark Tracy, wanted to savor a little piece of Italy in Macon. Set on a hilltop, their mansion, which was built from 1855 to 1859, stood apart from the boxier Greek Revival style popular at the time. The house also contained amenities almost unheard of in the antebellum period: hot and cold running water, central heat, a speaker-tube system, and more.
When Mrs. Johnston died in 1896, the house passed on to daughter Mary Ellen and her husband William H. Felton. The Felton heirs sold the house to Parks Lee Hays in 1926. At his request, his heirs turned the house into a museum in 1962. In 1977, the Hays turned ownership over to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.
Touring the Mansion
Upon reaching the majestic front of the Hay House, visitors find a sign that tells them to go around back. The uninitiated might look around, thinking perhaps that the sign is meant for deliveries or workers, but surely not for paying guests. But, yes, the back is where one must go. And so visitors begin their tour of this National Historic Landmark on the ground floor.
The ground floor is immense – the walk-in pantry and hallway are both big enough to be living rooms in more modest (that is to say, average) houses. This floor, with its advanced ventilation system, was actually the summer residence of the Johnstons. Nonetheless, the sights are far from what one would expect from the famed “Palace of the South.” Crestfallen visitors should fear not, for this is only a ruse. Soon visitors will sent out to the front entrance, where they will be greeted by palatial splendor. The main floor alone boasts both a ladies and gentleman’s parlor, formal dining room, art gallery, and ballroom. The next two levels are filled with bedrooms.
The Hay House abounds with trompe-l’oeils, or “tricks of the eye,” which typically make a two-dimensional surface seem three-dimensional. The deception includes fake wood paneling, breathtaking false marble, “doorways” that are painted on, false roofs, etc. Some trompes were money-saving tricks. Others were painstaking efforts to maintain the symmetry that was so important in keeping the Italian Renaissance Revival style of the house.
The Hay House is under constant renovation. It is fascinating to see the original look, the changes that the Hays made, and both the processes of decay and restoration. A tour of the “Palace of the South” is a must for visitors to Macon. It is well worth the price of admission.
Other Events
- Educational Programs: School groups can choose from a variety of age-appropriate education sessions focused on architecture or history.
- Behind-the-Scene Tours: These two-hour tours take visitors to levels closed off to the general public, including the third-floor bedrooms and cupola. Advanced registration is required for these special tours.
- Facilities Rental: The Hay House is available Mondays and evenings (6 pm – midnight) from September through May for weddings, receptions, banquets, etc.
- Victorian Parties: Special birthday or bridal shower packages including period crafts, parlor games, and tours of the facilities, are available.
- Special Events: The Hay House holds a variety of special events throughout the year, such as “Hay Day Family Festivals”, “Valentine Children’s Tea”, and “Christmas Luncheon.”
Contact Information:
- 934 Georgia Ave; Macon, Georgia 31201
- 478-742-8155
Public Tour Hours:
- Tuesday – Saturday 10 am -4 pm
- Sundays 1 pm – 4pm (except January, February, July, and August)
- Open Mondays for groups by appointment
- Tours are on the hour with the last tour at 3 p.m.
The Art Gallery
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The Stairwell
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The Hay House At Night
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