Red Oak Covered Bridge - Woodbury, Georgia

Sometimes called the Imlac Covered Bridge after a nearby unincorporated community of that name, the historic Red Oak Covered Bridge in Woodbury is Georgia's oldest original covered bridge.

Built in the 1840s by famed bridge builder Horace King, the Red Oak bridge is also the longest wooden bridge in Georgia. Counting its open approaches, it is 253 feet long. The main covered part of the bridge is 115 feet long.

Uniquely, the Red Oak Covered Bridge is still in use today. Cars cross Red Oak Creek by using the bridge, which is still as solid as it was when it was built, thanks to careful preservation and occasional repair work. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bridge is easily accessible from nearby Warm Springs by way of Georgia Highway 85.

The bridge is a unique surviving example of the engineering skill of its builder, Horace King. Born into slavery in South Carolina, King demonstrated such remarkable capability as an engineer and architect that he was set free by John Godwin. His reputation was so established by that point that the Alabama State Legislature enacted special legislation granting King the full rights of citizenship.

Although he and his sons are best remembered for their work designing and building bridges, they also achieved remarkable results on other projects. Horace King, for example, is remembered today as the designer and builder of the beautiful spial staircase in the Alabama State Capitol.

To learn more about Red Oak Covered Bridge, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/redoak.

Georgia Sea Turtle Center - Jekyll Island, Georgia

Sea turtles, some of which grow to lengths of more than 6 feet, have long been fixtures of the Georgia coast.

Prehistoric Native Americans made use of these large turtles as food and early European settlers were also known to cook one up now and then as well. It was not until 20th century development and other impacts set in, however, that Georgia's population of sea turtles was threatened.

There are five different species of sea turtles in Georgia and all are now protected by both state and federal law. They are a unique and special part of not only the cultural, but the natural history of Georgia.

One of the most unique places to learn about and actually see them is the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island. Located in the beautiful Jekyll Island Historic District, the center offers an interpretive center featuring interactive exhibits about sea turtles, but even more importantly serves to rescue and rehabilitate injured or sick sea turtles from all along the coastal islands.

Guides take visitors on tours of the hospital area, where they can see the staff working to heal and help sometimes very large sea turtles. It is a unique experience and one that should definitely not be overlooked by visitors to the Georgia coast.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/jekyllturtles.