Warm Springs Area Historic Sites

Spring is a phenomenal time to visit the historic West Georgia community of Warm Springs. The dogwoods, azaleas and other natural plants are in bloom and comfortable temperatures have returned, making the easy drive from nearby Atlanta or Columbus well worth the time.

Located just off the northern slope of Pine Mountain, Warm Springs is rich in both natural and cultural history. The community is a popular gateway to nearby Callaway Gardens, one of the finest outdoor attractions in the South, Warm Springs is also known for its unique old downtown area, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Little White House and an array of other sites associated with the man who guided America through the Great Depression and World War II.

A beautifully revitalized historic community, Warm Springs is centered around the site of the train station from which President Roosevelt's body was taken in 1945 after he died at the Little White House. A monument marks the train station site and visitors can tour many other sites associated with Roosevelt, including the restored warm water pools that once attracted him to Warm Springs in hope of finding help for the disabling results of his battle with polio. The Little White House is open to the public daily and the nearby Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park includes numerous other areas associated with the late president.

In addition, the scenery of Pine Mountain is just spectacular. Historic Dowdell's Knob offers stunning views of the valley below and trails lead to small waterfalls, rock formations and other unique settings.

To learn more about the Warm Springs area, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/warmsprings.

The Little White House - Warm Springs, Georgia

Another of my favorite sites in Georgia is just down the road from Dowdell's Knob (see post of August 18, 2009).

Built by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932 on a farm he bought just outside of Warm Springs, the Little White House was one of only two homes ever owned by our nation's longest serving President. It is beautifully preserved today as a memorial to the man who guided the United States through both the Great Depression and World War II.

Roosevelt first came to Warm Springs in 1924 after he heard of progress being made by polio patients who swam in water from the warm mineral springs that flowed down from the sides of Pine Mountain. He had been stricken with polio and was desperate for a cure. The water and people of Warm Springs were not able to cure the future President's body, although his swims there did improve his physical condition, but they did cure his mind, inspiring him to return to political life despite the paralysis resulting from his fight with polio.

FDR was elected Governor of New York in the years following his treatment at Warm Springs, but he had fallen so deeply in love with the small Georgia community and his people that he returned often. It was on one of these visits that he decided to buy a farm on the slopes of Pine Mountain and it was in 1932 that he built the beautiful frame home known today as the Little White House. That same year he was elected President of the United States.

Roosevelt continued to come home to the Little White House throughout his years as President and it was here, while posing for a portrait in 1945, that he collapsed and died.

To learn more about this precious Georgia historic site, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/littlewhitehouse.

Dowdell's Knob - Pine Mountain, Georgia

One of my favorite historic sites in Georgia is Dowdell's Knob. Located high atop Pine Mountain, it was a favorite spot of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Stricken with polio, Roosevelt first came to Georgia to in hopes that the natural warm springs that flowed from Pine Mountain might hold curative properties. While he did not find a cure for polio, he did find that swimming in the pools at Warm Springs was good exercise and did make him feel better.

Roosevelt fell in love with the rolling ridges and scenic views around Warm Springs and in 1932 built his Little White House just outside the community. He spent a great deal of time there after being elected President of the United States.

President Roosevelt loved to get out and explore the area, usually behind the wheel of his hand-controlled car. His favorite place to picnic was Dowdell's Knob, a ridge and hilltop that projected from the northern end of Pine Mountain. The President often spent a great deal of time there and even had a stone grill erected.

Roosevelt's grill still stands on Dowdell's Knob, which is now a part of Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park. In addition, visitors can see a statue of the President and read interpretive panels explaining the historical significance ot the site, while also enjoying the picnic area featuring the same views once enjoyed by Roosevelt himself.

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