The Whitfield-Murray Historical Society was formed in the 1950’s as part of an effort to restore the historic Vann House in Spring Place, Georgia. In 1976, following a period of inactivity, the Society was reorganized as a non-profit organization seeking to preserve and document the history of Whitfield and Murray Counties. Much has been accomplished since 1976, and new and exciting things continue to happen with our society. Please browse around. We hope you will consider becoming our newest member! To put it simply, we love our local heritage and want to preserve it so that you can savor its richness as well!
The historical society maintains several local historical properties which would otherwise be in danger of neglect or destruction. Historical society properties include the historical Hamilton House, the historical Huff House, the Blunt House, and Dug Gap Battle Park in Whitfield County; the Wright Hotel, Chatsworth Depot, and the Spring Place Methodist Church in Murray County, Georgia. The Whitfield-Murray Historical Society is headquartered in the 1890’s Crown Cotton Mill office building in Dalton, Georgia. Our headquarters, best known as “Crown Gardens & Archives”, and more recently called the Whitfield-Murray History Center, serves as a depository for historical records and research material relating to the history of Whitfield and Murray counties.
The archives contain many one-of-a-kind documents that are unavailable elsewhere. Holdings include original ledgers, stock certificates, employee payroll records, and other historic documents relating to area businesses which no longer exist; documents and photos relating to the history of the local chenille and carpet textile industry; genealogical research materials, including local family files, history books, local records, histories of Whitfield, Murray, Gilmer, Catoosa, and surrounding counties; regional marriage and cemetery indexes; and other research material, including the Georgia Death Index on microfiche. Publications of the historical society are also available for purchase at our headquarters.