Hay House

The Hay House is one of the most notable structures in Georgia. Its full name is the Johnston-Felton-Hay House and it became a part of the National Historic Landmark registry in 1974. The home is 18,000 square feet and was built between 1855 and 1859. The style is Italian Renaissance Revival and it stood out against most of the Greek Revival style buildings that were built during the antebellum time period. For the period in which it was built, the technological amenities were astounding and the mansion features central heating, hot and cold running water, an in-house kitchen, a speaker tube system and a modern ventilation system. Over the course of three generations when the house was still a residential building, only two families occupied the property. The museum features many of the Hay Family's furnishings today, which are from the 1920's through 1960's. The marble statue "Ruth Gleaning" is considered among the most notable pieces in the home. The Johnston Family were the original inhabitants of the home and were responsible for the building. Mary Ellen, the Johnston Family daughter took ownership of the home in 1896 and lived in the house with her husband William H. Felton. The couple added plumbing and electricity. The Hay's took ownership in 1926. The home was left to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation in 1977 and has been under the operation of the trust since it became a national landmark.