Our Mission:

The Old School History Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting Eatonton and Putnam County history for the education and enrichment of present and future generations.  

Museum Background:

In 1998, a group of Eatonton citizens embarked on a restoration/renovation plan to save the 1916 Eatonton School and turn it into a multi-purpose venue for the community and visitors. Today that venue is known as The Plaza Arts Center. The Old School History Museum (OSHM), created to tell the rich history of Eatonton and Putnam County, was part of that plan and had its grand opening in March of 2009. Located inside the Plaza, the museum occupies four original classrooms.  It is a non-profit organization, operating under the umbrella of The Plaza Arts Center, a 501(c)3 organization, and a member of both the Georgia Association of Museums (GAM) and the Lake Country Arts Alliance (LCAA).

What We Do:

  • We care for the museum’s four rooms of historic exhibits and priceless stories, create new exhibits, provide historic information, and serve as docents.

  • We present enrichment tours, history lessons, and special programs for adults and children of all ages.

  • Each year we host hundreds of students, both local and visiting. We provide interactive programs on topics such as History Scavenger Hunts, Native Americans, and Wartime in Georgia.  

  • We also offer Sunday At The Museum history lectures and August Adventure history activities for the whole family. 


What You Can Do:

  • Take a museum tour with a trained docent, or tour by yourself with a self-guided tour brochure.

  • Book a private tour for a family, club, or other group by calling 706-923-1655 for reservations. 

  • Attend the Sunday At The Museum history lectures; stay afterward for delicious refreshments. (Bonus…it’s all free!)

  • Participate in the annual August Adventure, and bring your whole family…there’s something for both adults and children!

  • Volunteer and become a museum docent.  You will learn about the rich history of the area and be trained to share that history with visitors.

  • Tell others about the Old School History Museum; bring your friends and family for an afternoon outing!

  • Support the OSHM with your presence and your donations; the museum is a self-supporting, non-profit organization.   

“Wonderful museum! I felt like I stepped back in time. My grandfather’s store front is so well preserved. I feel like I am flipping through my family photos. ”
— Polly Smith, Granddaughter of former Eatonton Store owner