9-18-2023 4:44pm

The Opulent Hay House is an Architectural Treasure in the Heart of Downtown Macon

Nate Weeks Editor

Art and elegant architectural features can be found throughout the Hay House (Photograph by Nate Weeks)

The Johnson-Felton-Hay House, which is usually just called the Hay House around Macon is nicknamed is the "Palace of the South" for good reason.

The Hay House has 24 rooms and 18,000 square feet of space, is topped with a two-story cupola, and is filled with art and architectural features that would fit well into a palatial estate in Europe.

At the time the house was constructed (construction began in 1855 and continued through 1859), it had the latest technological advances including "hot and cold running water, central heat, gas lighting, a speaker-tube system, in-house kitchen, and an elaborate ventilation system".

The pictures in this article present just a few of the opulent scenes visitors to the Hay House can see during a visit. There are special events that take place there throughout the year and visitors are usually especially dazzled by the many decorations and lights during the events near Christmastime.

There are guided tours of the Hay House given Wednesdays through Sundays on the hour from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. Behind the Scenes tours take place twice a month on the second and fourth Saturday at 10:15 a.m.

The popular Legends and Lores Tours take place a few times a year and the Top of the House Tour (which cost $50 per person) take place seasonally when the Cupola's temperature isn't dangerous to visitors' health.

Regularly priced tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for Seniors 65 and older and military members with IDs, $12 for students (ages 6 to college with IDs), $10 for school groups with a reservations, and visitors age 5 as well as members of The Georgia Trust receive free entry.