Americus Garden Inn

Bed & Breakfast

“where history meets romance…”

Insider's Guide to Andersonville National Historic Site

We recommend that your visit to Andersonville starts at the Andersonville Civil War Village.  Andersonville Civil War Village is located in the town of Andersonville where the prisoners were dropped off by train and marched across the road to Camp Sumter.  The Drummer Boy Museum contains an incredible collection of Civil War memorabilia from both sides of the conflict.  There is a large model of Camp Sumter which truly helps in conceptualizing the vast open space that was the prison camp.  Most people take about 1 hour at this venue.  Admission is $5  Phone number:  229-924-2558

After visiting the Drummer Boy Museum, go directly into the Welcome Center of Andersonville National Historic Site.  There is a theater inside which shows 2 films, each about 28 minutes:  "Voices from Andersonville" and "Echoes of Captivity".  We recommend watching "Voices from Andersonville" before touring the Camp Sumter prison site and the Andersonville National Military Cemetery. View "Echoes of Captivity" before seeing the National P.O.W. Museum.  Ask at the welcome desk for the audio tour on CD (or cassette) of the prison site and the cemetery.  The tour is designed for use in your vehicle and provides a detailed narrative of the both areas.  There are also park ranger talks/tours at 11:00am and 2:00pm daily.  Most people take about 3 hours at this venue.  Admission is free.

Andersonville National Historic Site  is comprised of 3 major parts:  the prison site, the cemetery and the National P.O.W. Museum.  Camp Sumter was the most infamous civil war prison which held more than 45,000 Union soldiers, of which 13,000 perished and were buried there.

Andersonville National Cemetery began as the final resting place for those who died in captivity at Camp Sumter during the Civil War.  In 1865, Dorrence Atwater and Clara Barton were instrumental in identifying many of the nameless graves and raised the American flag over the fallen.  It continues to be a permanent place of honor for those who have died in military service for our country. 

National Prisoner of War Museum is a multimedia experience dedicated to POWs from all wars involving American soldiers.

Visitor Information for Andersonville National Historic Site
(229) 924-0343

For the final chapter, make sure to visit Oak Grove Cemetery where the Confederate soldiers were laid to rest just 1/4 mile from the Americus Garden Inn.

[ Inn Tour | Details | Attractions | Links | Map | History | FAQ | Home ]