Cannonball House

Little Guide Macon • Experience Local • Pg. 39

The Story

Long before it became a museum, The Cannonball House was already part of Macon’s story. Built in 1853 for Judge Asa Holt and his wife Mary, the grand Greek Revival home designed by Elam Alexander still bears the scar of a Federal shell that struck its column in 1864—and miraculously never exploded.

Opened to the public in 1964, the two-story residence invites visitors to see history up close. Each room holds authentic antiques, many from the Holt-Canning family, while upstairs a Civil War gallery displays weaponry, uniforms, and photographs that reveal the city’s role in that turbulent era.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Cannonball House features a garden created by a celebrated horticulturist and hosts events year-round. Stop by during the Cherry Blossom Festival for Living History Day and watch the past come to life right in the heart of Macon.