SGA eighth graders visit the state capital during their class trip touring the state to learn about Georgia history. The eighth grade class of Southwest Georgia Academy visited several sites in the state of Georgia as part of their Georgia history studies. The group left school March 21 and returned March 24 and were under the guidance of teacher Ashton Humphries. Several parents accompanied the class as well.

On the first day the group went to Jekyll Island and looked at historic homes and Faith Chapel which has beautiful stained glass windows made by Louis Comfort Tiffany. They crossed over the Sidney Lanier Bridge, the largest suspended bridge in Georgia. They ate lunch on St. Simon’s Island and then went to Fort King George where they toured the historic fort and watched a precolonial soldier demonstrate the care of a musket. He then fired the musket. After leaving St. Simon’s, the class headed into Savannah, ate at the Olympia, a Greek restaurant, and then shopped a while on River Street. That night the class members took the “ghost tour” of Savannah. Most students picked this event as their favorite. Even Humphries agreed it was a very “scary experience.”

On the second day the group visited the First African Church in Savannah were they learned how slaves worshipped and how the church was used in the Underground Railroad. The students walked through the famous squares in Savannah which were designed by James Oglethorpe, founder of Georgia. They visited the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist where an SGA alumnus, Ben Dallas, was ordained a Catholic priest several years ago. Afterward, the students visited Tybee Island before going to Fort Jackson. At this fort, they learned about Civil War medicine and watched soldiers fire a cannon. They then enjoyed a delicious meal at Mrs. Wilkes’ Restaurant, which President Obama has visited.

On the third day, the group visited the capitol in Atlanta and had a lesson on politics and laws. After leaving the capital, the students traveled to Dahlonega where they panned for gold and toured the gold mines. Afterward, they went to see one of Georgia’s seven natural wonders, Amicalola Falls. The students had a rough uphill climb, but the view was worth it, according to many.

On last day, the group returned home, stopping on the way back south at the Little White House in Warm Springs. Here they had a tour of the location where President Franklin D. Roosevelt spent much time. When they reached Americus, the group had a tour of Andersonville National Cemetery, where the students learned about some of the tragedy associated with Georgia and the Civil War.

Students who took this Georgia studies tour, which is an annual field trip for the eighth grade, were Cullen Hargrove, Konner Gordon, Emily Brookins, Caroline Heard, Addie Phillips, Lily Houston, Brooklyn Enfinger, Brooke Hornsby, Lacie McFay, Austin Cowart, Stephen Jackson, Baylee Everson, Katie Lyn Carver, Deep Patel, Hope Dawson, Tanner Gleaton, Lindsey Roney, Brandi Delk, Dylan Sheppard, Nelson Hattaway, Quinn LaGuardia, Jessie Oliver, David Bright, Tyler Durham, Eli Henderson, Payton Smith, Jeremy Trawick, Matthew White, Patrick Smith, Andrew Heard, Dakota Middleton, Henley Haire, Seth Cross, Payson Trawick, Rawls Grimsley, Hudson Durden and Nathan Toal.