Cannonball House (Macon, Georgia) Informations

The Cannonball House located in Macon, Georgia, United States. The Cannonball House was constructed in 1853. The house was named because of cannonball damage sustained during the Civil War. The house was built using an authentic Greek revival architectural style and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The recreated meeting rooms of the Adelphean (ΑΔΠ) and Philomathean (ΦΜ) societies (the world's first college sororities established at Wesleyan College in 1851 and 1852, respectively) can be found on display inside the house. The entire house is furnished to the 1853 period.

The rear of the Cannonball House is occupied by a hand-molded brick two-story kitchen. The upper level of this house served as servants' quarters. Few structures of this type remain in the South today. A bronze cannon, forged in 1864 at the Macon Arsenal, can be found on display in front of the Cannonball House.

The house received its name due to a Union cannonball that crashed into the house during the Battle of Dunlap Hill on July 30, 1864.The left middle column of the house was destroyed by a cannonball fired from across the Ocmulgee River. According to eyewitnesses, the cannonball went through the column and into the house itself after bouncing off the sand sidewalk in front of the house. Evidence of the impact still remains and can be seen in the repaired column, parlor plaster and large dent in the hall floor. Initially, the city of Macon desired to destroy the cannonball house. They felt it wasn't necessary to keep the house safe and preserve its history. In fact, the city of Macon wanted to turn the Cannon Ball House into a parking lot. Thanks to the Daughters of the Confederacy we are not visiting a historical parking lot. The history is being preserve. There are five original family architect that still remains at the museum. Macon was one of the most prominent cities in Georgia during this time. Macon was the powerhouse for manufacturing goods. Hence, the military equipment that still remains in the Cannon Ball House.

The Cannonball House was owned by Judge Asa Holt during the war. The house is owned by the Sidney Lanier Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC).

Currently, the house serves as a historic house museum.

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