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history DAHLONEGA granted NGC university status and
changed its name to North Georgia
I T’S P U R E G O L D College & State University. On
Jan. 8, 2013, the university merged
Dahlonega’s past with Gainesville State College and
is reflected in changed its name again, to the
its name, from University of North Georgia. One
the Cherokee of only six Senior Military Colleges
word “ta-lo-ne-ga,” which in the nation, the university is
means “yellow,” as in gold. designated as The Military College
Both settlers and Native of Georgia.
Americans knew of the area’s The people of Lumpkin County
gold riches for hundreds embraced the University of North
of years. The Cherokee Georgia from the very beginning,
panned for gold in the early especially during military reviews
1540s, and Spanish miners on campus and downtown parades
joined them in the 1730s. that remind area residents of
North Georgia’s Corps of Cadets’
history Dahlonega Gold Museum contribution to the nation’s defense.
of dahlonega The Great Outdoors
Dahlonega was home to While the California Gold Rush Birth of a College Town Another important aspect of
America’s first gold rush, which in 1849 drew most of the local Dahlonega and Lumpkin County
began after hunter Benjamin Parks miners west, leaving the area to the Six years after the end of the Civil is the great outdoors, with
overturned a rock laced with the farmers, a second, smaller gold rush War, the Dahlonega Mint building the beautiful mountain scenery,
glittering metal in 1828. Overnight, in the 1880s briefly revived interest and 10 acres were transferred to captivating waterfalls, forests
the boomtown of Auraria sprang in Lumpkin County. Dredging the state for use as North Georgia teeming with wildlife, and
up to accommodate throngs of new operations were popular until 1920. Agricultural College, a land grant numerous trails from which
residents drawn by the lure of gold Gradually, though, the gold became and military school. The mint to enjoy it all. In 1936, the
and riches. When the county was more difficult to extract, and miners building burned and a second U.S. government created the
officially formed in 1832, however, headed west. By 1906, the last building, known today as Price Chattahoochee National Forest
land title questions caused Auraria large Dahlonega mining company, Memorial Hall, was constructed on from a land purchase that began in
to be passed over for county seat in Consolidated Mining, closed the old foundation. This building’s Lumpkin County 26 years earlier.
favor of nearby Dahlonega. its operation. spire is covered with 23 ounces Today, Lumpkin County is an
With the Cherokee forced out There is still plenty of gold in of Dahlonega gold, making it the outdoor enthusiast’s dream.
in 1838, the white miners and the area, but the cost of modern quintessential image of the city.
settlers had the gold and the land mining operations far exceeds the The mission of North Georgia Tourism
to themselves. From 1828 to 1861, value of the refined gold. Most Agricultural College evolved into
Lumpkin County produced more Dahlonega “mining” today is purely one emphasizing arts and sciences The advent of the automobile
than $36 million in gold coins, recreational. Visitors can pan for and, in 1929, the school was brought another change to
$6 million of which were minted gold and tour old gold mines for a renamed North Georgia College. Lumpkin County. New roads
by the U.S. Mint in Dahlonega. taste of what mining was like back The institution briefly became a two- drew people to the area’s history,
When the Civil War broke out, the in the 1800s. Also, the Old Lumpkin year college in 1933, primarily due some even staying to build second
Confederacy seized the mint and County Courthouse, built in 1836 to the economic pressures of the homes nearby. Tourism became
produced another $23,000 in gold from bricks with traces of gold, Great Depression. Dahlonega’s third gold rush.
coinage. However, the Confederates operates as the Dahlonega Gold After World War II, in 1946, NGC The latest attractions are the fine
found running the mint too Museum, offering information on re-established senior (four-year) vineyards and wineries in the area
expensive and it was shut down, gold deposits of Georgia and the status. During the 1996-97 school that offer tastings and special events
never to reopen. Georgia Gold Rush. year, the Georgia Board of Regents to promote their boutique labels.
All of Georgia and many beyond
know about Dahlonega today.
It’s the last stop on northbound
Georgia Highway 400. Anyone
passing through Atlanta, an hour’s
drive away, gets a visual reminder
of Dahlonega – the Georgia State
Capitol Building has 60 ounces
of Dahlonega gold glittering on
its dome.
5 Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber and Visitors Bureau • (800) 231-5543 • www.dahlonega.org
