Washington Historical Museum

History :

The Washington Historical Museum, built on land once owned by Micajah Williamson, is a white frame, two-story house. Its earliest section was probably constructed in 1835 or 1836 by Albert Gallatin Semmes who acquired the land in 1835 from his brother-in-law, William L. Harris. Half-brother of Brigadier General Paul Jones Semmes, C.S.A. and a cousin of Admiral Raphael Semmes, C.S.N., Semmes later served as Associate Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. He sold the property, dwelling and outbuildings to Mrs. Mary Sneed in 1836 for $4,500.00.

In 1857 the house and the hundred acres surrounding it were acquired by Samuel Barnett, Georgia's first Railroad Commissioner. Mr. Barnett greatly enlarged the house by the addition of the front rooms, hallways and the present staircase. His descendants lived here until the death of his daughter, Mrs. Edward McKendree Bounds, in 1913.

At that time the surrounding acreage was divided and sold separately, the house with its present lot going to Mr. William Armstrong Slaton whose family lived here until 1955. Shortly thereafter the City of Washington acquired the property and home and deeded it to the State of Georgia for the establishment of a museum. The restoration of the home by the Georgia Historical Commission was planned and directed by the late Thomas G. Little, historical architect.