A Visit to Flannery O’Connor’s Andalusia in Milledgeville, GA
Inside O'Connor's home in Milledgeville, Ga.
The feature film "Wildcat" about the life of Georgia’s own Flannery O’Connor is making waves in Milledgeville, Georgia, leaving a lasting impact on her hometown. Tourists are flocking to Andalusia Farm, her cherished childhood home, drawn by its connection to the film. The team at Andalusia are thrilled, sharing stories of increased visitation and newfound interest, beaming with pride at the attention their historic gem is receiving. Meanwhile, Visit Milledgeville is experiencing a surge in traffic to their website, fueled by the film's spotlight on the town's rich cultural tapestry and impact on Flannery’s writing.
The highly anticipated biopic “Wildcat” premiered in theaters on May 3. Directed by the legendary Ethan Hawke and starring Maya Hawke, Laura Linney and more, the film is now streaming on Amazon Prime. As you may know, Flannery was born in Savannah, but spent most of her life in Milledgeville, Georgia. Flannery’s most productive writing years were during her residence at Andalusia Farm in Milledgeville. This vibrant and quaint small town would end up being the backdrop for Flannery as she wrote some of her most famous pieces there.
Several historic sites can be found in Milledgeville that influenced and inspired Flannery’s literary legacy. These sites represent Flannery’s childhood, her writing, and as well as her final resting place. Exploring Andalusia Farm and the new interpretive center, Georgia College’s special collection, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Cline-O’Connor-Florencourt House and her final resting place Memory Hill Cemetery tell the interesting story of Flannery O’Connor’s life. Here is a link to learn more about Flannery’s hometown of Milledgeville, Ga.
In fact, Flannery’s 100th birthday will also be celebrated in Milledgeville in March 2025.
Andalusia | 2628 North Columbia Street, Milledgeville, Georgia
Hours | Open Tuesday - Sunday; tours begin at the top of the hour with the last one at 4 p.m.
Admission | $7 for adults; $6 for seniors; $2 for students
The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1980) and became a National Historic Landmark in 2022. It is operated by the National Park Service and is part of Georgia College and State University.
Writer’s Note | My favorite short story of O’Connor’s is “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” written in 1955. As a high school English teacher, I couldn’t wait until it was time to dive into Southern literature and introduce O’Connor to my students. Her ties to Georgia plus, the Catholic vein in her writing, plus her Southern gothic tone always inspired me to reach outside the box for narratives, meaning you’re only limit is your imagination. Students got that. Much like Edgar Alan Poe, O’Connor and writers who offered and experience in the macabre always sucked them in. And with that, they became readers. Get her collection of short stories and get ready for fall.
📷 Visit Milledgeville
