By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

More than 8,500 stars are projected to portray a realistic and beautiful starry night at the Rollins Planetarium at Young Harris College.

If you are in the Northeast Georgia Mountains looking for something to do or just want to pack up the family and drive to Young Harris for a unique evening, consider a trip to Rollins Planetarium on the Young Harris College campus.

The planetarium has state-of-the-art, full dome digital video technology. The 40-foot dome theater, one of the largest in Georgia, was upgraded last year with new digital video projectors to supplement the existing Chronos star projector.

On June 12 and 19 and July 10 and 17, the planetarium will present the show “The Cowboy Astronomer.” On their website, the planetarium says: (more…)

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Georgia > Southwest Georgia Travel Region > Dougherty County > Albany

Albany’s Thronateeska Heritage Center celebrates the history of the region, including its ties to the railroad industry, with a collection of rolling stock that includes a Georgia Northern steam locomotive. 

The Central of Georgia. Atlantic Coast Line. Georgia Northern. Albany & Northern. Seaboard Air Line. At one time, these five different railroads served the city of Albany with seven rail lines and as many as 55 trains converging daily at the city’s Union Station just one block from the Flint River. Today, that 1912 brick passenger terminal houses a local and regional history and heritage museum that is part of the Thronateeska Heritage Center.

Established in 1974, Thronateeska’s mission is to tell the story of Southwest Georgia, including that of Native Americans, steamboats on the Flint, the emergence of railroads and automobiles, and the Albany Civil Rights Movement.

Thronateeska Heritage Center, located on a wide, brick street in downtown Albany, includes several structures in addition to the depot. The Wetherbee Planetarium, which opened last year, boasts a high-definition projection system that is the first of its kind. It takes you on an exploration of the universe through three regularly scheduled programs: “Oasis in Space,” “Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity,” and “Molecularium.” (more…)