ABOUT

The Museum of LaFayette is dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of LaFayette and the surrounding Walker County community. Located in the historic Chattooga Academy building, also known as Gordon Hall, the museum connects visitors with the people, places, and stories that shaped this corner of Northwest Georgia.

Originally constructed in 1836, Chattooga Academy is one of the oldest surviving brick school buildings in Georgia. For generations it served as a center of learning for the community and later became a historic landmark reflecting LaFayette’s deep roots in education, civic life, and regional history.

Today, the Museum of LaFayette continues that legacy of learning. Through exhibits, artifacts, and educational programs, the museum highlights the area’s early settlement, Civil War connections, local culture, and the everyday lives of the people who called LaFayette home.

By preserving these stories and artifacts, the Museum of LaFayette ensures that the history of this community remains accessible for future generations.

Read about the history of the building below.

  • 1835

    The Georgia General Assembly authorizes the creation of Chattooga Academy, one of the earliest educational institutions in Northwest Georgia.

  • 1836
    Construction of the academy is completed in LaFayette. The two-story brick building becomes the community’s primary school and one of the earliest brick schoolhouses in the region.

  • 1840s–1850s
    The academy educates generations of local students, including John Brown Gordon, who would later become a Confederate general, Governor of Georgia, and U.S. Senator.

  • 1863
    During the Civil War, Confederate General Braxton Bragg used LaFayette as a temporary headquarters while planning the Battle of Chickamauga.

  • 1864
    The building stood near the action during the Battle of LaFayette, part of the Atlanta Campaign.

  • Late 1800s
    As new schools were built in the area, the academy gradually ceased operating as LaFayette’s primary school.

  • 1920s
    Local civic organizations purchased the building and renamed it John B. Gordon Hall after one of the academy’s most famous students.

  • 1970s
    The building underwent restoration and served as a community and civic space.

  • 1980
    Chattooga Academy was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its significance to Georgia’s educational and Civil War history.

  • Today
    The historic structure remains a preserved landmark in LaFayette and stands as one of the oldest surviving brick school buildings in Georgia. In 2026, the building becomes home to The Museum of LaFayette, continuing its legacy as a place of learning by preserving and sharing the history of LaFayette and Walker County.