Georgia's Old Capital Heritage Center at the Depot

“Open Doors and Open Minds”

Boost Mental Health Awareness, Local and Cultural Heritage, and Life-Long Learning

at The Historic Central State Hospital Depot.

Georgia’s Old Capital Heritage Center at The Depot, Inc. (GOCHC) continues to transform the historic, 135-year-old Depot/Storehouse located on the former Central State Hospital (CSH) campus in Milledgeville, GA. This handsome Victorian building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is coming to life as a true heritage center for our local community. The GOCHC Depot complex is home to The Central State Hospital Museum, two local history pocket exhibits in the Just Imagine Cottage, and there are plans for a future local history museum and event center as well.

Your past support enabled us to first address structural and exterior repairs to The Depot that were required to begin development of our Heritage Center vision. In the completed area of The Depot, GOCHC has a fascinating Central State Hospital Museum that displays mental institution artifacts that tell the story of Central State Hospital, its people, its tragedies, and its triumphs. We integrate the history of Central State Hospital with the history of Milledgeville through this museum, educational programs, and exhibits that share the history of the hospital from its opening in 1842 until the time of decentralization of mental health services by the state in the mid 1970’s. At that time, thousands of mental hospital residents had to relocate elsewhere for their much needed psychological, medical, and housing needs.

Our CSH Museum needs additional space to house and display many artifacts we recently received that are awaiting public exhibition. The immediate challenge for this year’s GAgives Campaign is to collect enough financial donations to restore the east wing of The Depot which includes the installation of restrooms, to make room for an expansion of The Central State Hospital Museum, to develop additional GOCHC educational programs, and to establish a usable area for community and Heritage Center programs and events.

Partner with Georgia’s Old Capital Heritage Center to make a difference, and

(1) Tell the story of The Central State Hospital and increase learning opportunities at The Historic Central State Hospital Depot with a goal of boosting life-long mental health awareness,

(2) Renovate the east wing area of The Depot to add usable space for more CSH exhibits, rotating displays, and educational/event space,

(3) Increase local history educational program development and availability to all GOCHC visitors.

Let’s “Open Doors and Open Minds” together, and create something lasting that honors the past, informs the present, and promotes life-long learning for our future.  Click the Donate button above to make your tax-deductible donation on GIVING Tuesday, December 2rd , (early giving starts November 1st), or go to our website for other ways to give to GOCHC in 2025.