Come See Us!
If you want to learn more about the local history of Newnan and Coweta County, you’re in the right place. Call or drop by the museum today!
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Visit the McRitchie-Hollis Museum
Where to find us
We are located at 74 Jackson St., at the corner of Jackson and Clark Streets. We are a 5-minute walk from Newnan’s Downtown Square. To park, turn behind the two-story brick house at 27 Clark Street. Then, walk toward our back garden’s white gazebo and around to the front of the museum.
Museum Hours
10am – 4pm Tues – Fri
10am – 2pm Sat
Coming Soon – Sunday Hours!
Tours Daily
Walk-ins welcomed or
call for an appointment
Location
74 Jackson Street
Newnan, GA 30263
Entry to the museum is by guided or self-guided tours. No trip to Newnan is complete without a visit to this stunning property dripping in southern charm.
Described as a “a must-see and do” by Explore Newnan Coweta, we are centrally located and the crown jewel of showcasing Newnan-Coweta’s rich history.
If you are interested in lending or donating an item to the Newnan-Coweta History Center, information on our collections’ policy, conservation policy and sample documents can be accessed through the policies section of our site.
About The Museum
The Peniston-Arnall-Thomasson Home is a 1937 Neoclassical style house. It was the home of Ellis Hardeman Peniston (1897-1963) and his wife, Mildred Willcoxon Arnall Peniston (1898-1958). Mildred was the daughter of Arnall Mill president Alton Wynn Arnall, and after her father’s death in 1936, Ellis Peniston became the president of Arnall Mill in Sargent. The Penistons had no children, but were very close to their nieces and nephews.
After Ellis died, he left the home to Mildred’s niece, Susie Mann Thomasson. Susie, her husband, physician Dr. James J. Thomasson, Sr., and their four children lived there until 1987. The home was then purchased by the adjacent Newnan Hospital, built in 1925 by Kennon Perry. Newnan Hospital renovated and converted the home into administrative offices.
After Newnan Hospital merged with Piedmont, a new hospital facility was constructed in a new location. Therefore, the house was purchased by the City of Newnan in the late 2000s.
In 2013, the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society received an endowment and furnishings from the estate of Edgar B. Hollis, Jr., NCHS and the City of Newnan arranged for the Peniston-Arnall-Thomasson Home to be set up as a new facility, and the McRitchie-Hollis Museum.
The museum is home to exhibits that tell stories of Newnan and Coweta’s past. Guided tours include the history of the home, the story of the Penistons, and a tour of the current exhibits.
The McRitchie-Hollis House sits at 74 Jackson Street, next to the University of West Georgia’s Newnan Center campus.
What You’ll Find Inside
Click on the locations within the Museum to find out more about our Collections
