The train depot

in Jonesboro has been the site of a number of events, from loading bales

of cotton in the 1860s to a well-appointed museum honoring the late Margaret

Mitchell and its place in the legendary land of "Gone With The Wind."

Originally,

the site sat in Fayette County from 1821 to 1858 and the town was called

Leaksville. A civil engineer, Colonel Samuel Goode Jones, supervised a

rail line from Savannah to Marthasville, now Atlanta. The engineer lived

in Leaksville and was so highly respected that in 1845 the town's name

was changed to Jonesboro.

The War Between

the States brought federal forces through Jonesboro and a good portion

of it was burned in late 1864, including the railroad depot. At that time

it sat just north of town near the Confederate Cemetery.

The current

depot was built in 1867 and was used as a freight and passenger terminal

until the late 1960s.

Historical

Jonesboro, the local historical society, leased the building and first

renovated it in 1972 and again in 1996, using it as a welcome center and

offices, along with creating a museum. In 2000 the site was purchased

tax was put in place to support the museum as well as future tourism development

projects.

Today the depot

houses the Clayton County Convention and Visitors Bureau offices as well

as the newly opened Road to Tara Museum.

It is filled

with memorabilia from the collections of Herb Bridges of Newnan, noted

owner of the largest Margaret Mitchell - "Gone With The Wind"

- collectibles, to handmade costumes from the film "Gone With The

Wind" by famed textile artist Peggy Miller, of Williamsburg, Va.

A recent reception

officially opened the doors to the exhibit and salesroom with Bridges

and Miller attending, along with Fred Crane. Crane had the opening line

in "Gone With The Wind," portraying one of the Tarleton twins.

He now owns a bed and breakfast in Barnesville, Ga., aptly names Tarleton

Oaks. An audio tour of the displays is narrated by Crane and will soon

be available in several languages.

The museum

features a first edition of Margaret Mitchell's books, signed by her,

and other book-related memorabilia including a foreign edition from each

country the book has been published in.

Reproduction

costumes from scenes in the movie are on display; the barbecue dress,

Scarlett's drapery dress, (be sure to note the chicken claw in the hat),

the burgundy dress and Bonnie Blue Butler's riding habit. They are based

on Walter Plunkett's original movie designs.

The displays

will all be on a rotating exhibit.

The Road to

Tara Museum and gift shop is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.

to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults

and $5 for children, seniors and students.

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