Plains Chautauqua

Plains, Georgia is a small farming community with a rich history. The town was established in 1888, but was not well-known until 1976 when Jimmy Carter was elected President of the United States. The Plains Historical Preservation Trust (PHPT) was established in 1977 with the mission of securing land and buildings of historic significance as well as identifying people and events that shaped our community.

Many residents of Plains have fond memories of the “mini” Chautauqua programs Miss Julia Coleman held at Plains High School from the 1920s – 1950s. In 2008, PHPT revived Chautauqua programs in memory of Miss Julia Coleman. The Plains Chautauqua programs serve as a means of educating and highlighting our history on a small scale. Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter encouraged the board to hold larger events and reach out to more people. The Plains Chautauqua Weekend event will be held May 2-4, 2014.

Plains is part of the National Historic Site and Preservation District with three historic sites that are run by the National Park Service.