Norcross tour by The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation highlights the city’s rich architectural history

The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is showcasing the rich history and architecture found in Norcross on Saturday, Aug. 15, as part of the ongoing Georgia Trust Expedition.

The day-long, self-guided tour gives visitors and residents “a rare opportunity” to peruse more than 20 of the city’s historic homes and sites, according to a June 30 announcement.

Proceeds from the expedition will go to support the many preservation and educational programs of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.

Norcross expedition details

The tour begins at 10:30 a.m. with a brief historical orientation at One Heart Church on North Peachtree Street, where people will learn about the history of Norcross and its architecture.

Afterwards, people will tour private homes rarely open to the public, including the 1929 Rochester-Kent House, one of the city’s most prominent homes; the Jones-Ewing House, built in 1903 for Air Line Railroad conductor and Bank of Norcross president Homer V. Jones; and the beautifully preserved 1906 Ray-Puett House, an elegant Queen Anne-style home featuring early Colonial Revival influences.

Attendees will then enjoy a boxed lunch before heading out to explore the Lillian Webb Cottage, the former home of the first woman elected mayor of Norcross, and the first female chair of the Gwinnett County Commission; the Oakes House, featured as Jennifer Aniston’s character’s home in the film “Mother’s Day,” and one of the area’s most famous preservation success stories; and the 1887 Davenport House, originally built as a one-story, four-room home with an exterior kitchen and outdoor privy.

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The tour concludes with a special closing reception at the Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center, originally the Norcross Methodist Church, a beautifully preserved Carpenter Gothic landmark dating to 1875.

The Georgia Trust Norcross Expedition is $75 for Georgia Trust members and $100 for non-members and includes lunch and the closing reception. Tour-only tickets, which do not include lunch and the reception, are available for $50. For more information or to register, visit the website, or call 404-885-7812.

Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation was founded in 1973 to promote the preservation and revitalization of the state’s diverse historic resources and advocate for appreciation, protection, and use. 

As one of the country’s leading statewide, nonprofit preservation organizations, the trust finds buyers for endangered properties acquired by its revolving fund and raises awareness of other endangered historic resources through an annual listing of Georgia’s Places in Peril. Nominations for the 2027 Places in Peril list must be made by Sept. 1, 2026.

In May, Gov. Brian Kemp vetoed House Bill 376, which would have doubled the state’s annual cap on historic rehabilitation tax credits from $30 million to $60 million, citing the legal requirement to balance the state budget.

The nonprofit offers a variety of educational programs, provides technical assistance to property owners and historic communities, advocates for funding, tax incentives and other laws aiding preservation efforts, and manages two house museums in Atlanta (Rhodes Hall) and Macon (Hay House).