The Georgia World War II Heritage Trail is celebrating five years of connecting residents and visitors with the people, places, and stories that define Georgia’s contributions to World War II. Launched in February 2021 to raise public awareness of the state’s rich WWII heritage, the Trail has grown from ten founding partners to twelve Trail Partners and three Affiliate Partners, strengthening a statewide network dedicated to education, preservation, and heritage tourism.
Over the past five years, the Trail has also created a platform that allows museums and historic sites across Georgia to work together in new and meaningful ways, sharing best practices, coordinating programming and marketing efforts, and presenting a more unified narrative of Georgia’s role in the war. What began as a grassroots initiative has evolved into a cooperative model that amplifies each partner’s impact while benefiting the state’s broader tourism and public history education ecosystem.
Shortly after its launch, the Trail received the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus’ Travelblazers Award for innovation in heritage tourism. Since then, several Trail museums have earned “Best in Georgia” honors, regional awards, and national recognition from USA Today. The Trail has been featured in Air Classics and Georgia Magazine, and Travel CO-OP Marketing Program has identified the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail as one of the “Best Heritage Trails in the South.”
Public engagement has grown dramatically. Once described as the “best kept secret in Georgia,” the Trail has expanded from just 35 social media followers in 2021 to nearly 4,000 followers today. The Trail’s website features a dedicated page for each partner organization along with a centralized calendar of events, making it easier than ever for visitors to plan meaningful heritage experiences.
Partnerships with Explore Georgia, the official tourism site of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, as well as membership in the Georgia Press Association and the Georgia Historical Society (GHS), have further elevated the Trail’s visibility. In 2026, the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail is participating for the first time in Super Museum Sunday, sponsored by GHS.
In July 2025, Trail Partners launched an Affiliate Partner initiative, modeled after GHS Affiliate Chapters, to build a broader network of institutions committed to sharing local WWII stories. Three Affiliate Partners have already joined, with additional organizations expected to come on board.
“The Georgia WWII Heritage Trail exists to honor the Greatest Generation by preserving their stories and ensuring they are passed on to new generations,” said Ed Coleman, chair of the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail. “One of the Trail’s greatest strengths is that nowhere in Georgia is more than two hours from at least one Trail Partner, making these powerful stories accessible to families, educators, and travelers across the state.”
A complete list of Trail Partners and Affiliate Partners is available at www.georgiawwiitrail.org.