The Hay House

The Hay house (Johnston-Hay) is a National Historic Landmark, built from 1855 to 1861,for Macon, GA entrepreneur William Butler Johnston. This 18,000 square foot home in the Italian Renaissance style, was built with such innovative ideas (for the times) as plumbing, central heating, lift and intercom system. Furnished with exquisite antiques and objects of art, this home is open to the public.

The Georgia Trust's restoration of the magnificent entrance hall was completed in 1991. The trompe l'oleil marbleized walls are one of the most spectacular examples of that technique in America. The walls look as if they have been done recently but they were done by an artist named Auguste starting in 1856. He was brought from New York, and his signature is visible above one of the doors on the second floor. Each half of the front door weighs 500 pounds and the door is faux finished to look like bronze.