Richmond Hill History Museum

Located in the former Ford Kindergarten building (1937), the museum invites visitors to explore the many layers of Richmond Hill’s story — from the Guale people and plantation era to African American history, the Civil War, and the lasting impact of the Ford era.

Richmond Hill, Georgia's story begins long before the modern city, with the Indigenous Guale people who first lived along Georgia’s coastal waterways. The area later developed through the plantation and rice-growing eras, shaped by the labor, culture, and resilience of African American communities and the events of the Civil War.

A defining chapter began in April 1925, when Henry Ford and Clara Ford arrived and eventually acquired approximately 85,000 acres of land. Through their investments in education, healthcare, skilled trades, and employment, the Fords helped transform Richmond Hill into a thriving model community. Today, many historic buildings and local traditions reflect this lasting legacy. As the community marks the centennial of the Fords’ arrival, the Richmond Hill Historical Society remains dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories that connect Richmond Hill’s past to its future.