Visitors
Whether you’re a student, a parent or a visitor for the day, Georgia Southern University has a diverse array of places to explore across all three campuses. From dining, art, music and theatre, to wildlife and environmental education, to exploring the cosmos, Georgia Southern has beautiful spaces, events and exhibitions to both educate and entertain. Check out some of the options below, and experience all the Eagle Nation has to offer.
Visit Statesboro
Historic Statesboro, Georgia, is a charming and dynamic college town built around a shop-lined Main Street, and was recently voted one of America’s Best Communities. Statesboro boasts a variety of businesses and restaurants, and offers residents, students and visitors a wide range of cultural events, recreational activities and hometown charm. The city hosts regular family events such as First Fridays, and a weekly Farmers Market from April to November each year.
Georgia Southern Museum
At the Georgia Southern Museum, visitors can explore up to 80 million years of both natural and cultural history along Georgia’s coastal plain. Step back in time to the Mesozoic Era and come see a 26-foot-long Mosasaur skeleton in The Hall of Natural History. Or experience one of the many dynamic, interactive exhibits based on our University faculty’s own important research. Explore. Learn. Grow. Visit the Georgia Southern Museum today for an exciting glimpse into our state’s storied history.
Center for Wildlife Education and The Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center
Since its inception, the Center for Wildlife Education has grown into one of the leading environmental education facilities in Georgia. More than 17 acres in size, the Center is home to raptors, reptiles, waterfowl, amphibians, mammals, and of course, eagles! Providing up close wildlife encounters to more than 17,500 annual visitors, the Center provides people of all ages with a strong sense of their personal roles in protecting our environment and the planet we all share.
Botanic Garden
Welcome to The Garden. This lush landscape covers more than 11 acres of the early 20th century farmstead of Dan and Catharine Bland, and features an impressive collection of native and heritage plants, including more than 20 protected species in Georgia. In the Garden, you’ll also find winding woodland trails, a children’s area, the Rural Life Museum, the Whelchel Camellia Garden, and the Kennedy Outdoor Classroom, providing research and educational resources for faculty, students and visitors alike.
Performing Arts Center
Bringing Broadway to the Boro, Georgia Southern’s Performing Arts Center is a state-of-the-art performance facility, featuring an 825-seat theatre with the latest sound and lighting technology. Each season, the Center offers world-renowned plays, music, dance and other performing arts entertainment. Available for use by campus and community organizations, and providing educational programs for its visitors, the Performing Arts Center actively promotes the discovery, appreciation and enrichment of the arts and individual artist accessibility to perform and train year-round.
Georgia Southern University Planetarium
Whether on earth, in orbit or en route through the known universe, the Georgia Southern University Planetarium offers immersive, full-dome multimedia presentations for visitors of all age groups, including pre-K children. Free to the public, Planetarium shows feature real-time views of the Milky Way Galaxy and beyond. Appointments for larger groups or classes are always welcome, or visitors can simply stop by each month for new show times and special public events, including outdoor telescopic observations when weather permits.
Center for Art and Theatre
Home to the Black Box Theatre, Betty Foy Sanders Georgia Artists Collection and Smith Callaway Banks Southern Folk Art Collection, Georgia Southern’s Center for Art & Theatre is a stunning venue for outstanding theatrical performances and renowned art exhibitions. The facility features 5,000 square feet of gallery space, with two permanent collections as well as featured exhibitions throughout the year. Inside, patrons will find a 150-seat, state-of-the-art performance space that stages four major productions each year, as well as smaller performances such as the 10-Minute Play Festival and the Patti Pace Performance Studies Festival.
Georgia Southern University Golf Course
Whether you’re working to improve your handicap or just looking to relax on the links,the Georgia Southern University Golf Course at University Park is a convenient and picturesque place to play. This 18-hole championship course measures 6,900 yards and features five sets of tee locations at each hole to accommodate a variety of skill levels. From driving to chipping and putting, the University Golf Course is the perfect practice facility as well. Not only does the on-site golf pro provide local tournament administration, but both private and group lessons to improve your game.
Nessmith-Lane Center
Home to the Division of Continuing Education, the state-of-the-art Nessmith-Lane Center offers all of the services of a first-rate conference center and event venue. Whether you are planning a conference, business meeting, executive retreat, workshop, seminar, symposia, wedding or reception, our friendly and knowledgeable staff are waiting to serve your needs. Our professional staff at the Nessmith-Lane Center can ensure a stellar experience. The Nessmith-Lane Center is a popular choice for meetings and events and hosts a variety of conferences, seminars, summer camps, weddings and meetings.
Dining Options
Eagle Dining Services provides a wide variety of food choices to the Georgia Southern campus and surrounding community through Dining Commons and Lakeside Dining Commons facilities. In addition to its residential dining options, Eagle Dining also operates the on-campus Starbucks and Chick-fil-A restaurants, as well as catering services and concessions to the numerous campus-related and athletics events held throughout the year.
The City of Savannah
Savannah is by far the biggest playground for Georgia Southern’s Armstrong Campus. Home to famous local sites such as Wormsloe, Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah’s Historic District and the famous 22 squares, Savannah has a little bit of everything for visitors. Savannah’s culinary scene is booming, with James Beard Award-winning restaurateurs setting up shop in the city — now home to The Grey, one of the top five restaurants in the country. Savannah is also home to the famous ice cream shop, Leopold’s, where you can buy True Blue, the new ice cream flavor developed for Georgia Southern. Savannah boasts an active cultural life, and its literary, film and music festivals draw attendants from all over the world. As one of the state’s most popular filming locations, Savannah is also a great place to spot celebrities.
Arboretum
The entire 268-acre Armstrong Campus in Savannah is actually an arboretum, displaying a wide variety of both native and introduced flowers, shrubs and trees, most of which are labeled for identification and study. Natural areas of campus contain plants typical to Georgia’s coastal broadleaf evergreen forests such as live oak, southern magnolia, red bay, horse sugar and sparkleberry. Several plant collections have been established in the Arboretum, including a Camellia Garden, Conifer Garden, Fern Garden, Ginger Garden, Primitive Garden and an International Garden. The beauty of the flowers and fragrance is amazing. The Arboretum is open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours. Educational opportunities are provided in the form of workshops, demonstrations and tours. Booklets, maps and plant guides allow the public to explore the Arboretum on their own.
Armstrong Box Office, Fine Arts Hall and Jenkins Hall Mainstage
The Armstrong Campus is home to two beautiful venues where thousands find their way to see exhibits, concerts, dramas, musicals and productions put on by the College of Arts and Humanities, the Masquers, and other performers. The Fine Arts Auditorium is a place where music students and the community enjoy concerts and recitals in a 1,000-seat, state-of-the-art concert hall, considered by many to be the most acoustically perfect concert venue in Savannah. Also located in this building is the Armstrong Fine Arts Gallery, which features nine to ten exhibitions per academic year. Jenkins Hall is home to the 180-seat proscenium mainstage theatre, a more intimate 50-seat black box theatre and also a green-screen camera studio. Box offices are open one hour before show time.
Armstrong Center
The Armstrong Center is the perfect location for a wide range of campus and community events. With a 6,000-square-foot ballroom, beautiful grand lobby and executive meeting space, the Armstrong Center was designed with professionals in mind. Conveniently located near Abercorn, and within minutes of the historic district, the Armstrong Center provides beautifully customizable rental space for meetings, conferences and special events.
Road Scholar/Elderhostel Program
When you combine the academic excellence of Georgia Southern University, the history and beauty of Savannah, Georgia, and the Road Scholar/Elderhostel educational adventures program for adults, you are bound to enjoy stimulating, engaging and diverse learning experiences you won’t soon forget. Georgia Southern’s Road Scholar/Elderhostel program offers in-depth lectures, fascinating field trips and cultural experiences. Our programs are all-inclusive, and we strive to make sure every travel tour provides elements for each of our participants to enjoy.
Dining Options
Eagle Dining Services provides a wide variety of food choices for the Armstrong Campus and surrounding community. The Galley Dining Commons is the premier spot for residential dining. Conveniently located in the Student Union, The Galley provides a wide range of food stations and a unique food experience. The Galley offers fresh, oven-baked pizza, pasta, home-style favorites, Tex-Mex cuisine, a salad bar with a variety of options, dessert and more. In addition to The Galley, the Armstrong Campus offers GUS Mart, Sushi with Gusto, The Perk and the University Court, which includes the Union Deli, Chick-fil-A and a Starbucks kiosk.
Tybee Island
Georgia Southern’s Armstrong Campus is just a short drive from the sunny beaches of Tybee Island. With its beaches, paddle boarding, kayak offerings, and more, Tybee is a place where students can spend a fun-filled day away from campus. And with its surrounding islands, marshes and wildlife, events and educational opportunities also abound. From cross-cultural programs, scientific and environmental exploration, to annual beach festivities, clean up days and alumni gatherings, Tybee offers something for everyone.
Liberty Campus
Georgia Southern’s Liberty Campus is a 21,000-square-foot, leading-edge facility, which opened its doors in 2016. Located in Hinesville, Georgia, the dedicated faculty and staff bring quality higher education to Liberty County, Fort Stewart and surrounding areas. Home to more than 500 students, the Liberty Campus serves all undergraduate student types, including Dual Enrollment, new freshmen, transfers and adult learners, and has specialized programs and services for active duty and veteran military and their families.
