In downtown Douglasville, history is getting packed into cardboard boxes. The Douglas County Museum of History and Art is racing to move more than 9,000 artifacts after county officials moved to end the museum’s rent-free stay in the old courthouse. Staff say the lease runs out in mid-May, leaving the nonprofit only weeks to pack fragile donations, catalog collections and line up storage. Local historians and downtown business owners warn that losing the museum could stall Douglasville’s recent revival and put key pieces of county history at risk.
Commissioners' vote and timeline
The county commission first voted in October 2025 to terminate the museum’s rent-free lease, then upheld that decision in a 3-2 vote on Feb. 3, 2026. According to WSB-TV, Commissioners Whitney Kenner Jones, Martin Raxton and Henry Mitchell III backed ending the lease, while Chair Dr. Romona Jackson-Jones and Commissioner Mark Alcarez voted to keep it in place. The museum was given roughly 90 days' notice to clear out.
What the museum says
Joseph Hamilton, the museum’s chief financial officer, told Atlanta News First that the nonprofit has occupied the mid-century courthouse rent-free for about 25 years and now has to find homes for more than 9,000 objects. "This is a county asset. The county needs to support it," Hamilton said, adding that "alternatives are really quite limited" because the museum has "no money" and "no budget." Museum officials say the lease terminates on May 15, 2026.
County's reasoning and the study
County leaders frame the decision as a practical one. They argue that prime county real estate should house core operations such as human resources, finance and procurement instead of a large rent-free operation. Commissioners and staff have also pointed to a 2023 Kennesaw State University review, cited in local reporting, that raised concerns about the museum’s fundraising, long-term self-sufficiency and facility needs. That reporting was detailed by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Short-term options and fundraising
Museum staff say they are scrambling through worst-case-scenario planning: emergency storage, loaning pieces to nearby institutions and expanding digital preservation. All of it costs money they say they do not have. A GoFundMe launched by the museum set a goal of $7,500 and had raised roughly $4,400 at the time of reporting, according to WSB-TV. Staff say they plan to post updates as they look for partners and temporary space.
Why the building matters
The museum sits inside the Old Douglas County Courthouse, a mid-1950s building listed on the National Register of Historic Places that has become part of downtown Douglasville’s identity. Preservation advocates warn that without a permanent home, artifacts documenting the county's Black, industrial and civic histories could be scattered across institutions or tucked into long-term storage. Background on the courthouse is available via Wikipedia.
Where it goes from here
Museum director Susanne Hudson told Atlanta News First she was surprised by the commission’s decision and said staff are redoubling efforts to boost visitors and support. County officials say they are not trying to erase the collection but expect the museum board to bring forward options for the property’s future while the county prepares to use the old courthouse for other operations. Local volunteers and preservation groups say they intend to press for solutions that keep the collection public and accessible as officials and the museum weigh their next steps.
