DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — With a deadline of roughly two months to vacate the historic Old Douglas County Courthouse, leaders of the Douglas County Museum of History and Art are urging county officials to reconsider their decision to terminate the museum’s long-standing lease — arguing that new leadership and a revitalization plan could give the institution a fresh start.
The request comes months after the Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted to end the museum’s rent-free lease at the courthouse, a space the organization has occupied for nearly three decades. The decision, made in a split vote, set off a scramble by museum officials to secure funding, reorganize leadership and find a path forward for the cultural institution that has long served as a hub for local history in downtown Douglasville.
A looming deadline
Museum officials told commissioners earlier this week that they are facing a nearly 60-day deadline to vacate the courthouse building unless the county reverses course or grants additional time.
The museum operates inside the former Douglas County courthouse at 6754 West Broad Street, a mid-century government building constructed in the 1950s that later became a historic site and museum after the county opened a new courthouse nearby.
Since the late 1990s, the county has allowed the museum to occupy the building rent-free and covered utility costs, effectively subsidizing the facility as a cultural attraction and welcome center in the heart of Douglasville’s downtown district.
If the eviction timeline stands, museum leaders say they will need to relocate exhibits and archival materials that document Douglas County’s history — including artifacts tied to local veterans, early settlement, and notable cultural milestones.
Why the county terminated the lease
County commissioners voted in October to terminate the lease after a review of the museum’s operations and future sustainability.
According to county officials, concerns raised in a commissioned study included questions about fundraising capacity, the museum’s ability to become financially self-sufficient, and whether exhibits fully represented the county’s diverse history.
When the board formally moved to terminate the agreement earlier this year, the vote split 3–2. Commissioners Whitney Kenner Jones, Martin Raxton and Henry Mitchell III supported ending the lease, while Commission Chair Dr. Romona Jackson-Jones and Commissioner Mark Alcarez opposed the move.
The decision provided roughly a 90-day window for the museum to vacate the building.
Museum leaders pitch a revival
In their latest appeal, museum representatives said the organization is undergoing significant changes aimed at addressing the county’s concerns.
They pointed to new leadership, plans to update exhibits and proposals to renovate the building’s interior to attract more visitors. The organization is also exploring expanded programming, partnerships and fundraising initiatives designed to make the museum more financially sustainable.
Supporters argue the museum plays a key role in Douglasville’s growing downtown tourism scene and serves as an important educational resource for residents and students.
The facility has also historically doubled as a visitor center, drawing travelers interested in local history and regional attractions.
Community identity at stake
For many residents, the dispute has raised broader questions about the future of historic preservation in Douglas County.
The courthouse building itself nearly faced demolition in the late 1990s before local advocates pushed to save it and convert it into a museum. Today, it stands as one of the most recognizable landmarks in downtown Douglasville.
Museum supporters say losing the facility could erase a significant piece of the county’s cultural identity.
County leaders, however, have suggested the lease termination does not necessarily mean the museum will disappear — only that its current arrangement with the county may no longer be viable.
What happens next
For now, the museum remains open while leaders seek a solution.
Options on the table include convincing commissioners to reconsider the lease termination, securing a new location, or restructuring the organization to meet county expectations.
But with the clock ticking toward the vacate deadline, the future of the Douglas County Museum of History and Art — and its place inside the historic courthouse — remains uncertain.
