McIntosh Art Association — Attraction in Darien

What a wonderful and fascinating place!!!!!!!! And such nice people work here!!! George Grant was tragically murdered here on the second floor in a jail cell on a Monday morning in September of1930. George Grant very possibly murdered a Brunswick Georgia police officer just several hours before he was killed in that jail cell that still remains in this building. Grant swore that it was his accomplice (whose last name was Bryan) was the one who killed Robert Freeman but we will never know the truth. We will never know because a bunch of men who had no respect for the law went up to the second floor of this building and murdered Grant in this jail. In 1998 I interviewed George Grant's sister, Katie Grant Williams. My heart broke for her as she talked about her brother's murder and his involvement with people who he should not have associated. What happened in Darien in early September 1930 is fascinating history but it was so tragic on many different levels and it doesn't speak well of the then sheriff Ad Poppel. He failed miserably in his duty to protect a prisoner in his care that day. The assistant Glynn county police chief, Robert Freeman, sadly lost his life that night in the swamps pursuing Grant and Grant's accomplice. Freeman left a wife and son. The completely innocent brother of George Grant's accomplice was murdered by an out of control and lawless posse whose members were never prosecuted for their dastardly deed. Essentially he was murdered because he had the same last name as his brother, George Grant's accomplice. And George Grant was executed without a hearing or a trial, on the second floor of this building. . But today 92 years later this is such a beautiful and serene and peaceful place. My heart is filled with such sadness for the Freeman family, the Grant family, and the Bryan family. This case epitomizes how African Americans had virtually no rights back in 1930 in much of the United States. But one shouldn't stay away from this wonderful art gallery because of this tragic 1930 incident. We must learn from the mistakes of the past. And this place is so much more than a jail with a sad past. The art work and the trees here are beautiful. The sweet Georgia shrimp right off the shrimp boats at B and J's (just a few hundred yards up the road) is absolutely mouthwatering and delicious. The people in Darien are very genuine and nice. And last but not least, the director of this art gallery/ jail museum, Linda, is such a lovely person and she does an amazing job here. I first discovered Darien in December of 1965 when my parents and I drove right past this jail on Route 17 because Interstate 95 hadn't been built here yet We had stopped in Savannah s couple hours earlier to eat lunch at the Pirates House restaurant. I had no idea that one day I would become fascinated with this wonderful town. This art gallery is one of my favorite places to visit in the United States. It is always a little bittersweet being here because I love this place but I feel so much sadness for the Freemans, the Grants...

Located within the walls of Darien's old jail, is a hidden room of art from students of all ages. There are books featuring a wide range of art platforms. I could truly sit for hours and just soak in the information and impressions of art. Ot is so fascinating to see how humans all interpret emotion so vividly. A very nice surprise finding. Highly recommended trip, and absolutely...

Local art and history make the McIntosh Art Association a high point for visitors and residents to Mcintosh County. Nice art with a gift shop and colonial Georgia history. Housed in the old county sheriffs office the old jail is a somber experience to view. It was closed in the 1990’s for after a lawsuit for cruel and inhuman...