Thronateeska Heritage Center is keeper of Albany and Southwest Georgia history. Thronateeska, which means giving forth, is the name the Creek Indians called the Flint River. The Creek Indians inhabited the area which is now Albany, before the city was founded in 1836 by Colonel Nelson Tift. The permanent collections on display at Discovery Center include All My Babies, photographs from the 1950 documentary of the work of Albany Georgia midwife, Mary Coley. This documentary has been used to train medical personnel around the world.
Located in Downtown Albany's Heritage Plaza, Thronateeska centers around Discovery Depot, a train station built in 1912-13 and constructed in Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie Style. In accordance with segregation customs of that time period, the depot, originally called Union Station, was built with two separated waiting area, one for Caucasian-Americans and one for African-Americans. Today, Discovery Depot is a popular downtown venue used in full by all. Other Thronateeska Heritage Center attractions include Wetherbee Planetarium, Science Discovery Center and the old Tift Grocery Warehouse. Nearest hotel: Hilton Garden Inn