Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site in Dahlonega, Georgia.
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34.5326° N83.9849° WBortle 5New York

Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site Photography Guide

State Park in Lumpkin County, Georgia

  • Bortle 5 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 242°–300°
  • Clearest: October
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: HowardSF at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site is a state park in Lumpkin County, Georgia. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site is a Georgia state historic site located in Dahlonega that commemorates America's first gold rush and the mining history of Lumpkin County. The museum is housed in the historic Old Lumpkin County Courthouse built in 1836 and located in the center of the town square. It is the oldest surviving county courthouse in the state. The museum houses many artifacts from the gold rush of 1836, including gold nuggets, gold coins, and gold panning equipment, as well as an educational film and gift shop.From the Wikipedia article “Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Dahlonega
0 m
Sky darkness
Bortle 5
Suburban sky
Clearest month
October
44% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.0 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:29 PM
sunset 7:03 PM

Light at Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site

Live
Sunrise
7:46 AM
Sunset
6:57 PM
Golden hour AM
7:31 AM – 8:20 AM
Golden hour PM
6:23 PM – 7:12 PM
Blue hour AM
7:21 AM – 7:31 AM
Blue hour PM
7:12 PM – 7:22 PM
Full darkness
8:21 PM – 6:23 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:55 PM / 2:03 AM
Day length
11h 11m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:41 AM90° E7:48 PM271° W55°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:24 AM61° ENE8:53 PM300° WNW79°14h 28m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:25 AM89° E7:34 PM271° W56°12h 10m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:40 AM118° ESE5:30 PM242° WSW32°9h 50m

Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.

Golden hour & blue hour by month

State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:16 AM7:43 AM8:21 AM5:11 PM5:49 PM6:16 PM10h 06m
February6:57 AM7:22 AM7:57 AM5:45 PM6:20 PM6:45 PM10h 57m
March7:22 AM7:47 AM8:21 AM7:11 PM7:44 PM8:09 PM11h 57m
April6:39 AM7:05 AM7:39 AM7:34 PM8:08 PM8:34 PM13h 03m
May6:06 AM6:34 AM7:10 AM7:56 PM8:32 PM9:00 PM13h 58m
June5:54 AM6:24 AM7:01 AM8:14 PM8:51 PM9:20 PM14h 27m
July6:06 AM6:35 AM7:11 AM8:13 PM8:50 PM9:19 PM14h 15m
August6:31 AM6:58 AM7:32 AM7:51 PM8:25 PM8:52 PM13h 28m
September6:55 AM7:20 AM7:53 AM7:11 PM7:44 PM8:10 PM12h 25m
October7:17 AM7:42 AM8:16 AM6:29 PM7:03 PM7:28 PM11h 21m
November6:44 AM7:10 AM7:47 AM4:56 PM5:33 PM5:59 PM10h 22m
December7:08 AM7:36 AM8:15 AM4:49 PM5:28 PM5:56 PM9h 52m

Local time (America/New York), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.

Milky Way & night sky

From Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February5:14 AM – 5:54 AM0.716°SE → SE
March4:28 AM – 6:18 AM1.823°SE → SSE
April2:26 AM – 5:26 AM3.026°SE → S
May12:30 AM – 4:50 AM4.327°SE → SSW
June10:36 PM – 4:36 AM6.027°SE → SW
July10:32 PM – 3:12 AM4.727°SSE → SW
August9:57 PM – 1:07 AM3.227°S → SW
September9:09 PM – 11:09 PM2.023°SSW → SW
October8:26 PM – 9:06 PM0.716°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—2°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-18°—

Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.

Estimated sky darkness: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.14 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (59%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F72758186921081071031001008474
Low °F3720223449555440271812
Precip. (in)4.55.14.74.44.44.84.94.54.34.14.45.7

Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.

Photography tips for this state park

  • Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
  • Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
  • Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
  • Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
  • Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.

Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.

Suggested gear: Versatile zoom lens, Tripod, Park pass. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Permits, drones & access

Drones: Drone rules in state parks vary by state and even by park — many require a permit or ban recreational drone flights. Check the park's rules and the FAA B4UFLY app before flying.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 40 km of Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site, closest first.

Waterfall
Cane Creek Falls3.4 km away · Lumpkin County · 375 m
Waterfall
Clay Creek Falls3.5 km away · Lumpkin County · 384 m
AurariaGhost Town
Auraria7.3 km away · Lumpkin County
Three SistersMountain Peak
Three Sisters8.0 km away · Lumpkin County · 645 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Chestatee Overlook15 km away · Lumpkin County · 843 m
Waterfall
Black Falls15 km away · Lumpkin County · 512 m
Mountain Pass
Grassy Gap15 km away · Lumpkin County · 905 m
Mountain Pass
Liss Gap16 km away · Lumpkin County · 918 m
Mountain Pass
Jacks Gap16 km away · Lumpkin County · 929 m

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site?
October has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
What time is golden hour at Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:29 PM and ends after sunset at about 7:03 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:16 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 61° in June to 118° in December; sunset ranges from 300° to 242°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 5 (suburban sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site from Dahlonega?
About 0 m in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.