CORNELIA, Ga. — One of Georgia’s most recognizable landmarks is about to celebrate a major milestone.
The public is invited to gather in downtown Cornelia on Saturday, June 6, as the community celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Big Red Apple monument. The centennial unveiling ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. at the monument, located in the heart of downtown Cornelia.
The Big Red Apple was unveiled on June 4, 1926, during the height of Northeast Georgia’s apple industry. Standing atop an eight-foot concrete pedestal, the seven-foot-tall concrete apple was conceived as a symbol of Habersham County’s thriving orchards and the important role apples played in the region’s economy and identity.
A century later, the monument remains one of the most recognizable landmarks in Georgia and a lasting symbol of Cornelia and Habersham County.
The June 6 celebration will commemorate the monument’s first 100 years and recognize the generations of residents who have gathered beneath it for photographs, festivals, celebrations, and community events.
The unveiling ceremony is expected to feature local officials, community leaders, and special guests. Invitations have been extended to elected officials and representatives from organizations connected to the monument’s history and legacy, including the University of Georgia, Georgia Power, Norfolk Southern, and members of Georgia’s congressional delegation.
Following the unveiling ceremony, attendees are invited to the nearby Cornelia Depot for the premiere of Habersham History’s new documentary, The Big Red Apple – A 100-Year Legacy.
The approximately 17-minute documentary explores the history of the monument from its origins in the 1920s through its evolution into a symbol of community pride. Drawing from historic photographs, newspaper accounts, archival materials, and interviews with local residents, historians, and community leaders, the film tells the story of how a monument built to honor the apple industry became an enduring symbol of Northeast Georgia.
Produced by Habersham History, the documentary is the nonprofit organization’s fourth documentary project, following Cornelia: A Train Town, the Kiwanis Club of Cornelia’s 100th anniversary documentary, and the Habersham County Airport documentary.
Admission to both the unveiling ceremony and documentary premiere is free.
As part of the centennial celebration, Habersham History has also created a limited-edition run of 100 individually numbered Big Red Apple commemorative replicas. The approximately seven-inch-tall souvenirs were produced to mark the monument’s 100th anniversary and are available with a donation of $20 or more to Habersham History. Souvenirs may be preordered through Habersham History’s online store and picked up during the centennial celebration on June 6. Visit the online store to reserve yours: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/habersham-history-online-store
Organizers encourage residents, former residents, and visitors alike to attend the ceremony and help celebrate a century of one of Georgia’s most beloved landmarks.
For 100 years, the Big Red Apple has stood as a symbol of Cornelia. On June 6, the community will come together to celebrate its past, present, and future.
For more information about the centennial celebration, documentary premiere, or commemorative souvenirs, visit HabershamHistory.org.
