The Founders Memorial Garden was conceived as a first organized garden club. in 1891, twelve women met and formed the Ladies Garden Club of Athens.  The idea of a memorial garden honoring these Athens women originated in 1939 when Hubert B. Owens recommended to the Board of the Garden Club of Georgia that such a garden be created.  In 1941 planning and construction began on the Garden.
        The garden's two and one half acres are divided into a series of garden rooms and corridors.  Through changes in elevation, planting screens, physical structures and the use of various paving materials, the feeling of seperate-yet-connected spaces is conveyed throughout the garden.
 
 

The Founders Memorial Garden's House was built in 1857, the historic Greek Revival house with its adjacent kitchen building and house serve as a pivotal point for the garden.  Originally built as a faculty residence, the house has served many university functions over the years which include housing the Department of Landscape Architecture during the 1950's.  Since 1963 the Garden Club has occupied the house as its state headquarters.  Most recently the house is being utilized by the School of Environmental Design for their Community Outreach Program.