In 1838, Archibald and Anne Smith left their home in coastal Georgia and, with five other families, became founding citizens of the tiny frontier community of Roswell. In 1845 they built their plantation-plain style home and outbuildings on land about 1 mile from the town square. In 1985, Smith family heirs Josephine and James Skinner sold the Smith Plantation to the City of Roswell while retaining life rights to the house and surrounding area, and the rest of the property was used for the city municipal complex. The furnishings and artifacts remained the property of the Skinners and their heirs until 2004, when the City of Roswell purchased them. Today the site includes about eight acres and 10 original outbuildings, including the Cook House, Corn Crib, Covered Well, Servants House, Carriage House, Spring House, and Barn, and preserves artifacts from three generations of the Smith family, making it an important resource for education and for architectural, cultural, and historical interpretation in the region.