Atlanta History Center Set in nine hectares (23 acres) of beautiful gardens, the Atlanta History Center is the ideal place to soak up the rich history of the state. The main attractions are two historic homes, open to the public offering informative guided tours. The Tullie Smith House originally stood outside the city limits but has been relocated to the History Center, along with its outbuildings. The house was built in the 1840s and survived the near-total destruction of Atlanta in 1864 when General William Sherman burned almost every business and more than two thirds of the
city's homes during his infamous 'March to the Sea'. It was once the home of yeoman farmer Robert Smith and his family, who owned 11 slaves and farmed on about 324 hectares (800 acres). The farmhouse is typical of most in Georgia at the time, despite popular belief that not all Georgians owned large plantations and mansions. The Swan House, built in 1928, is a grand Italianate mansion that is an Atlanta landmark, once the home of Edward and Emily Inman, heirs to a cotton brokerage fortune. The History Center also features several other historic buildings and exhibitions. Address: 130 West Paces Ferry Road Phone Number: (404) 814 4000 Website: www.atlantahistorycenter.com Hours: Center: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5.30pm; Sunday 12pm to 5.30pm. Tullie Smith House and Swan House: Monday to Saturday 11am to 4pm, Sunday 1pm to 4pm Admission: $15 (adults), $10 (children 4-12 years). Rates exclude tax
Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site In January 1929 a baby boy was born in an upstairs bedroom of a house in Atlanta. Today the Victorian house is the center of a protected site dedicated to the memory of that baby, Martin Luther King, who grew up to become America's Nobel prize-winning Civil Rights leader. A half-mile stretch of Auburn Avenue, including King's birth home, the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he preached, and the memorial tomb at the King Center where he is buried, has been designated a historic site, drawing hundreds of visitors every day. The exhibits contained within provide insight into the life and times of this much-revered man. Address: 450 Auburn Avenue Phone Number: (404) 331 5190 or 331 6922 for recorded information Website: www.nps.gov/malu Transport: Auburn Avenue bus 3 at the MARTA Five Points station, or MARTA's Atlanta Tourist Loop Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm (until 6pm from mid-June to mid-August) Admission: Free
World Of Coca-Cola In 1886 Jacob's Pharmacy, a small drugstore in Atlanta, began selling a new headache and hangover tonic called 'Coca-Cola'. In 1891, entrepreneur Asa Candler paid $2,300 to acquire the rights of what is now the world's most valuable brand. The following year he founded the Coca-Cola Company. The new, environmentally-friendly construction houses more than just a museum dedicated to Coca-Cola; it is an entire soft-drink experience. Thousands of Coke objects, trivia and memorabilia are contained among the interactive exhibits in this building, backed up by commercials, radio jingles, a 4-D theater, tasting and a Pop Culture Gallery. Address: 121 Baker Street, Pemberton Place Phone Number: (404) 676 5151 Website: www.woccatlanta.com Transport: MARTA stop W1 or N1 Hours: Daily, generally 9am to 5pm, but hours vary on weekends and in season Admission: $15 (adults), $9 (children 9-12); other concessions available
Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield In 1864 Kennesaw Mountain was the scene of a bloody Civil War battle when General Sherman led his Union forces against the entrenched Confederate forces at the site, resulting in the death of more than 67,000 soldiers. The park consists of several thousand acres of protected land, covered with more than 17 miles (27km) of interpretive walking trails. The trails encompass historic earthworks and cannon placements, and notable markers and memorials have been provided to commemorate the event. A small museum at the site displays Civil War artifacts, and a visitor's center provides information about the battle on the site. This popular park is visited by more than a million people each year, many of whom come to picnic and enjoy the views afforded across Atlanta. Phone Number: (770) 427 4686 x0 Website: www.nps.gov/kemo Hours: Daily 7.30am to 5pm (winter 8.30am) Admission: Free, but there is a fare of $2 (adults) and $1 (children) to ride the shuttle bus to the top of the mountain
Atlanta Botanical Garden A highlight of the Atlanta Botanical Garden is the Fuqua Conservatory, a giant greenhouse enclosing different climate-controlled eco-systems that was financed by an Atlanta businessman in memory of his wife. A walk through the conservatory takes visitors from a desert into a steamy tropical jungle. Outdoors the gardens are criss-crossed with dedicated nature walks, bypassing many quiet spots designed for peaceful contemplation, as well as tasteful garden sculptures. Address: 1345 Piedmont Ave Phone Number: (404) 876 5859 Website: www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org Transport: North Decatur bus 36 from the Arts Center Station; on Sundays, Monroe/Lindbergh bus 27 Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 7pm (April to October), 9am to 5pm (November to March) Admission: $12 (adults), $9 (children 3-17 years), concessions available
Fernbank Museum of Natural History As one of the South's pre-eminent museums, Fernbank Museum of Natural History is a gateway for discovery and exploration, unfolding the story of the earth's history, the physical universe, the environment and human culture through exhibitions, programs and films in the IMAX Theater. Opened in 1992, Fernbank is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is 'Atlanta's Home to Dinosaurs,' a reputation highlighted by Giants of the Mesozoic, a distinctive permanent exhibition which features the world's largest dinosaurs. Address: 767 Clifton Road Phone Number: (404) 929 6300 Website: www.fernbank.edu Hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm Admission: Museum: $15 (adults); $13 (children 3-12). IMAX: $13 (adults), $11 (children 3-12); discounted combination tickets are also available
Stone Mountain Park Stone Mountain is situated about 20 minutes from Atlanta and features numerous man-made and natural attractions. Most awesome of these is the huge relief carving of the three Southern heroes of the Civil War, which has been etched into the mountainside. The images of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson cover an area larger than a football field and are part of the largest relief sculpture in the world. Three sculptors worked in succession on the carving, beginning with Gutzon Borglum in 1915. He later became famed for his carvings at Mount Rushmore. Subsequently two other artists pursued the work that was completed finally in 1972. Visitors can either walk up the mountain or take the Skylift to the top from where the views of Atlanta and the Appalachian Mountains are incredible. Stone Mountain also features a restored Antebellum Plantation featuring a colonial mansion, slave cabins, coach houses and barns. The park also contains several lakes and hiking trails, a wildlife reserve and petting zoo. Phone Number: For 24-hour Park information call (770) 498 5690 within the metro Atlanta area or 1-800-401-2407 outside metro Atlanta Website: www.stonemountainpark.com Hours: Daily from 10am; closing hours vary according to the season and attraction. Summit Skyride open daily 10am to 5pm with extended hours in summer and on holidays Admission: Various packages available. A one day all-attraction pass costs $25 (adults), $19 (children 3-11), or just vehicle entry to the park is $8. Skyride: $9 (adults), $7 (children), return
Jonesboro About 15 miles (24km) south of Atlanta in Clayton County is the town of Jonesboro, a not-to-be-missed destination for movie fans and those hankering for a taste of the real 'Deep South'. Jonesboro was the setting for Margaret Mitchell's acclaimed novel, and later film, Gone with the Wind and devotees come to see the local historic plantation houses and learn about the real people whose lives inspired the fictional characters of the novel. In Main Street, the Road to Tara Museum is housed in the Jonesboro Depot Welcome Center, containing original props, costume reproductions, doll collections and an extensive photo gallery associated with the making of the movie, Gone with the Wind. The Welcome Depot is also the departure point for daily tours, starting at 1pm (except on Sundays), that take in the local scenes where the film was shot and offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the true life stories on which the book was based. In Carriage Drive, a beautiful Greek Revival plantation home dating from 1839 is open to the public along with its authentic outbuildings. Address: 104 N. Main Street Phone Number: (770) 478 4800 Website: www.visitscarlett.com Hours: Road to Tara Museum: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm; Stately Oaks: Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. Gone With the Wind Tour: Monday to Saturday 1pm or by appointment Admission: Road to Tara Museum: $5 (adults); Stately Oaks: $8 (adults), $4 (children). Gone With the Wind Tour: $15
The Mountains Northern Georgia is hilly and mountainous, dotted with numerous small towns, fascinating historic sites, national parks and forests. Most of the towns and attractions are within an hour's drive of Atlanta. Among the highlights of an exploration of this region are the New Echota State Historic Site (the last capital of the Cherokee nation); Chickamauga at Fort Oglethorpe, which is the oldest and largest Civil War military park; Jasper, where the marble quarries produced the marble used in the Capitol in Washington, DC; the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, at the end of the Appalachian Highway; and the spectacular Tallulah Gorge near the town of Clayton. The northwestern Georgia region is a paradise for nature lovers, offering hundreds of wooded hiking trails, sparkling trout streams, scenic lakes and camp sites. Website: www.ngeorgia.com
Georgia Aquarium The impressive Georgia Aquarium is the largest of its kind and boasts over 100,000 animals from 500 species. A range of different environments play host to fascinating animals from around the world, from belugas and African black-footed penguins, to sea lions and sea otters, stingrays, sharks and a riot of colorful fish. The Aquarium also has a 4-D theater that features an animated 3-D film, interactive seats and live actors; a café and the Ocean Ballroom for special events. Address: 225 Baker Street, Pemberton Place Phone Number: (404) 581 4000 Email Address: visitorservices@georgiaaquarium.org Website: www.georgiaaquarium.org Transport: The Aquarium is connected to the Five Points MARTA Train station by bus Route 97 Hours: Sunday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm. Extended hours apply during holidays Admission: $26 (adults), $19.50 (children 3-12 years). Free audio tours are available
High Museum of Art View the extraordinary collaboration between the High Museum of Art and Paris' legendary Louvre Museum, with hundreds of works from across the Atlantic on exhibit for three years in Atlanta. More than two-thirds of these pieces have never been displayed in the United States before. The affiliation aims to trace the history and development of the Louvre since the 17th century. View the current exhibition, The Louvre and the Masterpiece, from 12th October 2008 to 6th September 2009. The exhibition features 91 works of art from the Musée du Louvre's collection, including Barye's Lion Crushing a Serpent. Address: 1280 West Peachtree Street Website: www.high.org Transport: Head northeast on Peachtree Street toward Walton Street NW. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm (open till 8pm on Thursday); Sunday 12pm to 5pm. Admission: US$15 (adults), US$10 (6-17 years), concessions available.
The Flatiron Building Located in downtown Atlanta, and home to the law firm in the Matlock TV series, the Flatiron Building is officially known as the English-American Building. It was completed in 1897, five years before New York's Flatiron Building, and shares the same unique and prominent flatiron shape. Designed by Bradford Gilbert, the building has 11 storys and is the city's second and oldest standing skyscraper, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. While the building is occupied by tenants ranging from architectural firms to law offices, its exterior is an impressive site. Address: 84 Peachtree Street Transport: Located on the block between Peachtree Street NE, Poplar Street NW, and Broad Street NW.
The Woodruff Arts Center The Woodruff Arts Center, originally known as the Memorial Arts Center, opened in 1968 and is one of the largest arts centers in the United States. The Woodruff uniquely combines four visual and performing arts divisions on one campus and is home to the Alliance Theater, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the High Museum of Art, Young Audiences and the 14th Street Playhouse. Address: 1280 West Peachtree Street Website: www.woodruffcenter.org Transport: Head northeast on Peachtree Street toward Walton Street NW. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm (open till 8pm on Thursday); Sunday 12pm to 5pm.
The Fox Theater Atlanta's Fox Theater, which is often promoted as the Fabulous Fox, is one of the magnificent movie palaces built in the United States during the 1920s. The theater's unique beginnings and Moorish design set it apart from other theaters of that period. Today it hosts an array of artistic and cultural events, including a summer film series, the Atlanta Ballet and performances by national touring companies of Broadway shows. Address: 660 Peachtree Street Website: www.foxtheater.org Transport: Located at the corner of Peachtree Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue in Midtown Atlanta.
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