Atlanta History Center
The Atlanta History Center is located in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, at 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305. Buckhead is one of the more upscale neighborhoods in Atlanta, and offers plenty of dining, shopping, and other activities if you are looking to combine it with other events. The AHC is easy to get too. You can either take Roswell Road south off of the I-285 bypass, and turn on East Andrews Drive which will bring you to the entrance of the museum, or you can take Peachtree Road north from the downtown area, and turn to the left when Paces Ferry Road crosses Peachtree Road in the heart of Buckhead. Tickets are $16.50 for adults, and $11 for children, but the smart move is to become a member. For as little as $50 you can join and visit as many times in a year as you like, and they give you a guest pass which allows you to bring someone free of charge.
If you have been in the past you will notice the AHC is undergoing some major renovations, including the building of a new home for the Atlanta Cyclorama, which will open in 2018. The Cyclorama is a 358 foot long painting that debuted in 1887 which depicts the Battle of Atlanta. For years the painting has been housed in Grant Park near the Atlanta Zoo, but because of the declining condition of the building housing it the decision was made to move it to a new building which is currently being built to house it. There are three permanent exhibits at the museum, with a fourth planned for opening in the summer of 2016. To the left when you enter you will see the Centennial Olympic Games Exhibit, which tells the story of the 1996 Olympic Games. The exhibit actually tells the history of all the Olympic Games leading up to 1996 games. Some of the highlights for us included the items presented to the Olympic Committee by visiting nations, the history of the Olympic Games timeline, a game ball signed by the Dream Team, and the torch used to light the flame when the games began. As for the 1912 Stockholm Games, I'm not sure what happened at the finish line, but that doesn't look like my kind of event.
Working back towards the middle of the museum you will find what I believe is the best exhibit in the museum, the history of the American Civil War. Called Turning Point, the massive exhibit takes visitors through the war from both sides. Beginning with events leading up to the war in 1860, following through the war years of 1861-1865, and finishing off with the aftermath of the war, this is truly one of the best exhibits in the nation for Civil War history. As you walk through you can see the evolution of the weapons the soldiers used in such a short period of time, the size of the cannon balls and mortar rounds these men had to brave, medial equipment (if you can call it that) which were used to perform battlefield amputations, personal letters sent home to wives and girlfriends, actual orders from commanding officers, and countless other assorted items. Some of the most unique items to look for are a pendant a young man carved for his girlfriend from a piece of his leg bone which was amputated (lucky girl), one of the last surviving wagons used in the war, and tent which was used by the soldiers to mark every battle they had fought it.
Next is a special temporary exhibit called Atlanta in 50 Objects. This exhibit shows the history of Atlanta from the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr., Chick-Fil-A, and Coca-Cola, to the film and television epicenter of the 21st Century. Some of the highlights include the letter from Robert W. Woodruff to Emory University giving them the largest donation ever made to a college in the United States of $105 million, a handwritten speech by Martin Luther King Jr., the bat Hank Aaron used to hit his 600th home run, and one of the swords used by Michonne on the Walking Dead. Next to this exhibit is one called Down the Fairway with Bobby Jones, which outlines the history of the game of golf, and the impact Bobby Jones had on the game. The first true superstar of the game in the 20th Century, and the man who helped design Augusta National, there is some great history here for a man who retired early, but left his mark on the game.
Everyone should take the time to visit the outside exhibits including the Swan House and the Smith House. The Swan House, called that because of the use of swans to decorate the house, is a mansion built for Edward and Emily Inman in the late 1920's. The land the Atlanta History Center sits on once belonged to the Inman's, and was given to the Atlanta History Center in 1966. There is also a playhouse built for a child in the early 20th Century that some people would be happy to have as a home. The Smith House is a 19th Century farmhouse that was moved from its DeKalb County location in 1969, and still acts as a working farm today. If you visit between 11:00am-4:00pm on most days you will see workers tending the animals, farming the land, and demonstrating what life was like for early Georgians.
The Atlanta History Center is not like many other museums. While it may not have floors and floors of relics or ancient artifacts, what it does have is intriguing, and very meaningful to the people of Atlanta. The chance to see the polar opposite lifestyles of the people who made Atlanta the center of the South also gives the museum a sense of depth that few others have. For many Atlantans, the Atlanta History Center is a must see, but if you haven't had a chance to make it there yet, make sure you do and you will not be disappointed.
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