Atlanta, Georgia, is known for its world-class museums, from the extensive collection at the High Museum of Art to the artifacts at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History and the Atlanta History Center, to the story of our past president at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and the Center for Civil and Human Rights.
But these are just a few of the cultural institutions the city has to offer. Many are found in Atlanta’s historic neighborhoods and suburbs, and some are even free to visit! Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list. All photos are the property of the author, unless otherwise credited.
African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta
Situated in Pittsburgh, one of Atlanta’s historic Black communities, the African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta, or ADAMA, is an innovative museum that celebrates the art and culture of the African diaspora with immersive exhibitions, collaborative learning, and rich points of connection.
ADAMA was founded by Dr. Fahamu Pecou, a well-known artist and scholar. Past exhibitions include one focusing on Blaxploitation poster art. The museum is open Thursday to Saturday and the rest of the week by appointment.
APEX Museum
The African American Panoramic Experience, or APEX Museum, is Sweet Auburn’s standout destination for exploring African American history. Its exhibits begin with the culture and heritage of Africa, offering a broader narrative rather than centering solely on slavery, as many museums do.
Another key gallery highlights the history of the Sweet Auburn neighborhood itself and its role in shaping the African American experience in Atlanta. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, and admission is $12 for adults.
Atlanta Monetary Museum
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta—one of 12 regional branches of the Fed—houses a free, surprisingly engaging museum. Open on weekdays, it traces the evolution of American banking, from early bartering systems to modern currency, and includes exhibits on how counterfeit money is detected.
Visitors can watch real cash being processed behind glass. You’ll pass through security and store your belongings in lockers, but photography isn’t permitted anyway. Before you leave, don’t forget to pick up a complimentary bag of shredded bills.
The Breman Museum
Part of the Selig Center, which also includes a library, archives, and frequent public programs, The Breman Museum offers a thoughtful look at Jewish history and culture in Atlanta. The Eighteen Artifacts exhibit highlights items connected to figures like the owner of Jacob’s Pharmacy, the first to sell Coca-Cola, and Arthur Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot.
Absence of Humanity provides an in-depth exploration of the Holocaust through artifacts from concentration camps and the people who endured them. Parking is free, admission is $12 for adults, and the museum is a short walk from the Arts Center MARTA station. It’s open Wednesday to Friday and Sunday.
The Center for Puppetry Arts
The Center for Puppetry Arts is the largest organization in the United States dedicated to the art of puppetry, and its museum is one of the city’s most unique cultural attractions. Founded in 1978 with the help of Jim Henson, it blends performance, education, and preservation, making it a destination for families, artists, and anyone curious about the history of puppets.
The museum collection features some of Henson’s greatest hits, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, Big Bird, and Red Fraggle. Another gallery highlights puppetry traditions from around the world, including items from Indonesia, Mali, China, Japan, and the U.K. Catch a show while you’re there. Admission is $16.50.
Delta Flight Museum
Since 1995, the Delta Flight Museum has traced the company’s evolution, its partnerships, and the broader history of aviation. The 68,000-square-foot space begins with a gallery that follows Delta’s journey from a small crop-dusting operation to the world’s largest airline.
Founded in Macon and later relocated to Monroe, Louisiana, Delta’s early days come to life through interactive displays, a replica of the Huff Daland Duster, and decades of flight attendant uniforms and artifacts.
Parking is free, but visitors must present identification at the security gate, where staff will direct you to the correct entrance. The museum is open daily except Wednesdays. Admission is $12.50, with discounts available for military members and Delta employees.
Georgia Capitol Museum
A visit to the Georgia Capitol offers a firsthand look at how state government operates. Guests can explore the building and its grounds on a free self-guided tour, and if the House or Senate is in session, they’re welcome to watch the proceedings from the gallery.
On the fourth floor, the Capitol Museum features exhibits on Georgia’s wildlife and natural resources, along with artifacts that trace the building’s history, plus this quirky double-headed calf. Outside, be sure to take a moment to admire the iconic dome, gilded with gold from Dahlonega.
Madame C.J. Walker Museum and WERD Radio Studio
The Madame C.J. Walker Museum/WERD Radio Studio is housed in a historic Madame C.J. Walker beauty shop from the 1950s. The Sweet Auburn museum honors the legacy of Madame C.J. Walker, a pioneering African American entrepreneur who became one of the first self-made female millionaires in the early 20th century.
WERD Radio, located within the museum, was the first radio station in the U.S. to be owned and operated by African Americans. Admission is $7 per person, but double-check the opening hours before you go as they are subject to change.
Millennium Gate Museum
The Millennium Gate Museum is a monumental arch and cultural museum located at Atlantic Station. Designed in the style of classical Roman triumphal arches, it was completed in 2008 to commemorate Georgia’s contributions to history, art, culture, and philanthropy. The museum features a series of galleries that trace Georgia’s past from pre-colonial Indigenous cultures through the founding of the state and into the 20th century.
Exhibits include historical artifacts, decorative arts, period rooms, documents, and multimedia displays that highlight influential Georgians and major moments in the state’s development. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday, and admission is $12.
Mimms Museum of Technology and Art
The Mimms Museum of Technology and Art opened in 2019 in the former Roswell mall and is now the largest computer museum in the country. Its collection includes significant acquisitions from the Living Computers Museum in Seattle, giving it an impressive range of rare and historic technology.
Among the highlights are the world’s largest collection of Cray supercomputers, an Enigma machine, a 3D-printed car, and a wide selection of vintage video games. Visitors can explore the exhibits through a mobile phone tour or opt for a guided tour for a deeper look. Admission is $18 for adults.
Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking
For an offbeat museum experience, the Robert C. Williams Paper Museum at Georgia Tech is unexpectedly fascinating. It takes a product that the average American uses more than 600 pounds of each year and explores its rich history, from early plant-based papers in China, the Pacific, and Europe to the rise of printing and modern production.
The museum houses significant historic texts, including a 12th-century Koran and a second-century papyrus. Its Dard Hunter Collection showcases artifacts from one of the most influential modern papermakers. Visitors can also learn how paper is made and why recycling matters. Best of all, admission is free and it’s open Monday to Friday.
SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film
SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film is part of the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Atlanta campus. It has two main galleries with rotating exhibits, plus a fashion resource room and a media lounge that hosts speakers.
Recent exhibits featured the work of costume designer Sandy Powell, famed French couture designer Jeanne Lanvin, photographer Campbell Addy, and style icon André Leon Talley. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday, with free parking. Admission is $10.
Waffle House Museum
Set in its original space in the Avondale Estates neighborhood, the Waffle House Museum has been restored to look as it did when it opened in 1955. Another area has exhibits on the greasy spoon’s rise to regional cult status.
It has items like a frying pan that survived Hurricane Katrina and newspaper clippings on past employees, like the one who was buried in her uniform. The museum is only open by appointment and on “community days” every few months, when locals and visitors alike line up to get a peek as well as a free waffle.
The Wren’s Nest
Located in the West End neighborhood, the Wren’s Nest is the Queen Anne home of Joel Chandler Harris, the author and journalist best known for popularizing the Br’er Rabbit folktales. It’s now a cultural center and storytelling museum, with artifacts, guided tours, and weekly storytelling for visitors. Admission is $14.
If you’re looking for more historic house museums, visit the Hammonds House Museum, a nearby museum celebrating the art of the African diaspora. Housed in a 19th-century Victorian home, it once belonged to Dr. Otis Thrash Hammonds, a prominent Atlanta physician and arts patron whose personal collection helped form the museum’s foundation. Admission is $15.
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