Founded in 1926, the Atlanta History Center is a complex of multiple buildings that represent the history of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and the southern United States. Among their exhibitions at this location are the Swan House, the Tullie Smith House, and the main museum.
They also have a research facility and will soon house the Cyclorama painting, one of the world’s largest oil paintings, that depicts the Civil War’s Battle of Atlanta. The center also has one of the largest collections of Civil War artifacts in the country.
The crown jewel of the Atlanta History Center is the Swan House, the city’s most well-known home. Designed by Philip Trammel Shutze, the family that lived there had a fascinating history and it was later featured in the movie The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
Inside, you’ll see items from how it would have looked when the Inmans lived there as well as large scale photos from the film production. It’s not uncommon to see a wedding here as well! Next door at the Coach House, you can have lunch.
The history center has a number of permanent and traveling exhibitions. Among the most unique are the Centennial Olympic Games Museum, which has artifacts and memorabilia from the 1996 summer games, a Civil War exhibit, another on Georgian golfer Bobby Jones, and another devoted to the architect who designed the Swan House.
Other sections feature information on Atlanta’s rise from a railroad town to the thriving metropolis and another on southern folk art traditions.
Outside, you’ll see the antebellum farmhouse and interpretive farm with real goats, sheep, and other animals. The structures have been relocated to the site from other parts of the greater Atlanta area.
There’s also a native plant garden. Give yourself at least two hours to see the Atlanta History Center. You can also get same-day access to the Margaret Mitchell House, a property managed by the history center. They also regularly host lectures and author events.
If You Go
Atlanta History Center is located at 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30305. They’re open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 5:30 pm and Sunday from 12 to 5:30 pm.
Admission is $21.50 for adults, $18 for seniors and students, and $9 for children. You can also visit on the Atlanta Historical Homes Tour. Parking is included with the ticket price. The center is a short walk from where the 110 bus stops at Peachtree and East Paces Ferry.
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