One of the largest cemeteries in Atlanta, the Oakland Cemetery is located in the heart of downtown. This bucolic expanse serves as a constant reminder of the city's history. Dating back to the 1850s, the cemetery was the final destination for all Atlantans until 1884, when private burial grounds began appearing throughout the city. The oldest section is near the main entrance, where legendary golfer Bobby Jones and author Margaret Mitchell are interred. This expansive 48-acre (190,000-sq meter) beautiful garden now houses sculptures, an art gallery, a green space and serves as a prominent wedding venue for the city.
The most expansive and popular of Atlanta's city parks was originally laid out for the Cotton States and International Exposition of 1895, and it now attracts more than 2 million visitors annually. Dog owners, sun-seekers, and sports enthusiasts flock to Piedmont Park to enjoy the fair weather, largely unaware that this was the spot of the Battle of Peachtree Creek during the Civil War. Its picturesque locales also offer a romantic ambiance. The 189-acre (76.48-hectare) facility is home to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and scenic Lake Clara Meer and plays host to many of Atlanta's favorite concerts and festivals.
Atlanta History Center is a great spot for history buffs. This comprehensive museum complex was founded in 1926 and chronicles the region's history, including sections on the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, Southern folk crafts, Atlanta's expansion, and much more. Spread across 33 acres (13.5 hectares), the complex consists of the Atlanta History Museum, Swan House, Tullie Smith Farm (Smith Family Farm), Margaret Mitchell House, Lee Playhouse, Victorian Playhouse, McElreath Hall, Kenan Research Center, and beautiful gardens. It has various programs, festivals, and events throughout the year. Considered to be among the biggest history museums in the country, each space is unique and distinct, giving a glimpse of an era bygone and stories to enthrall everyone.
A few blocks to the east of downtown, the Sweet Auburn neighborhood is home to the birthplace of America's most influential Civil Rights leader. Operated by the National Park Service, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park comprises Dr. King's boyhood home, his tomb and the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King and his father were both pastors. The park, along with much of the surrounding district, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977. This collection of historic monuments invokes poignant memories of Martin Luther King Jr., and the indelible mark that he has left on the American Civil Rights Movement. Visitors will also find other fascinating monuments here such as the King Center, the Prince Hall and a statue of the world-revered Mahatma Gandhi. The Visitor Center of the site shelters an insightful museum, which sheds light on the legacy of Dr. King.
The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum spread across 30 acres (12.14 hectares) lies next to John Lewis Freedom Parkway in Atlanta. The complex consists of interconnected pavilions that house the offices of the former President, research and foundation facilities, and the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum. The Presidential Library and Museum has an extensive collection of papers, photographs, films, and videos about the Carter administration and the President’s family life. Visitors can opt for the docent tour or a self-guided tour of this wonderful place.
A rolling oasis nestled in the heart of downtown Atlanta, this lush park is interspersed with sprawling rock gardens. Built to enhance the infrastructure for the 1996 Summer Olympics, this park is fringed by a tapestry of buildings significant to the city, like the CNN Center, Philips Arena and the Georgia World Congress Center. The nearly 500,000 commemorative bricks that make up its main walkway were a part of fundraising efforts for the Games. During scorching Atlanta summers, children frolic in the ground-level Olympic Rings, which periodically shoot streams of water through their five rings. One of the most promising features of the park is the fascinating 'Fountain of Rings', a technology-controlled fountain complete with music, light towers and a splash pad; not only is the fountain a hive of fun and frolic, but it is also a great architectural feat. The park is also home to several other water features and is a massive locus for live music in the city's downtown. Bearing stunning semblances of natural wonders and an iconic Olympic legacy, Centennial Olympic Park is a site that Atlanta holds close to its heart.
Constructed in 1882 on the campus of Morris Brown College, the Fountain Hall is one of the oldest surviving structures on the original site of Atlanta University. Designed in the Victorian style by architect G. L. Norrman, this structure has served various functions over the years, and now houses the university's administrative offices, chapel and art studios. The building is situated atop Diamond Hill, from which vantage point visitors are offered a nice view of the downtown area.
This stark structure was constructed in 1930 and is noted for being the second high-rise built in Atlanta specifically for the medical profession; surprisingly, it has served exclusively in that capacity ever since. Designed in the Art Deco style by famed architects Robert S. Pringle and Francis P. Smith, the building is housed in the Emory University Hospital Midtown. The simple cream brick exterior belies a lavish attention to detail inside, most notably in the stylish lobby on the first floor.
Built by architect Emil Charles Seiz in 1901 at an estimated cost of USD9000, the Rufus M. Rose home is one of the last remaining examples of late Victorian architecture in Atlanta. The design is typical of affluent 19th Century in-town residences, with an elaborately-adorned front staircase that rises from the sidewalk, a necessity in pre-automobile Atlanta. The historic town home is in a dilapidated condition and is not safe for viewing.
Established in 1925, the Morningside Presbyterian Church was founded as a mission of the Atlanta Presbytery Home Mission Committee and First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. Located in a scenic residential neighborhood in the Virginia-Highlands, the structure was designed by noted church architects Thomas and Waggoner of Philadelphia. Set on a wooded campus, construction of the church building began in 1946 and was not completed until 1949. In addition to Sunday services, the church maintains an active youth center, a counseling center, and numerous seniors' programs. Services on Sunday are at 11a.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a leader of international fame. A chapel named in his honor, in his hometown is a fitting tribute that can be paid to this leader. His exemplary beliefs and ideals of life will serve as an ideal for the youth of today to follow. The chapel can be found on the Morehouse College campus, a male-only African American liberal arts college.
A historic neighborhood of Georgia, Atlanta, the Howell Station Historic District has been on the list of National Register of Historic Places since 1997. The district features various kinds of houses and bungalows, mostly built in Colonial Revival, Classic Revival and Bungalow or Craftsman styles of architecture in and around 1890. Formerly divided into a predominantly white and black neighborhood, most of the houses are now privately owned, so one can only view them from the outside.