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.
This Gothic Revival structure was erected by architect Edmund G. Lind in 1885. Set on a full acre that fronts the city's original town square, the church features a limestone facade, bell tower, and many original stained glass windows. Various smaller buildings have been constructed around the main church over the years, historically and architecturally significant in their own right. Today, Central Presbyterian Church is home to one of the largest Presbyterian congregations in Atlanta.
Edward C. Peters House was constructed in 1883 by local architect Gottfried L. Norrman. Set against the somewhat incongruous backdrop of Midtown's glass and metal skyline, the Victorian Queen Anne design is reminiscent of the shingle style, popular on the eastern seaboard during the latter part of the 19th Century. Also known as the Ivy Hall, this structure is a major landmark in Atlanta and an important historical site. The home is managed by Savannah College of Art and Design, who conduct tours of the house and organize various entertaining cultural events here.
This downtown high school is the alma mater of many of Atlanta's most famous citizens, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Built by architect Eugene C. Wachendorff, the building is a typical example of the elaborate revival styles popular in the 1920s. Standing three stories above the surrounding neighborhood, the structure's Byzantine elements lend a medieval cathedral flavor to the school. Five double-tiered terra cotta arches front the building, which was erected in 1922 using locally manufactured brick.
This 11-story triangular building was designed by Bradford Gilbert and is the finest local example of the 'Chicago style' of urban architecture. Built in 1897, this is the oldest steel-framed high rise in the city and is credited with influencing the design of many of the skyscrapers that sprang up in Atlanta over the following two decades. The building's name was derived from its distinctive narrow shape, the base of which is supported by half columns separated by vast windows.
Encompassing 2550 acres (1031.94 hectares) of pristine forested swathes, the Davidson-Arabia Nature Preserve is framed by the marvelous Arabia Mountain, which largely looms over the Arabia Lake Reservoir. This preserve is fringed by a tapestry of dramatic rock outcroppings and incredible, rolling hills. The park's mountaintop terrain bears a fragile ecosystem, including several protected species of fascinating flora. Although the landscape of the park is known to be barren, deep in its recesses lies a wealth of Recherche, which brave the ruthless weather of the mountain, and bloom in all their glory. Seemingly metamorphosing into different landscapes as per seasons, this mountain preserves a tracery of trails wind past the park's lakes, through dense forests and up to the mountain's soaring pinnacle. Traces of ruinous quarry structures of a bygone industry validate the fact that the park is as much steeped in history as it is in nature.