History

Did you know one of Atlanta’s most popular music venues began as a church?

Commonly referred to as a city rebuilt from the ashes, Atlanta has a rich history in the South. During the Civil War, on November 15, 1864, General William Sherman burned Atlanta to the ground, destroying the Confederacy’s Southern rail lines and helping to end the war.

The speedway wasn’t the success that Asa Candler had envisioned, and it closed after one season. Not discouraged, Candler began organizing air shows and air races at the field in 1910. ​

The evolution of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – recently named the world’s most efficient airport for the 16th consecutive year – can be traced to its beginnings as a racetrack in 1909.

Atlanta’s known for many things, including being the birthplace of Coca-Cola. Back in the year 1886, Dr. John S. Pemberton created his own syrup and combined it with carbonated water from a pharmacy. His partner, Frank M. Robinson, named the tasty creation Coca-Cola.

Many recall hearing the tales of Brer Rabbit as children. In Atlanta, Brer Rabbit’s timeless legacy is preserved at The Wren’s Nest, home of author Joel Chandler Harris from 1881 to 1908.

There’s no shortage of history in the South, and sometimes we forget just how much the past has shaped the present.

June was designated as LGBTQ Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred 50 years ago in New York City.

It’s hard to imagine Atlanta Food & Wine Festival launched just nine years ago by entrepreneurs Elizabeth Feichter and Dominique Love. The idea was born out of a trip to FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen which left the duo longing for a similar culinary weekend.

When you think Atlanta baseball, the Braves are probably the first name that comes to mind. Making Atlanta their home in 1966, they have become an institution to professional baseball and locals. But what about before their time?

What do Terminus, Marthasville and Atlantica-Pacifica all have in common? Believe it or not, they’re all former names for Atlanta.

It’s hard to deny the rich history and thousands of stories etched into every mile of Peachtree Street, which stretches from Downtown to Buckhead. Here are our top three favorite stories about the South’s most prominent road:

Everyone knows Georgia is a hands-free state, but you might not have heard that in Atlanta, it’s illegal to give a piggyback ride. Read on to discover a few of Georgia’s oldest laws that are technically still on the books.

It’s true: Walking a direct route from Smyrna, GA, to near Cedartown, AL, is actually possible.

During the Civil War, the Battle of Utoy Creek took place August 4-7, 1864, just south of Atlanta. Hundreds of soldiers lost their lives during the fight and the trenches forged can still be seen today in the Cascade Springs Nature Preserve.

Another mixed-use development called GlenCastle, located within walking distance of the BeltLine’s future Southside trail, is well underway. While the future of these historic properties is exciting, their history is also fascinating.

Born to an enslaved mother and, likely, her white master, Alonzo Herndon was emancipated at age 7. By age 20, he headed to Atlanta on foot with $11 and little schooling.

This weekend, millions will hoist a drink or two and toast St. Patrick, not knowing or caring his life had little to do with the legend we were taught and continue to celebrate to this day.

March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect and honor the many achievements of women through history and celebrate those making vast strides today. Atlanta is home to countless trailblazers from civil rights leaders and politicians to businesswomen and beyond.

The Old Atlanta Prison Farm – also known as the Honor Farm – has quite the dark and menacing past. The prison’s hundreds of acres of land were initially purchased to act as a cemetery for the Civil War, but were later turned into a liberal experiment once owned and operated by the United States Federal Penitentiary.

Beneath the floor of Atlanta-based Oglethorpe University lies a 2,000-cubic-foot stone room, covered by a 7-foot-thick stone roof and sealed airtight with stainless steel.

Learning about our nation’s history is easier than ever. Since the National Center for Civil and Human Rights opened in downtown Atlanta, visitors and locals alike can engage with the displays at this informative cultural attraction, connecting the American Civil Rights Movement to today’s Global Human Rights crisis.

The restored cyclorama painting, “The Battle of Atlanta,” will once again be on public display beginning Feb. 22 at the Atlanta History Center, 127 years to the day after its initial Atlanta debut.

Located right in the heart of Atlanta, The Millennium Gate Museum strives to preserve and interpret Georgia’s history, art, culture and philanthropic heritage.

Long before Bill Murray released his 1993 cult-classic film “Groundhog Day,” Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, was already on the map. In 1887, a newspaper editor rallied a group of businessmen and groundhog hunters to sell people on the idea that we’ll either kiss winter goodbye or have six more weeks of it – dependent upon a groundhog.

In the early 1900s, Atlanta experienced heavy congestion from horses, cars, pedestrians and trains. To solve this, a series of viaducts were built to move the city above train tracks. These viaducts covered the lower parts of buildings, causing merchants to reopen storefronts on higher ground.

Celebrated on the third Monday in January, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a national federal holiday honoring the influential American leader’s life and achievements in the battle for civil rights. Most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation, Dr. King has been an inspirational source for many to stand up for all types of change and justice.

When it comes to New Year’s traditions, the South has some pretty tasty ones – pork, collard greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread – but there are many more celebrated around the world.

Let’s take it back nearly 400 years ago to the first Thanksgiving. When the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians gathered at Plymouth in 1621, their table looked a little different than ours do now. While no records exist of their exact menu, we know turkey was served…alongside wild hens, seafood and venison.

When gazing at Atlanta’s skyline, the distinct cylindrical shape of the Westin Peachtree Plaza immediately draws the eye. Opened in 1976, the hotel was designed by renowned architect John Portman and, at the time, was the city’s tallest building.