If you're a local cabdriver, that is. One told me that when out-of-towners ask him what they should see in Atlanta, he says the Atlanta History Center first and foremost. Why? Yes, it has a wonderful museum with a variety of state-of-the-art exhibitions with something for everyone, from Bobby Jones and golf to the Civil War to folk art to, of course, your basic history of Atlanta. To me, the real jewels in the crown of this museum complex of 33 acres, however, are the two historic houses, which you can tour, led by docents who provide information. There is the 1920s Swan House mansion and grounds, which was built on the site before it was the AHC, and the Tullie Smith Farm, a Civil War-era farmhouse moved here from elsewhere in Atlanta. There are also acres of beautiful gardens, including a sunken garden that was once a quarry. You could easily spend all day here and truly get to know Atlanta and environs in a way that other wonderful attractions in the city just can't offer. Located in Buckhead, it is within a few blocks of major shopping and great restaurants and hotels, too. Yes, I'm a local, yes, I was born here, but I've traveled extensively, and the Atlanta History Center offers a huge wallop of beauty and information for everyone at a well-worth-it price.
I visited this place last spring ( Feb' 2014) for my public policy class. There is tons of information in this place. It is also huge don't be fooled by the small size on the exterior. This is great for educational purposes and for anyone interested in history and there were several artifacts on display. I would surely recommend to anyone.
The exhibit on the Civil War was very interesting and complete and the Olympic Games exhibit and Folk Art Exhibit were also very nice. Admission fee covers entry to the Margaret Mitchel (in midtown) a short drive away and also a must-see for history buffs visiting Atlanta.
Doesn't get much better then this. If you want to find out about the past and how it influences us today...this is a must visit. Something for all to enjoy.
This was a wonderful museum to visit and learn some Georgia history. I had heard many things about the museum and it did not disappoint.
I came to the History Center mostly for the Swan House (which was absolutely beautiful), but the farm and museum were all well worth the visit too. This place was larger than I expected, though unfortunately we only had a few hours to spend there so we couldn't see everything. In warmer months the nature trails around the center would probably be worth walking too. They have lovely exhibits in the museum, and the farm has friendly period actors and live animals. Margaret Mitchell's house is included in admission as well, but that is off-sight so we didn't end up visiting it. For me the Swan House was the main attraction, and it was certainly worth the visit on its own. I would highly recommenced stopping in for a visit when in Atlanta, especially if you don't have long to spend in the city and want an overview of its history.
We bought the tickets to the museum and were told that we also could visit the house of the author of "Gone with the wind" for free (tour included). The museum is excellent, especially the Civil War exhibit. I'm not so much into long history books, and the bite-sized information with several interactive displays were very interesting and informative. The music exhibit was also great. The Swan house was okay, perhaps I have seen better. The farmhouse was interesting with several actors playing the life back in the old days. The only complaint I had was that we visited the house on the last day of 2014, and they ran out of food (except salad). The restaurant nearby was closed very early- we got there by 1 or 2 pm (and the museum people were not aware of this either). Overall, highly recommended.
My sister and I went here to see the GWTW exhibit, but we most enjoyed the Civil War attraction. It was very large, with cannons, wagons, uniforms, mess kits, anything you could think of from the war. There was an interactive piece where you could lift the packs and gun a solider would have carried and "shoot a gun" from an entrenchment. Very cool.
This place is fascinating. I remember going here as a kid, but I appreciate it so much more as an adult. My one recommendation however, is get there early and plan to spend the day. There is so much on display that you can't see it all in just a few hours.
The first stop was the History Center which was a good choice. Admission could include the Swan House and the Margaret Mitchel House all of which I wanted to see. It was not a large museum but had well done exhibits. Loved the golf exhibit which was a surprise to me, I had forgotten about Bobby Jones being a local hero.