Guest post by Jane Wilson, STC Atlanta.
If you are visiting Atlanta for the 2013 STC Summit, maybe you’ve already tried the World of Coke or maybe the fish at the Georgia Aquarium don’t hold a lot of appeal. Then let me suggest a tourist attraction a little off the beaten path during your stay: the Atlanta History Center.
The name may sound a little dry, but the Atlanta History Center, tucked into a beautiful neighborhood in the heart of Buckhead, is guaranteed to offer something for everyone.
The Atlanta History Center is set on a beautifully landscaped, 33-acre campus. Two of the biggest draws at the AHC are the two historic homes on the grounds—the Smith Family Farm and the Swan House. The short walk to the Tullie Smith House is a step back in time to see what life was like in a plantation-plain home from the mid–nineteenth century. (Hint: It’s not Tara.) The Swan House, the crown jewel of the Atlanta History Center, is a strong counterpoint to the simple Smith Family Farm. The History Center bills it as “one of the most recognized and photographed landmarks in Atlanta,” and it is easy to see why. Designed and built by Atlanta architect Philip Trammell Shutze in 1928, the mansion and gardens are uniquely elegant and classically beautiful—and be sure to look out for the swan motif that appears somewhere in almost every room in the house.
The Museum at the History Center has a permanent collection that spans centuries of Georgia history, from civil rights documents to Civil War memorabilia to Bobby Jones’s golf clubs. You can see how Atlanta grew to be the phoenix city of the south in the Metropolitan Frontiers exhibit, and you can relive the 1996 Olympics in the Centennial Games Museum. Architecture, folk arts, and textile arts from across Georgia are also represented.
The Atlanta History Center also offers a revolving schedule of special exhibits with direct ties to the region. In May 2013, you can see three unique offerings. “Greetings from Atlanta: A Postcard Retrospective” offers a history of the printing technology and social history of the postcard through a collection of over 200 postcards that reveal the changing history of the city. “Native Lands: Indians and Georgia” explores the history of the original Georgia natives. Finally, “Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello” is an exhibition sponsored in partnership with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The event explores the institution of slavery through the personal history of six enslaved families associated with the Monticello plantation.
It’s easy to spend half a day exploring the History Center. If you get hungry, you can grab a quick snack at the Chick-Fil-A/Coca-Cola Café, or you can go for a more refined meal at the Swan Coach House. (Note: the Coach House menu may be heavy on chicken salad and cheese straws, but if you’ve never had good, fresh made-in-Georgia cheese straws before, you should give them a try!)
Finally, like all good tourist attractions, the Atlanta History Center allows you to exit through the gift shop. I mention this because this gift shop is one of the best I’ve ever visited. In fact, I became a member of the AHC primarily because of the discount! Books, toys, and Georgia-made jewelry are highlights, as are the pottery pieces made by some of the same artisans featured in the museum exhibits.
So, if you’re looking for a quiet way to spend a few hours—and maybe the chance to learn something at the same time—my recommendation is the Atlanta History Center. For more information, check out their website.