Want to visit the top historic sites in Atlanta, GA? Atlanta is the capital of Georgia, United States, it is the seat of Fulton County.
Atlanta’s rich history is profound, progressive, and continuously transforming. Feel the depth of the city’s history by exploring Atlanta History Center, Swan House, and Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta’s resting place of several prominent Atlantans.
Check out the life and legacy of some of the city’s most notable civil rights leaders residents, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, John Lewis, and Coretta Scot King, by visiting The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park and National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Atlanta’s history continues with historic sites, landmarks, and museums, including Margaret Mitchell House, The Swan House, and more.
Are you planning a vacation in Atlanta? Here are the top historic sites in Atlanta, GA.
Historic Sites in Atlanta, GA
1. The Swan House
Swan House
The Swan House, one of the fascinating historic sites in Atlanta, GA, is among the oldest standing mansion in Atlanta.
The House is a majestic spectacle of the 1900 residential architecture that has yet to be excessively remodeled since its completion in 1928.
Swan House is different from other massive homes because of the family that resided in it and the architecture by Phillip Trammell Shutze.
The Swan House symbolizes the city’s historically affluent Inman family, whose influence is evident throughout Atlanta.
Many generations of the Inman family have utilized their wealth to contribute to the city’s public parks, art, and historical research.
Fountains and stone obelisks are found outside of the House. There are shattered pediments and Roman Doric columns at the entrance of Duncombe Park in Yorkshire, England influenced.
Sculptures by the entrance depicting summer and autumn seasons add to the “Italian villa feeling.”
The House sits atop a hill, and there is a staircase behind the House with a scenic water cascade rushing down the hill.
The Palazzo Corsini in Rome influenced the water cascade, and the Italian style also influenced the formal garden outside the garden.
The garden features stone walls, terraced lawns, and a formal motor court.
The Swan House contains a restaurant, an art gallery, a gift shop, and spaces for any occasion.
Address: 130 W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305, United States
2. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta is a place every history buff interested in American history should see. It is among the top historic sites in Atlanta, GA.
It contains restored sites relevant to a better understanding of the life of Dr. King. Guests can also see the grave of Dr. King and his wife, Coretta Scott King.
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site honors the work, legacy, and life of rue civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
He was a Baptist minister activist from 1955 to 1968 known for offering different ranger-led programs, including films, walking tours, and discuss.
You can view Martin Luther King’s childhood home at the site, the church where he was baptized, ordained, and served as a co-pastor with his dad, and the Marin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
Also contained in the center is an interactive exhibit known as “The Dream Remembered,” recording Dr. King’s life, work, and dedication. The King Center was founded by his wife, Coretta King.
Address: 450 Auburn Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30312, United States
3. Smith Farm
Smith Farm
Smith Farmhouse was constructed in 1840 by Robert and Elizabeth Smith.
It is the city’s oldest surviving farmhouse and a regular plantation owned by small farmers.
By the 1960s, the House was encircled by highways and development and was given to the Atlanta Historical Society.
In 1969, the House was moved to its current site on the grounds of the Atlanta History Center. Atlanta History Center now manages it as an 1800 historic house museum.
Extra buildings were found on the Farm property, like the enslaved people’s blacksmith shop, cabins, dairy, smokehouse, chicken coop, corncrib, outhouse, and barn. These were gotten from various parts of the state to represent parts of the original farm.
The landscape depicts the Smith Farm in its earlier era, with historic mixtures of crops in the fields, the enslaved people’s garden, the kitchen garden, and a swept yard by the House planted with relic flowers like rose campion and love-lies-bleeding.
Living history presentations are provided during special events.
Address: 130 W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305, United States
4. National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta is a significant museum that records the American Civil Rights Movement and the global struggle for human rights.
This Museum, located in downtown Atlanta inspires people to draw out their inner power and transform the world around them.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta features the artifacts and papers of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, the history of the civil rights movement in the United States, and tales from the struggle for human rights worldwide.
The American Civil Right section contains exhibits on events, such as the March on Washington and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
The global human rights section features exhibits on topics like Apartheid, Holocaust, and women’s right.
The two sections of the Museum include interactive exhibits that permit guests to learn about these topics hands-on.
For instance, guests can sit in an imitation of a segregated bus or experience what it felt like to stroll across the Selma Bridge during the Voting Rights Campaign.
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta also has many films guests can watch, including a documentary on the Life of Nelson Mandela.
Address: 100 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, United States
5. The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Visitors can find the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Atlanta. It is one of the best historic sites in Atlanta, GA.
The first structure of this Roman Catholic Church was constructed in 1848 on the corner of Lloyd Street and Hunter Street. However, the names of the street have been changed to Central Avenue and Martin Luther King.
After suffering damage during the Civil War, the parish constructed a new structure in 1869 at the same site.
The present church building was completed in 1873 and is the oldest church in the city and among the city’s oldest standing buildings.
The church was renamed for an oil painting of the Immaculate Conception hung behind the altar of the freshly built church.
Address: 48 M.L.K. Jr Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
6. Atlanta History Center
Atlanta History Center
The Atlanta History Center is a research center and history museum in the Buckhead neighborhood.
The multi-acre campus is home to the Atlantic History Museum, one of the most extensive history museums in the US, and the Swan House Plantation, a new civil rights gallery, three historic homes, and a library.
The Atlanta History Center was created in 1926 by citizens interested in preserving the city’s history.
Over the years, the Atlanta History Museums has developed as a massive archival-oriented historical society with over 30 thousand permanent and temporary exhibitions about the city’s history.
The Museum was opened to the public in 1931 and has been increased many times since then.
Apart from the Museum and research center, the Atlanta History Center also runs historic properties, including the Tullie Smith Farm, the Swan House, Centennial Olympic Park, and six landmark neighborhoods.
This Museum is a fantastic place to learn about Atlanta’s rich history, and the Atlanta History Center offers different walking tours.
Address: 130 W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305, United States
7. Rhodes Hall
Rhodes Hall
While it was initially the home of Rhodes Furniture founder Amos Rhodes, the building is now a house museum and one of the most distinct venues in Atlanta for corporate and social events.
The House, constructed in 1904, was designed by Willis F. Denny for one of Atlanta’s influential men.
Rhodes Hall, built of Stone Mountain granite in the Romanesque Revival style, carries statewide significance for the quality and style of its architecture.
Rhodes Hall is virtually exceptional in the state, as only a few residential structures were constructed in this style.
Visit this residence to behold its impressive architectural beauty. It is undoubtedly one of the best historic sites in Atlanta, GA.
Address: 1516 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30309, United States
8. First Congregational Church- UCC
First Congregational Church- UCC
First Congregational Church is the second oldest Black Congregational Church in the country.
The current structure replaced a smaller, red brick structure constructed in the late 1869s on land that the American Missionary Association donated.
First Congregational Church- UCC is prominent for being the favorite church of the city’s black influential people, including Andrew Young and Alonza Herndon, for its popular minister Henry H. Proctor.
The church was never officially segregated, but by 1892, it had become primarily black.
The current buildings constructed on the site of the original one were designed by Alexander Campbell Bruce and Arthur Greene Everett. They were built by Robert E. Pharrow in 1908.
In 1971, First Congregational Church was put on the National Register of Historic Places as a landmark structure.
Address: 105 Courtland St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303, United State
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9. Callanwolde
Callanwolde
The Tudor Revival style 27,000 square foot mansion perched on a 12-acre estate in Atlanta’s Druid Hills neighborhood was constructed in 1920 as the residence of Charles Howard Candler, eldest son of the founder of The Coca-Cola Company, Asa Candler.
Callanwolde improves the lives of numerous metropolitan Atlantans all year round as they enjoy jazz concerts, historic tours, gallery exhibits, storytelling evenings, poetry readings, and outreach programs.
Callanwolde Fine Art Center also offers approximately 200 classes and workshops every quarter for all ages in literary, visual, and performing art.
The center also provides a perfect setting for weddings, corporate meetings, and other special occasions.
Callanwolde’s blend of history, art education, and architecture makes it among the most unique centers in America. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Address: 980 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30306, United States
10. The Margaret Mitchell House
Margaret Mitchell House
The Margaret Mitchell House was the residence of author Margaret Mitchell in early 1900.
This historical Museum was known as the Crescent Apartment when Margaret and her husband resided in Apartment 1 on the ground floor from 1925 until 1932.
While living there, Margaret penned the bulk of her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Gone With the Wind.
The House also features a visitor center, and a part of the Museum is dedicated to the filming of the 1939 film based on the novel.
Docents take guests on a tour of the House to learn about Margaret’s life in the city, facts surrounding her writing the book, and more.
The Margaret Mitchell House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a historic building by the City of Atlanta.
Address979 Crescent Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, United States
11. Oakland Cemetery
Oakland Cemetery
Cemeteries are distinctive historical venues that summarize the history of the city’s citizens.
Oakland Cemetery, which was established in 1850, is the resting place of a few of Atlanta’s earliest citizens. It is the final resting place for about seven thousand Confederate Soldiers.
By 1872, Oakland Cemetery was expanded to contain increasing casualties due to the Civil War.
The entrance gate to the cemetery was built in 1896. In 1976, Oakland was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
A sixty-foot granite obelisk, the tallest of Oakland’s monuments, was laid in 1879 to honor the Confederate Dead.
A few prominent residents in the cemetery include Maynard Jackson, Mayor; Margaret Mitchell, writer of Gone with the Wind; and Bobby Jones, Golfer.
The Oakland Historical Foundation was also established in 1976 to preserve the cemetery. It hosts daily tours and many events throughout the year.
Address: 248 Oakland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312, United States
12. The William Perrin Nicolson House
William Perrin Nicolson House
In 1989, the building was designated as a historic building by the City of Atlanta.
Although The William Perrin Nicolson House is not open to the public, visitors can still explore this history building by lodging there as it now serves as a Bed and Breakfast establishment.
The House was constructed in 1981 by William Perrin Nicolson as a wedding gift for his bride, Carolyn Crane.
The building was designed by a famous architect Walter T. Downing In the Eclectic Colonial Revival technique.
Although Walter had designed several public buildings and churches like Scared Heart Church, his most remarkable and outstanding works were his residential designs, where his diverse and individualistic style shines through.
The William Perrin Nicolson House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It is also a City of Atlanta Landmark Building and Site.
It was listed because it is now a somewhat surviving illustration of Downing’s residential work, being the only one of five of his houses in the city still extant. It is the only one mirroring the unique style he developed in his designs commissioned in the late 19th century.
Address 821 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308, United States:
13. The Academy of Medicine
Academy of Medicine
The Academy of Medicine is among the top historic sites in Atlanta, GA. It was constructed in 1941 and housed the Medical Association of Atlanta till the late 20th century.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has also been designated a historic building by the City of Atlanta. The Georgia Institute of Technology presently owns it.
This historically remodeled building’s neoclassical architecture features stunning composition and southern charm.
The Academy of Medicine is significant to Atlanta in three categories. Architecturally, the building is significant for its Neo-Classical designs ascribed to Philip T. Shutze.
It is historically significant as the residence of the city’s oldest medical society, the Medical Association of Atlanta, established in the 1850s as the Brotherhood of Physicians.
Additionally, it is the central meeting spot for the medical society, where members shared beliefs and discussed medical methods and theories for several years.
It is the current site of concerts, recitals, and mini-conferences, earning it cultural significance in the city.
Address: 875 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309, United States
14. Jeremiah S. Gilbert House
Jeremiah S. Gilbert House
It is among Atlanta’s oldest surviving structures and employs a unique building technology using mortar, field stones, and wood.
After the building was renovated in 1984, it was launched as a Cultural Art Center managed by the City of Atlantic Office of Cultural Affairs.
Jeremiah S. Gilbert House has three significance: as the home of one of Atlanta’s pioneer families, as a rare illustration of critical technology, and as a rare extant illustration of an Atlanta farmhouse.
The Jeremiah S. Gilbert House is one of the National Register of Historic Places listed properties in Perkerson, Atlanta.
The House is also established as a City of Atlanta Landmark Site.
You can see the original family furniture, artifacts, and photographs when you visit.
Address: 2238 Perkerson Rd SW, Atlanta, GA 30315, United States
15. The Herndon Home Museum
Herndon Home Museum
Stroll through the 1910 mansion and learn about the first black millionaire in Georgia.
The Museum contains an exhibit about Alonzo Herndon’s climb from slavery to a leader in the black business community:
A reservation is unnecessary for a guided tour of the Herndon Home Museum.
However, large groups can make reservations for Monday – Saturday.
Tour hours are on Tuesday or Thursday between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Address: 587 University Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30314, United States
Want more of Georgia attractions and activities? do check out our list of things to do in LaGrange, things to do in Duluth, and things to do in Tifton for a memorable vacation.
Plan Your Trip to Atlanta
Atlanta is known for its rich history, scenic skylines, and art community.
With a rich and intricate history, it is not surprising that there are many intriguing historic sites in Atlanta, GA.
Get to know the local history here by exploring the various historic sites in Atlanta, GA.
History buffs and everyone interested in having a terrific vacation should start planning their trip to Atlanta, GA.