One can learn more about the history of Atlanta—and the rich experiences it has offered, and currently offers the world—in a few hours at the Atlanta History Center, than most ever learn in a lifetime living here. I don't say that lightly. I say it from experience. I moved to Atlanta in 1987, lived here for 15 years, moved to DC for nine, and I've now been back for more than five years. After starting wanderlust ATLANTA—a blog about being a tourist in Atlanta—an exercise to re-familiarize myself with the city, I learned more about Atlanta in one year than I had in the 15 years I lived here before. It was a shocking and amazing revelation! Exploring the Atlanta History Center has played a significant role in my learning more about the city that I consider "home", more than any other place I've lived. In particular, I'm grateful to the staff who have made me feel so welcome as a person enthusiastic about sharing fascinating experiences throughout our wonderful city. I'm talking about you Hillary, Martha, Brandi and Sheffield! So, why exactly did I renew my membership? The following are 14 reasons, in no particular order, I recently and excitedly renewed my membership to the Atlanta History Center: SWAN HOUSE Swan House | Atlanta History Center I adore the Swan House not only because my middle name is Swann (note the difference in spelling), but also because it's one of the most magnificent historic homes in the whole of Atlanta! It's also one of the most photographed attractions in the city. Swan House, designed by famed Philip Trammell Shutze, built in 1928 for the Edward H. Inman family, is magnificent! I highly recommend that you tour the home when you visit. Be sure to request a timed entry ticket when you arrive at admissions. MANDARIN SHUTZE: A CHINESE EXPORT LIFE Mandarin Shutze: A Chinese Export Life | Atlanta History Center I love it when an exhibit sneaks up on me...that I don't miss, of course. Fortunately, I "discovered" Mandarin Shutze: A Chinese Export Life after overhearing another visitor mention it. I had in fact heard about it, but it fell off my radar for a few months. This exhibition is magnificent! And a lot larger than you might think when you first go in. I should say "go down"...it's in the basement of the Swan House. To see this exhibition, be sure you've secured your timed Swan House tour voucher at admissions or ask if the house is open—for certain programs the Swan House is open outside of timed tours. CANDLELIGHT NIGHTS Candlelight Nights | Atlanta History Center This year's Cendlelight Nights has been on my calendar since it was first announced, which I was eagerly awaiting having had such an incredible time at last year's event! This year's events are on Friday, December 11 (I'll be at Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker), and Friday, December 18, for which I've already purchased my tickets! I'm excitedly looking forward to a repeat performance of all the magnificent holiday cheer this event brings. Get a program when you arrive to make sure you don't miss anything you want to see while you're there. And there's a LOT to choose from, and the programming is throughout their 33-acre campus! THE 1996 ATLANTA SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES MUSEUM Olympic Torches | 1996 Summer Olympic Games | Atlanta History Center Having lived in Atlanta during the bidding process for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, including the heart-pounding morning of the winning bid announcement, through the Centennial Olympic Games themselves, this museum has a very special place in my heart. It is home to a world-class collection and a part of Atlanta history that stands unique. I also lived in Greece for more than two years, where I toured the Olympic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held 100 years prior to their being conducted in Atlanta. That's another reason this museum means so much to me. The museum is expansive, but my favorite collection in this particular museum is the torches (and medallions prior to torches) for each of the modern Olympic Games! It's impressive! PARTY WITH THE PAST Party With the Past | Atlanta History Center From its inception, the Atlanta History Center's Party With the Past events have been incredibly successful. The program is designed specifically for local young professionals and that's the majority of the upwards of 300 attendees at the events. I've had the pleasure of attending many of these events (I may not be "young", but I am young at heart) and I've written about a few, too. Have a look: Party With the Past at Zoo Atlanta Party With the Past at Dekalb History Center Party With the Past Gatsby Style at Swan House The events are held approximately every two months and they're consistently as much fun as they are informative. Many may not think of history as "fun", but it totally can be! AUTHOR EVENTS Travis with John Berendt | Margaret Mitchell House I've attended a number of author events at the Atlanta History Center and the Margaret Mitchell House (part of the Atlanta History Center). Celebrity chef Curtis Stone, heartthrob Aussie (now living in Los Angeles), was awesome. But, perhaps my favorite author event was getting to see, hear and meet John Berendt (pictured above), author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the evening he introduced his novel as a METABOOK. You MUST check out METABOOK...it gives novels a life you never knew a book could offer...it's a wholly new way to experience the written word. MARGARET MITCHELL HOUSE Margaret Mitchell House | Scarlett O'Hara | Gone With the Wind I've seen the Margaret Mitchell House restored, burned, restored and grow since I first moved to Atlanta in 1987. I am incredibly impressed with what's been done with this historic home and grateful that it has been rebuilt and is used for public tours and events on a consistent basis. If you haven't been, go! Their guided tours are timed, so plan ahead. And be sure to visit the ancillary buildings that house additional Margaret Mitchell and Gone With the Wind exhibits, displays and artifacts. GOIZUETA GARDENS Cherry Sims Asian American Garden | Atlanta History Center For your wanderlusting pleasure, you may "explore 22 acres of tranquil gardens and trails, featuring six distinct gardens that showcase the horticultural history of the Atlanta region." I knew there were multiple gardens, but I didn't know there were six! And I didn't know that they focus on the "horticultural history of the Atlanta region"! I have indeed explored and delighted in the over the years and highly recommend doing so when you visit. I'm quite fond of the Quarry Garden and I love the Cherry Sims Asian American Garden! SMITH FAMILY FARM Smith Family Farm | Atlanta History Center Smith Family Farm is another of their historic homes, that was once located approximately four miles from where it now stands, in high contrast to Buckhead's modern skyscrapers. Visiting this historic home when there are costumed docents is great fun. And there are animals living on the farm, including a goat named Little Richard. A home that represents life around the time of the Civil War, "The house and separate open-hearth kitchen are now surrounded by a dairy, blacksmith shop, smokehouse, double corncrib, slave cabin, and barn, as well as traditional vegetable, herb, field, flower, and slave gardens." BOBBY JONES MUSEUM If you're a golfer, you're going to love the Bobby Jones museum at the Atlanta History Center! I wrote a story a couple of years ago that outlines a full day of Bobby Jones tours throughout Atlanta, including the museum at Atlanta History Center! "Down the Fairway With Bobby Jones" is a fantastic museum dedicated to the local golf legend Bobby Jones. I have visited this particular museum countless times and I'm not even a golfer! I've been golfing twice and the second time I didn't lose a single ball to the woods! SWAN HOUSE CAPITOL TOURS Swan House Capitol Tour | President Snow's Desk | Atlanta History Center The Swan House Capitol Tour is so incredibly awesome, for cinema enthusiasts and history buffs alike! If you're a fan of The Hunger Games movies, you'll want to go on this tour! If you've been before, I recommend going again...there have been a few changes since Mockingjay Part 2 was released. If you're not familiar with The Hunger Games, the Atlanta History Center was a filming site for last three films in the series, in particular, the Swan House, the Swan House Gardens and the Swan House Lawn. VETERANS PARK Veterans Park | Atlanta History Center | U.S. Navy As a former sailor in the United States Navy, although I never had shore-duty throughout my enlistment (I was a land-based Radioman), I'm ever grateful to the Atlanta History Center for its Veterans Park. I recently attended their third annual Veterans Day program, conducted in Veterans Park, and was incredibly touched by the entire program and those who were in attendance, including many war veterans. Veterans Park is exactly that...a park. But it's a park with lots to offer. And you can visit it outside of regular museum hours. I recommend bringing your smart phone and downloading a QR Code reader, if you haven't already, prior to visiting. GONE WITH THE WIND TRAIL Atlanta History Center | Turning Point | US Civil War The Gone With the Wind Trail includes two Atlanta History Center destinations. In the primary tours, they list the Margaret Mitchell House, the Atlanta history Center's historic home located in the Atlanta neighborhood of Midtown. The other listing—under "Rhett's Recommendations" is their main campus in Buckhead—specifically, "Turning Point: The American Civil War" museum, which houses one of the more comprehensive Civil War collections in the nation! Before I moved back to Atlanta and started blogging about being a tourist here, I'd never considered myself a "Windie"—a super fan of Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Gone With the Wind. But as I explored more and more, it eventually dawned on me...I keep visiting Margaret Mitchell/Gone With the Wind/Civil War sites and going on tours relative to the book and subsequent movie, in addition to being a history buff, that perhaps, just maybe, I am a Windie. I've met some very nice Windies over the years, so I wouldn't be devastated with the attribution. ATLANTA CYCLORAMA AND TEXAS Texas | Cyclorama | Atlanta History Center When rumors began to surface about the closing of the Cyclorama, I was devastated. It was a mostly-ignored, under-visited attraction—a most wonderful attraction, but in my opinion, it didn't have the marketing backing as many other equally magnificent exhibitions. I was overjoyed when I learned that the Atlanta Cyclorama and the Texas locomotive were going to the Atlanta History Center! The Atlanta Cyclorama is also on Rhett's Recommedations on the Gone With the Wind Trail. The move was announced in 2014. The attraction closed in June of this year (2015) and it's slated to reopen at the Atlanta History Center in early 2017. Here's a wonderful fly-through rendition of what we all can expect: The Cyclorama's Future Home (VIDEO) There you go...14 amazing reasons to become a member of the Atlanta History Center! And please know that this is a short list...it's the tip of the tip of the iceberg. Go explore! For the record, while the Atlanta History Center has been wonderful to me as a blogger, I also consider them friends. I purchased my own membership and all the opinions expressed in all my writings are my own opinions. If you're a local or visit Atlanta frequently, I encourage you to become a member of this magnificent Atlanta destination. I say "destination" because it's so much more than a museum or an attraction...the Atlanta History Center is Atlanta...past, present and future!
A grouping of 1994-1996 Lillehammer Atlanta Centennial Games Olympic Memorabilia Souvenirs - 3 round Olympic patches - Atlanta 1996 pin - it's blue & half domed - Atlanta 1996 pin - rectangular green - 94-96 Lillehammer-Atlanta USA Centennial Games - it's round & white in color - I support the US Olympic team sticker (unsure if still sticky) - Rowing commemorative Olympic sport medallion - Athletic commemorative Olympic sport medallion - 2 small pamphlets about some of the participants --- Some people mentioned are Nancy Kerrigan, Cathy Turner, Bonnie Blair, Brian Boitano, Randy Jones, Dan Jansen IMPERFECTIONS: There may be scratching on the metal. The papers may have bends, creases, minor tears. The sticker may not stick fully after all this time. If you do not see information on details important to you, please let me know See what else is in store! https://retellseller1.etsy.com
Vintage 1996 Olympics Trading Pins. It's A Set Of 6 Unopened Trading Pins From The 1996 Olympic Games, With Atlanta, Georgia As The Host City. Each The Pins Are Different, And They're All Brand New And Sealed In Their Original Packaging. 5 Of Them Are Specific To That Atlanta, Georgia Games, While One Is Part Of The Centennial Collection, And Is A Tribute To The 1948 London, England Olympics. Fun For Collectors! Set Of 6.
Twenty years after the Olympics were held in Atlanta, some remnants of that summer remain a visible part of the city's landscape, while others faded away.
Monica Rodrigues of Brazil tries to block as Sandra Pires Tavares also of Brazil spikes during the beach volleyball event at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. \ Mandatory Credit:...
This Vintage Pin Set Is In Mint Condition! Never Been Used. Original Packaging. All Pins Were Purchased During The 1996 Olympic Games In Atlanta, Ga All Pins Approx 1" X 1 1/4"In Pins Include: 1 - Centennial Olympic Games, Aug 4, 1996, Closing Ceremonies 1 - Usa , Atlanta 1996 1 - Swimming, Atlanta 1996 1 - I Was There, Georgia Dome, Site Of Olympic Gymnastics, Atlanta 1996, July 20th - August 4, 1996 1 - Opening Ceremonies, July 19, 1996 ,Atlanta 1996 1 - High Museum Of Art, Atlanta
The summer Olympic Games in Beijing China are just a few short weeks away. As a resident witness to the games hosted by Atlanta in 1996, I can tell you ...
Dominique Moceanu of the USA gets some advice from team coach Bela Karolyi during the women''s team compulsories at the Georgia Dome at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta georgia. Mandatory...
Julia Greville of Australia prepares for the 200m freestyle heat at the GeorgiaTech Aquatic Center at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport
Get more information about Centennial Olympic Park, a partner of Discover Atlanta.
Australian Kathy Watt competing in the individual women's pursuit cycling quaifying at Stone mountain Velodrome during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta Georgia. \ Mandatory Credit: David...
Photos of Kerri Strug, who led the U.S. to the gold medal in gymnastics at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
US Olympic gymnast Dominique Moceanu practices floor exercises during a training session 16 July at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, three days before the opening ceremony of the Centennial Olympic Games.
The Centennial Olympic Games Museum at the Atlanta History Center is designed to remind you of the same thing the event announced to the world: Atlanta is a world-class city.
Muhammad Ali holds the torch before lighting the Olympic Flame during the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. \ Mandatory Credit: Michael Cooper /Allsport
Muhammad Ali was born January 17, 1942. Here are photos from his career.
Photos of Kerri Strug, who led the U.S. to the gold medal in gymnastics at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Learn about Olympic Games mascots through the years. From the very first official mascot to today's fun Rio ones.
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
Three-time Olympian Four-time Olympic medalist Four-time World Championships medalist 19-time U.S Senior Nationals medalist Member of the U.S.A Olympic Hall of Fame, U.S.A Gymnastics Hall of Fame and International Gymnastics Hall of Fame Former Women’s Sports Foundation President and Board of Trustees member
Twenty years after the Olympics were held in Atlanta, some remnants of that summer remain a visible part of the city's landscape, while others faded away.
Where to buy Kicks On Court Classic // The 1996 USA Olympic Team shoes. Nice Kicks has release dates, prices, and where to find Kicks On Court Classic // The 1996 USA Olympic Team for sale.
Atlanta 1996
SLIDESHOW - Although now retired, Dominique Dawes is still one of the most influential American gymnasts of all time...
Une rétrospective historique de toutes les affiches parues à l’occasion des Jeux Olympiques, d’Athènes à Londres, en passant par Barcelone et Pékin.
Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta is a memorial to the 1996 Olympics. Highlights include a rings sculpture & fountain show.
SLIDESHOW - Although now retired, Dominique Dawes is still one of the most influential American gymnasts of all time...
Looking for the best things to do in Atlanta? We've got you covered. Find here the top attractions, sights, activities and more...
Twenty years after the Olympics were held in Atlanta, some remnants of that summer remain a visible part of the city's landscape, while others faded away.
