Atlanta, Georgia

Introduction to Atlanta, Georgia

Founded in 1837 as Marthasville, Atlanta is the largest city in Georgia, as well as the state's capital.

Atlanta is located in north/central Georgia. It is home to over 10 Fortune 500 companies, including household names such as The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Airlines, Home Depot, and UPS. In fact, as of 2005, the Atlanta metropolitan area was ranked third behind New York and Houston on the list of cities with the most Fortune 500 headquarters.

Atlanta History

Atlanta was founded in 1837 as Marthasville at the end of the Western & Atlantic railroad line. It was officially incorporated as Atlanta in 1847. At that time, Atlanta consisted of little more than 30 stores, a few hotels and schools, one church, and approximately 2,500 residents.

Some key dates in Atlanta's history include:

• In 1838, the forced march of 15,000 Cherokee Indians west to Arkansas, known as the "Trail of Tears," began.
• In 1861, Georgia became the fourth state to leave the union.
• On September 2, 1864, after numerous battles around the city, Atlanta surrendered to Union Troops. Two months later General Sherman ordered the city burned. Only 400 buildings survived.
• In 1868, Atlanta was chosen as the capital of the state of Georgia.
• In 1886, Coca-Cola was served for the first time at Jacobs Pharmacy.
• On January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta.
• In 1968, the King center was established in Atlanta by Martin Luther King Jr.'s wife, Coretta Scott King.
• In 1974, Hank Aaron, of the Atlanta Braves, surpassed Babe Ruth's home run record by hitting his 715th home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in front of the largest crowd in Braves history. Aaron went on to hit 755 career home runs.
• In 1996, Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Atlanta Arts and Culture

Atlanta is a vibrant and rich center for arts and culture. Atlanta offers museums, the performing arts, a presidential library, and more. Atlanta has resident companies in the four disciplines of the performing arts: ballet, symphony, opera, and theater. Some of Atlanta's more notable museums include:

• The Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum
• The Atlanta History Center
• The Atlanta International Museum of Art and Design
• The Fernbank Museum of Natural History
• The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum
• The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
• The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia
• The World of Coca-Cola Pavilion

For patrons of the performing arts, Atlanta is home to many world-class performing arts attractions. Some of the more notable include:

• The Atlanta Ballet
• The Atlanta Opera
• The Atlanta Shakespeare Company
• The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
• The Center for Puppetry Arts
• Numerous theaters and playhouses

Atlanta also pays host to many arts festivals, including the Georgia Shakespeare Festival, and Music Midtown.

Atlanta Sports and Leisure

Atlanta has plenty to offer even the most avid sports fan. Atlanta is home to the following major sports teams:

• Baseball - The Major League Baseball (MLB) Atlanta Braves
• Basketball - The National Basketball Association (NBA) Atlanta Hawks
• Football - The National Football League (NFL) Atlanta Falcons and the Arena Football League (AFL) Georgia Force, who play 50 minutes northeast of Atlanta in Flowery Branch, Georgia
• Hockey - The National Hockey League (NHL) Atlanta Thrashers
• Soccer - The United Soccer League (USL) First Division Atlanta Silverbacks, USL Premier Development League Atlanta U23's, and USL-W Division Atlanta Silverbacks Women

Atlanta is also home to the NCAA College Football Peach Bowl.

As one might expect of a city in a sub-tropical climate, outdoor activities abound in Atlanta. Opportunities for outdoor recreation include: boating, camping, fishing, golfing, kayaking and rafting, mountain biking, rock climbing, swimming, tennis, and more. There are even three Six Flags Amusement parks in Atlanta (Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Whitewater, and American Adventures).

Atlanta "Must See" Attractions

Atlanta has attractions too numerous to do justice in a simple list. Some of Atlanta's more notable and unique attractions include:

• The Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum
• Centennial Olympic Park
• CNN Center
• The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum
• The Martin Luther King Jr. Center
• Stone Mountain Park, home to the Memorial Carving which depicts three Confederate heroes of the Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee, and Lt. General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
• Underground Atlanta offering shopping, dining, history and entertainment
• The World of Coca-Cola
• Zoo Atlanta

Atlanta at Night

Atlanta's nightlife is legendary. The city has more bars and nightclubs than it does places of worship. Atlanta offers just about everything imaginable from dance clubs to sports bars. Many establishments offer live entertainment, including some excellent rhythm and blues. Atlanta's bars and clubs are typically open seven days a week, until 2 or 4 AM. The best place to look for coming events is the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Friday "Weekend Preview" or Saturday "Leisure" sections. Atlanta Magazine and Atlanta Magazine Online are also good sources of information about dining, events, and attractions.