Atlanta in 100 Objects - by Atlanta History Center (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From the Western & Atlantic Railroad's Zero Milepost signifying the city's birth as a transportation hub, to the glittering disco ball from the dance club Backstreet, Atlanta in 100 Objects brings together artifacts that capture a portrait of a city that has shaped - and been shaped by - American history.

Drawn from a century of collecting by the Atlanta History Center, the book presents 100 carefully selected objects that open a window onto the city's complex past as a symbol of the crisis of the American Civil War, the cradle of its Civil Rights movement, and a place where culture thrives today.

Highlights include the first map of Atlanta, the calling card of General William T. Sherman, the land deed for the property containing the Muscogee site Standing Peachtree, the panoramic Battle of Atlanta Cyclorama towering nearly 50 feet tall, and a letter from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Examples of folk art, fine art, and fashion highlight the experiences of those who lived Atlanta's past, create its present, and build its future.

Founded in 1926 by citizens determined to preserve their city's past, the Atlanta History Center today encompasses museums, historic homes, gardens, and one of the Southeast's largest archives. This volume celebrates its 100-year journey and invites readers to explore a still-evolving city through the objects that define it.

About the Author

Amy Durrell and Lisa Flaherty are Co-founders of History Afoot Atlanta, providing historical tours of Atlanta. Both are graduates of Georgia State University's Masters of Heritage Preservation program with a focus on Public History.

Photography by Mark Hill.

The team at Atlanta History Center includes Pola Changnon, Lucy Abell, Erica Hague, Claire Hailey, Jena Jones, Ammiel Lewis, John Schmidt, SueVerHoef, Tim Frilingos, and Michael Rose.