Atlanta Attractions
The Swan House © Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta History Center
Set in nine hectares (23 acres) of beautiful gardens, the
Atlanta History Center is the ideal place to soak up the rich
history of the state. The main attractions are two historic homes,
open to the public offering informative guided tours. The Tullie
Smith House originally stood outside the city limits but has been
relocated to the History Center, along with its outbuildings. The
house was built in the 1840s and survived the near-total
destruction of Atlanta in 1864 when General William Sherman burned
almost every business and more than two thirds of the city's homes
during his infamous 'March to the Sea'. It was once the home of
yeoman farmer Robert Smith and his family, who owned 11 slaves and
farmed on about 324 hectares (800 acres). The farmhouse is typical
of most in Georgia at the time, despite popular belief that not all
Georgians owned large plantations and mansions. The Swan House,
built in 1928, is a grand Italianate mansion that is an Atlanta
landmark, once the home of Edward and Emily Inman, heirs to a
cotton brokerage fortune. The History Center also features several
other historic buildings and exhibitions.
Address: 130 West Paces Ferry Road;
Website: www.atlantahistorycenter.com;
Telephone: (404) 814 4000;
Opening time: Centre: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5.30pm; Sunday 12pm to 5.30pm. Tullie Smith House and Swan House: Monday to Saturday 11am to 4pm, Sunday 1pm to 4pm;
Admission: $15 (adults), $10 (children 4-12 years). Rates exclude tax
