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Read about the city
Atlanta is the capital of the state of Georgia, and as an urban area, Atlanta is one of the largest cities in the United States. The city's history dates back to 1837, when it was founded as the terminus of one of the many railroads built in the U.S. states in the 19th century.
It was Georgia's politicians who decided the construction of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, which got a railway station in the settlement of Terminus. Over the years Terminus became Atlanta. The beginning started slowly, and from 6 buildings and 30 inhabitants in 1842, about 6 million people live in Greater Atlanta today.
Atlanta is known for several things. Coca-Cola and CNN are two of the city's companies, and this is also where one of the world's largest airports is located. The city is in constant development and with many modern buildings that provide a characteristic, American metropolitan skyline.
From Atlanta, you can easily reach attractions in the surrounding area and neighboring states that include Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. If you want in nature, Providence Canyon State Park and Lake Lanier are good choices, while Athens, Macon and Nashville are some of the many exciting cities close by.
Other attractions
- Atlanta City Hall: The City Hall is a large office and meeting building that was inaugurated in 1930. The building is Atlanta's fourth city hall building, and the architectural style is a kind of neo-Gothic art deco. One detail is the Green Roof, which forms a small garden on the roof of the city hall.
- Flatiron Building: Many people probably know the Flatiron Building in New York, but this edition in Atlanta was built in 1897 and thus several years before the more famous one in the Big Apple. The 11-storey building stands as the city's oldest, preserved high-rise building.
- Rhodes-Haverty Building: When this high-rise was built in 1929, it was Atlanta's tallest building. The builders were the furniture manufacturers Amos Giles Rhodes and James Joseph Haverty. The 75 meter / 246 foot high building was design-wise inspired by contemporary art deco, which i.a. seen in the fine lobby.
- High Museum of Art: This is one of the leading art museums in the southeastern United States. It was founded in 1905 as the Atlanta Art Association, and the collections have since grown into thousands of works of art from large parts of the world. Many famous artists are represented with works.
- Underground Atlanta: This is an exciting area of shops and activities, set in ancient settings dating back to the years after the American Civil War in the 1860s. A railway building from 1869 stands at the entrance, and it is the city center's oldest construction. The area itself was covered when new roads were laid and the old house facades were rediscovered in the 1960s and since developed.
- Fox Theater: The Fox Theater is a beautiful building that opened in 1929 as one of Atlanta's upscale cinemas. The building was originally thought of as part of a temple, and the Moorish architecture comes from that plan. There is also Egyptian style in the decor of the theater, whose auditorium was built for 4,665 spectators.
- Atlanta Marriott Marquis: There are many modern buildings in Atlanta, and this hotel has been nicknamed ‘the pregnant building’ due to its exterior design. Inside, a stunning atrium opens with an open space throughout the building at a height of 143 meters/470 feet.
- Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel: This is where Georgia's first official governor's residence was located. Today, the 220-meter/722-foot-high Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel is on site. The hotel was the city's tallest building in the years 1976-1987, and the first year it was also the world's tallest hotel. At the top is a revolving restaurant with beautiful views of Atlanta.
- Bank of America Plaza: This building was opened in 1992 as the tallest building in Atlanta and Georgia. The height is 311 meters/1,020 feet with 55 office floors. The building with the pointed top naturally forms a significant part of the city skyline.
- Centennial Olympic Park: The Olympic Games were held in Atlanta in 1996, and many sports facilities were to be built for the big event. Other facilities were also needed, and the Centennial Olympic Park was laid out as a recreational area. It is located in the city center with large lawns and lots of activities.
