History · Atlanta · United States
6 historic sites to see in Atlanta
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ashish Kaul from Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, India, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, National Center for Civil and Human Rights and Fox Theatre. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 11–12 hours across 6 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 11–12 hours
- Areas
- Sweet Auburn, Downtown and Midtown
Historic sites in Atlanta
Historic site · Sweet Auburn
1.Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
King's restored birth home, Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where he and his father preached, and the King Center, where he and Coretta Scott King are buried beside a reflecting pool. The National Park Service visitor centre has exhibits on the movement and a rose garden.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Free
Museum · Downtown
2.National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Its best-known exhibit is a lunch-counter simulation that puts you in the place of 1960 sit-in protesters, and it holds rotating displays of Dr. King's papers.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
-104A8449.jpg){kind=link}
Architecture · Midtown
3.Fox Theatre
Saved from demolition in the 1970s, it now hosts touring Broadway shows and concerts, and guided tours show the building by day.
- Time needed
- 1 hour tour or an evening show
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- After dark
- Couples
- History
Museum · Poncey-Highland
4.Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
A Japanese garden and lakeside paths look across to the downtown skyline.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Views
Historic site · Grant Park
5.Oakland Cemetery
Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell and golfer Bobby Jones are buried here, and guided tours explain the city's history through its graves.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Museum · Buckhead
6.Atlanta History Center
A large campus in Buckhead with museum galleries on the city's history, the restored 1880s Cyclorama painting of the Battle of Atlanta displayed in the round, the 1928 Swan House mansion and the Smith Family Farm, an 1860s farmhouse with gardens.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet Auburn | Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park | 2–3 hours |
| Downtown | National Center for Civil and Human Rights | 2 hours |
| Midtown | Fox Theatre | 1 hour tour or an evening show |
| Poncey-Highland | Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum | 1.5 hours |
| Grant Park | Oakland Cemetery | 1 hour |
| Buckhead | Atlanta History Center | 3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 2 free, 1 low cost, 3 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Sweet Auburn and Downtown): Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park → National Center for Civil and Human Rights, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Midtown, Poncey-Highland and Grant Park): Fox Theatre → Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum → Oakland Cemetery, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Buckhead): Atlanta History Center, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 15°C (59°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Mild days alternate with chilly ones; early blossom appears late in the month.
- January: highs of 12°C (54°F), about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cool and often damp, with occasional frost; rare snow or ice can bring the city to a halt.
- November: highs of 18°C (64°F), about 8 rainy days, moderate crowds. Cool, clear days and autumn colour in the parks; holiday light displays open mid-month.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Downtown — Centennial Olympic Park, the big attractions and convention hotels
- Midtown — High-rises, the arts district and Piedmont Park's skyline views
- Buckhead — Luxury malls, mansions on tree-lined streets and polished steakhouses
- Old Fourth Ward — King's birthplace, Ponce City Market and the BeltLine's busiest stretch
- Virginia-Highland — 1920s bungalows and neighbourhood bars along North Highland Avenue
More of Atlanta
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Atlanta?
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. A short stretch of Auburn Avenue holds Dr.
+Which of these are free in Atlanta?
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and Oakland Cemetery.