Long before Atlanta became a city of glass towers and interstates, it was a place where opportunity came by rail—and, now and then, by way of a well-placed connection. One of those invitations came from J. Edgar Thomson, a powerful figure in the railroad world who saw potential not just in a city, but in […]
Tag: Atlanta
Posted inStories of Atlanta
First Impressions
It was not long after 3-railroad lines were connected to a central point in north Georgia that people began beating a path to Atlanta. Word had spread of the abundant opportunities and cheap land and those seeking better lives were arriving to the young city every day. There were, of course, those looking for work […]
Posted inColumns
Journalist, team capture oral histories to preserve stories of Black Atlanta
Atlanta native and veteran journalist Janita Poe has launched Black Atlanta Documented to help preserve Black history in Atlanta. The project will feature oral histories and stories of people who have made a difference in Atlanta, from enslaved people to present-day leaders. The YouTube-based production launched on March 16 and will release one episode per […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
After the Journey
Some stories rise with the skyline. Others whisper from the past. This week’s Stories of Atlanta reminds us that when the journey ends, it’s the stories we tell that remain.
Posted inDelaney Tarr
CAP rebrands as Downtown Atlanta, Inc. at annual meeting
“Downtown Atlanta is back, y’all.” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens declared the urban core’s revival at the largest-ever annual Central Atlanta Progress and Atlanta Downtown Improvement District meeting and awards celebration on Mar. 11. The annual meeting came with plenty of updates about the state of downtown Atlanta, and one major announcement: The group known as […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
The Price of Standing Still
Henry Ford is often credited with saying, “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” In true Ford fashion, he didn’t ask. Instead, he gave the world the “horseless carriage” and nothing was ever quite the same. For more than a century, Americans have had a love affair with […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
Egleston Hall makes 2026 ‘Places in Peril’ list
On Feb. 25, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation released its 2026 ‘Places in Peril’ list for significant historic properties at risk of demolition or neglect – and Egleston Hall has made the list. It’s a hot topic among preservationists because All Saints’ Episcopal Church is considering a plan that could demolish the 1918 Gothic Revival […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
The Real Story about the Real Thing
A story has long connected two Atlanta institutions: The Coca-Cola Company and Georgia Tech during the days when John Heisman coached Tech’s football team. It suggests that somewhere between the boardroom and the gridiron, the structure of the game itself may have shifted from a game played in two halves, to a game played in […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Present Tense – Past Story
Atlanta is a city that rebuilds, repurposes, and replaces. But look closely and you’ll discover that its past is still there, hiding in plain sight. In this episode of Stories of Atlanta, we explore the orphaned signs, ghost signs, and architectural remnants that have outlived the buildings they once served. From South Downtown’s Hotel Row […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
The Dragon from Below
Roger Babson is the founder of the Gravity Research Foundation, an organization with the stated purpose of studying, understanding and, ultimately, harnessing the force of gravity. It was the childhood drowning of his older sister in a river near Gloucester, Massachusetts that sparked Babson’s life-long interest in finding a way to control the effects of […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
‘I just want to know her name’: Detective seeks identity of deceased woman
In the 1936 film “My Man Godfrey,” a homeless man is described as “a forgotten man.” The film opens at a city dump, where wealthy socialites on a scavenger hunt are tasked with finding one as a way to win a game. Actress Carole Lombard’s character explains that a scavenger hunt differs from a treasure […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Faithful to Tech
A crooked little dog. A headstone on a college campus. And a question that still stops people in their tracks. On the grounds of Georgia Tech, a small marble marker tells the story of Sideways, a campus legend who arrived by accident and stayed by choice. How did a stray dog earn a permanent place […]
Posted inColumns
Roswell Roots Festival presents a month of Black History events
The Roswell Roots Festival, a month-long celebration honoring Black History Month, is marking its 25th anniversary this year with 25 different events. The origins of Black History Month date back to 1926, when historian Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week to recognize the achievements and contributions of Black Americans. Five pillars of performance, education, […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Face to Face
In a city known for its out with the old, in with the new attitude, architect William Stoddart’s buildings have defied the odds. It’s the story of two turn of the century era buildings that have stood the Atlanta test of time on this week’s Stories of Atlanta.
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
College Park addresses concerns about possible presence of ICE agents
College Park officials issued statements over the weekend addressing public concern over possible federal immigration enforcement activity in the community. Mayor Bianca Motley Broom said the city has not been contacted by federal immigration agencies regarding any operations in the community, including at the Georgia International Convention Center. “Federal immigration agencies have not been in […]
Posted inColumns
Five years in Pittsburgh Yards is still fighting displacement
Five years ago, Pittsburgh Yards launched with an ambitious mission: create a community center and “job hub” to promote economic development for the city, and do it without displacing the neighborhood. Atlanta is no stranger to big, job-oriented development. As the World Cup looms closer, nearby neighborhoods like Downtown are getting major investment. Centennial Yards […]
Posted inColumns
King Center summit: Can hope strengthen democracy in a divided nation?
The question of whether hope still carries democratic power even as the nation feels locked in distrust and exhaustion was a central theme last week during The King Center’s Beloved Community Global Summit. Held at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights on Jan. 15, speakers challenged the notion that hope is naive or […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Goodwill of North Georgia and Atlanta Housing partner for job fair
Goodwill of North Georgia and Atlanta Housing will host a job fair at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Roosevelt Hall, 660 Atlanta Student Movement Blvd. S.W. in Atlanta. Employers recruiting candidates in skilled trades, logistics, healthcare, manufacturing and retail will take part in the event, according to a statement. Jobseekers will also have access […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Atlanta in a Flash
Georgia State’s extensive digital collections library contains visual gems of Atlanta life through the years. Some of those are thanks to the efforts of a man by the name of Tracy O’Neal. For decades, O’Neal captured the rich tapestry of Atlanta. Trade shows . . . Promotional events. . . New Products . . . […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Bernice King calls city of Watts documentary a model for community healing
Word is spreading about a documentary that Dr. Bernice King says reflects the kind of healing that can take place in communities everywhere. The project behind “Nothing to See Here: Watts” unfolded over three and a half years and included more than 200 hours of footage. About 200 people were asked to film their lives […]
