In 1895, Atlanta set out to prove it was more than a railroad town rising from the ashes. The Cotton States and International Exposition would dazzle the world, until the money ran out. As the fair teetered on the brink of disaster, one man stepped forward with an offer that would save the city’s reputation, […]
Tag: Stories of Atl
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Where Atlanta Grew Up
Atlanta was born beside the railroad tracks—but it didn’t stay there for long. In the years after the Civil War, the city rebuilt itself from the ashes, its heart beating along the rail lines of what is now South Downtown. But as Atlanta grew in wealth, ambition, and confidence, the city’s center began to shift […]
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A Few Things Remain
Atlanta may tear down its past, but sometimes it leaves a trace. From vanished libraries to long-lost theaters, Atlanta’s buildings have a way of disappearing. Yet if you look closely, fragments of the city’s history still remain—columns, tiles, chandeliers, even signage—surviving long after the walls around them fell. In this episode of Stories of Atlanta, […]
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A Fitting Tribute
Pay a visit to pretty much any cemetery in the world and you will notice that, in addition to the traditional gift of flowers, people leave all kinds of items behind after their visit. Stones and coins are a favored way to show that the departed has not been forgotten, as are pictures and family […]
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Degenerating Minds
It is illegal in Mobile, Alabama to spray Silly String. In West Virginia, if you’ve ever fought a duel with a deadly weapon, you can forget about running for office, that would be illegal…as would entering a mine in Wyoming should you be intoxicated. And, if you’re under the age of 18 in the State […]
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They Just Wanted Some Gum
One of the most sought-after attributes in our fast-paced, never enough time lives is convenience. As with the mousetrap, create something truly convenient and the world will beat a path to your door. The microwave oven, overnight shipping and drive-thru windows come to mind and, if you think about it, you’d probably agree with the […]
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It Started at Oglethorpe
In a moment of national unraveling, one man had the courage to stand against greed, complacency, and the erosion of public trust. This week’s Stories of Atlanta begins in the spring of 1932, as the Great Depression tightened its grip on the country. New York’s governor had come to Atlanta to speak to the graduating […]
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A Quiet Architect of Atlanta’s Schools
An unsung name. An unforgettable legacy. Atlanta history is filled with big names etched into its skyline and politics and Stories of Atlanta has covered many of them over the years. But some of the city’s greatest builders worked quietly, shaping lives without ever seeking the spotlight. This is one of those stories. She began […]
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He Defied the White House Press Corps
This episode of Stories of Atlanta uncovers a forgotten moment in Atlanta history—when one man, one quiet act of defiance, and an Atlanta newspaper made national headlines. It began with a locked door in Washington, D.C.It ended with a handshake that echoed across the country. Discover the story too few remember—but none should forget. It’s […]
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Changing Atlanta’s Broadcast History
A clever, under the table move that bent the rules without breaking them left a mark on Atlanta’s broadcast history. This episode of Atlanta history begins in the 1970s – nearly a thousand miles from the City of Atlanta. A struggling college radio station. A government rule that couldn’t be broken. And a wealthy businessman […]
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How Atlanta Rewrote the Old Money Playbook
Atlanta history following the Civil War, led to the adoption of The Phoenix as the city’s symbol for its rise from the war’s ashes, but the rebuilding didn’t stop there. With each passing decade, Atlanta has continued to rise. Yet unlike cities to the north, Atlanta didn’t have a class of wealthy industrialists to fund […]
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They tried everything…including this
When the Braves Couldn’t Win on the Field, One Man Made Sure They Won in the Stands It’s a matter of Atlanta history that the Atlanta Braves of the 1970s weren’t known for championships—but their promotions were legendary. From ostrich races to on-the-field cash grabs, the Braves’ front office turned the ballpark into a spectacle, […]
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Bad Blood
In 1862, while the Civil War raged on, two men—both claiming the same badge—met inside an Atlanta saloon. Only one would walk out. This week on Stories of Atlanta, we step back into a city caught between battle lines and internal conflict. Whitt Anderson, a former Deputy Sheriff wounded at Antietam, had returned to Atlanta […]
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A Proper Train Station
It was a time of improvement for the growing city of Atlanta Continuing our march through Atlanta’s history, this week’s Stories of Atlanta examines the state of the city in the mid 1850s. Since the infamous night that members of Atlanta’s Moral Party had resorted to violence in order to rid the city of its […]
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Atlanta Loses Its First Mayor
If it is southwest of Atlanta, why is it called East Point? This week on the Stories of Atlanta, we take a look at what seems to be an Atlanta history contradiction. It has to do with the naming of a neighboring city and why it got its name. With the unpleasantness of dealing with […]
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Extralegal Actions
Who loses an election but still claims victory? In early Atlanta, a political argument and a contentious loss leads to a level of discord that tests its citizens. In Atlanta history, there have been some contentious political arguments, but never has there been a night like the one we tell in this Stories of Atlanta. […]
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Drinking, Gambling, & Unruly Behavior
Watching the Stories of Atlanta, one might be tempted to think that Atlanta’s history unfolded in a smooth, orderly fashion…one event after another in a precise and predictable manner, much like the hands on a clock. One should resist that temptation. The history of Atlanta was marked by challenges, setbacks, unexpected results and, as with […]
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Life-threatening Politics
He brought an umbrella to a knife fight. In this episode of Stories of Atlanta, part of our Atlanta history series Iron and Ambition, we travel back to 1848—a time when political insults came with real consequences. When Georgia Superior Court Justice Francis Cone called Alexander Stephens a “traitor,” it wasn’t taken lightly. Stephens, known […]
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The First Election
What kind of city elects a saloon owner as its first mayor? In this episode of Stories of Atlanta, part of our Iron and Ambition series, we travel back to 1848—the year Atlanta held its very first city election. Fueled by fistfights, whiskey, and political passions, this raucous vote set the tone for the kind […]
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Not All Fun and Games
In response to competition from South Carolina, the State of Georgia embraced the fledgling railroad industry. The idea was to establish new trade opportunities by building a railroad system that would connect Georgia to the rest of the United States. Key to that plan was constructing a state-owned railroad line that would terminate in north […]
