By Kohleun Adamson, on December 20, 2019

What is Atlanta Known For?

When someone asks,

“What is Atlanta known for?”

what comes to mind? Your favorite ice-cold soda, civil rights milestones, or a peach pie recipe passed down through generations?

Whatever way you slice it, Georgia’s capital city is famous for its history. From its earliest days as a railroad city to the present, Atlanta keeps pushing boundaries and changing the course of American culture.

Book your flights to Atlanta and check out these top places to experience the best of Atlanta and the city’s rich history:

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site

450 Auburn Ave NE

Atlanta, GA 30312

Red brick gate with green hedges and purple flowers at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta.
Via Ken Lund/Flickr.com

Visit the birthplace and home of Martin Luther King, Jr., a leader of the civil rights movement and courageous protector of human equality and dignity. Join an open house tour, which occur every day between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., except on certain holidays. Feel inspired as you walk in his footsteps in this Queen Anne-style home.

Atlanta History Center

130 West Paces Ferry Road NW

Atlanta, GA 30305

Ornate building with a double staircase and multi-tiered fountain at the Atlanta History Center—a beautiful place to celebrate what Atlanta is known for.
Via muffinn/Flickr.com

Atlanta History Center is the place to discover local art, unique stories, and somber and fun facts about Atlanta past and present. Founded in 1926, Atlanta History Center is more than a museum. It includes historical houses and beautiful gardens in addition to the permanent and rotating exhibitions, with several projects focused on the history of transportation, local innovations, and African American experiences.

Margaret Mitchell House

979 Crescent Ave NE

Atlanta, GA 30309

The historic home of writer Margaret Mitchell, who wrote "Gone with the Wind." A three-story red brick house with white columns and balconies.
Via Warren LeMay/Flickr.com

Tara! Tara! Tara! Visit the home where beloved author Margaret Mitchell wrote the literary classic “Gone with the Wind.” The Civil War-themed novel was published in 1936 and adapted for film a few years later. The small apartment Mitchell called home may have been humble, but the story was epic and set the scene for some major firsts in American literature and cinema. The house is open 7 days a week for most of the year.

Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Plant

125 Edgewood Ave SE

Atlanta, GA 30303

The outside of the Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Plant on a clear day, a landmark in Atlanta and American history.
Via Warren LeMay/Flickr.com

The famous red bottle has been through a lot of changes over the years, but Coca-Cola continues to make one of America’s favorite beverages. And it all started at Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant, which served as the corporation headquarters between 1900 and 1901. Plan out some time to stop by and have a Coke with history.

Mary Mac’s Tea Room

224 Ponce de Leon Ave

Atlanta, GA 30308

Fried fish, seafood, collard greens with sweet tea at Mary Mac's Tea Room—a historic dining room in Atlanta.
Via Nathan Cardozo/Flickr.com

We can’t end a story about what Atlanta is known for without mentioning the best food in Atlanta. Mary Mac’s has been serving Southern dishes since 1945, so they must be doing something right. Start your nostalgic meal with fried green tomatoes and top things off with the Georgia Peach Cobbler. In 2011, the tearoom was officially declared Atlanta’s Dining Room by The Georgia House of Representatives.

Not sure where to stay when you visit? History is sprinkled through many beautiful Atlanta neighborhoods and significant moments in American history. Start your trip out at one of the top hotels in Atlanta and make your own memories at these historic haunts.

Header image attribution:Via f11photo.com/Shutterstock.com