Atlanta is known for its rich African-American culture. Home of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, the National Black Arts Festival and the largest consortium of historically black colleges and universities, Atlanta is a culturally diverse city.
Morning: The Sweet Auburn District and the MLK National Historic Site
Stroll down Sweet Auburn Avenue, the hub of African-American culture from
the 1890s to the 1940s. Many of Atlanta’s black leaders, entrepreneurs
and artists congregated in what was called the Sweet Auburn district,
and recently, tremendous preservation and restoration efforts have brought
a rebirth to the area. The Sweet Auburn district is home to the birthplace
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Martin Luther King, Jr. National
Historic Site, which includes a visitor center depicting the story of
Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement, the restored King Birth Home,
Ebenezer Baptist Church where three generations of the King family preached,
and the King burial site.
New this year: the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame
The footprints of Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall and Medgar Evers are among a collection of granite-embedded footprints of 17 civil rights leaders on display at the MLK National Historic Site. This tribute to the warriors of justice is a new addition to the site’s poignant exhibitions of this important time.
APEX Museum
The APEX Museum has extensive information on the history of Atlanta and of Auburn Avenue. Inside, find artifacts, photographs and presentations on the African-American cultural experience. Hear stories of early African-American pioneers in Atlanta and learn about the powerful Black families that helped transform Atlanta.
Underground Atlanta’s Guided History Tour
Unlock the secrets that make up Underground’s historic past with a personal guide on this 45-minute tour. Entitled, “From Civil War to Civil Rights,” the tour makes 10 historic stops, experiencing everything from a journey through freight depots and old hotels to the Peachtree fountains and amazing views of the Georgia Capital.
Helpful Information
Lunch
Gladys Knight and Ron Winans Chicken and Waffles harkens back to the 1930s
Harlem days when celebrities frequented Wells restaurant in the early
morning hours and couldn’t decide if they wanted dinner or breakfast.
The strange but delicious combination of juicy fried chicken with sweet,
syrupy waffles was born, and Gladys Knight has recreated it in Atlanta.
Open until 4 a.m. on weekends, stop for lunch, dinner or a late night
snack from the musically themed menu. Dine on chicken and waffles
Afternoon
Atlanta is the center of higher education for African Americans, where
several institutions of higher learning were founded in the latter part
of the 19th century. The Atlanta University Center is the largest concentration
of African-American colleges in America and includes Spelman College,
Morehouse, Clark Atlanta University, the Interdenominational Theological
Center, the Morehouse School of Medicine and Morris Brown College.
See some Art
- The Spelman College Museum of Fine Art emphasizes works by and about women of the African Diaspora.
- Clark Atlanta University Art Galleries are on the campus of one of the city’s oldest black universities and feature 640 works of art including contemporary American, African American and African in paintings, sculptures and murals.
Nearest to Clark Atlanta, visit
the Herndon Home, home of former slave and Atlanta’s first
black millionaire Alonzo Herndon, who founded the Atlanta Life
Insurance Company. The Herndon Home is a National Historic Landmark
that eloquently tells the story of struggle and achievement.
The 1910 mansion showcases Herndon’s compelling story through
tours, exhibits, special events and other projects. Hammonds
House Galleries and Resource Center of African-American Art displays
art by people of African-American heritage, and disseminates
an understanding of art from the African Diaspora. The gift shop
is small, yet brimming with prints; African items such as purses
and jewelry; contemporary African-American art, including popular
prints laminated onto switch plates or magnets; and books on
world-renowned artists.
Helpful Information
Dinner
A key meeting place during the civil rights era was the historic Paschal’s Motor Hotel and Restaurant, where civil rights leaders and strategists would come together over the Paschal brothers’ savory cooking. A new location, Paschal’s Restaurant at Castleberry Hill has a cutting edge, loft-like décor, accommodating breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Try menu favorites from the original location such as country ham steak, amazing southern-style sides and center-cut country fried steak, along with new items like blackened catfish, bacon-wrapped trout and pastas. Visit Paschal’s
Evening
Check the schedule of True Colors Theatre Company, a national company committed to staging groundbreaking African-American plays. The company is led by Kenny Leon, former Alliance Theatre artistic director and director of the Broadway revival of “Raisin in the Sun.” True Colors schedule
*Call 1.800.ATLANTA to request
the Atlanta Heritage guide, one of the nation’s
first visitor guides geared toward the African-American traveler.
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