Atlanta, Georgia

Visitors to Atlanta often ask about a certain local curiosity. Even though just about every other street, plaza, or business establishment is dubbed "Peachtree," there doesn't seem to be a single peach tree in the entire city. The reason for this absence, simply enough, is that peach trees are not indigenous to the area. But the phenomenon of the peachtree naming mania stems from a confusion that dates back 200 years.

In 1782, military scouts moving west through Georgia discovered a small Cherokee village on the banks of the Chattahoochee River named, as the explorers understood it, Standing Peachtree. Historians, however, speculate that since it was unlikely that the natives had named their village after a variety of vegetation they had almost certainly never seen, the settlement's name came from the pitch tree, a type of evergreen found throughout the region. Nevertheless, by 1812, the new American military had established Fort Peachtree on the site of the Cherokee village, establishing a tradition of misnomerism that would continue for hundreds of years.

The small outpost in northwest Georgia saw limited action in the War of 1812, but by the early 1820s, a growing influx of white settlers gave rise to conflict with the indigenous population. The peace was largely kept by the willingness of the Cherokee and Creek tribes to agree to a long series of ever more disagreeable treaties, which granted more and more land to the white settlers. The final blow was struck in 1837, when federal forces rounded up over 17,000 Cherokee and Creek Indians, and began a forced westward march that was to stretch over some 800 miles into what is now Oklahoma. More than 4,000 perished along the way, which later came to be known as the "Trail of Tears."

With the Indian situation no longer a concern, construction of the new Western & Atlantic Railroad proceeded. Late in 1837, a town was founded near the site of Fort Peachtree that would serve as the southern terminus of this new railway. The town was, rather poetically, named Terminus.

It grew rapidly, as rail workers, pioneers and traders established homes and businesses, which, in 1843, was renamed Marthasville. In 1845, the city was renamed Atlanta, and in 1848, Atlanta elected Moses W. Formwalt as its first mayor. As more track was laid throughout the South, Atlanta became connected to almost every major port and trade center, making it a vital link between Dixie and the markets of the North.

If the boomtown had been important to the South's economic well-being before, it became absolutely critical when war broke out. During the summer of 1864, 100,000 federal troops under General William Tecumseh Sherman pushed back Confederate defenders through north Georgia, culminating in the Battle of Atlanta on July 22nd. Sherman's forces shelled the city for over a month, until Atlanta surrendered on September 2nd. Before doing so, however, the rebel forces set flame to whatever they felt would be useful to the enemy, effectively burning down two-thirds of Atlanta. Of the 4,000 homes, businesses and civic buildings that stood in Atlanta before the summer of 1864, only 400 remained.

Reconstruction was a difficult period for the entire South, but it succeeded in Atlanta more than in other places. The valuable rail system was rebuilt within two years, and Atlanta became more urban and civilized, erecting theatres, schools and even two opera houses. By 1870, the city boasted over 250 stores, a horse-drawn streetcar system, and Atlanta University, which today stands as the world's largest predominantly-black college. In 1877, Atlanta was named the new capital of Georgia, with a population nearing 37,000.

In 1886, local druggist John Pemberton introduced something he called a "brain tonic." Meant to relieve headaches, the tonic proved such a hit with his patrons that Pemberton was able to sell the recipe to another local businessman a year later for a whopping USD2,300. Ten years later, recipe-buyer Asa Candler had made Coca-Cola a household name.

The trials of the early 20th century played out in Atlanta as they did elsewhere in urban America, with great city advancements frequently marred by civic strife. By 1900, the city's population and workforce was almost evenly divided between white and black, but the laws of segregation dramatically divided these two populations. In 1960, Atlanta native and civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. established the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in his Auburn Avenue neighborhood. His Center for Nonviolent Social Change now stands near his boyhood home within the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Site. Atlanta was also the first major Southern city to elect a black mayor: 35 year-old Maynard Jackson in 1974.

Through the latter part of the 20th Century, Atlanta has continued to expand as a vibrant, vital international city. In 1966, the city became the first in history to be awarded a professional baseball and football franchise in the same year. Eight years later, this would be the site of baseball history, when the Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record. In 1968, the Atlanta Hawks brought professional basketball to Atlanta. In 1976, the Georgia World Congress Center opened as the largest single-floor exhibit space on the planet, and in 1979, Atlanta unveiled MARTA, a state-of-the-art public transit system.

Today, Atlanta stands as a premier American city and the capital of one of the nation's most rapidly-developing economic regions. Expansion and development continue as new ventures are born and residents flock from around the country. The influx has been so great that it is sometimes said that the hardest thing to find in Atlanta (besides a peach tree) is someone who was born in Atlanta.

Visitors to Atlanta expecting a sleepy Confederate capital with Old South charm may be in for a surprise. While Atlanta has held onto the charm and character of her past, she has also grown into her new role as a modern, cosmopolitan city.

Sports

Few professional teams have dominated their sport as totally as baseball's Atlanta Braves. Their home is Turner Field, one of Major League Baseball's most modern and entertaining facilities, featuring restaurants, a museum and interactive games.

Home games for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons are played at the Georgia Dome, while across the street, Philips Arena is home to the Atlanta Hawks and the National Hockey League's newest franchise, the Atlanta Thrashers. For exciting college action, step over to the Georgia Tech campus in Midtown or Georgia State downtown to watch their athletes compete in two dozen varsity sports.

Parks

With over 180 acres of lakes, fields, tennis courts and bike paths, Midtown's Piedmont Park plays host to concerts, arts and crafts shows, and the annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival. In the heart of downtown, Centennial Olympic Park, with its spectacular five-concentric-ring fountain, is a popular spot with lunch hour sun-seekers. A bit more bucolic and relaxed is Chastain Park in Buckhead, which features a two and a half mile walking trail and hosts a summer concert series.

For the lover of natural wonders, take a short drive east to Stone Mountain State Park. This 3,000 acre expanse of forests and lakes centers around the park's namesake, a chunk of solid granite that rises 1,683 feet and is adorned with the world's largest bas-relief sculpture.

Located in the northwest corner of Piedmont Park, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens houses floral specimens from the four corners of the globe, as well as a family-friendly children's garden. Flora is fine, but it can't roar like fauna, which can be found in abundance at Zoo Atlanta, located within the grounds of beautiful Grant Park.

Museums

Lovers of high culture will discover a world of spiraling wonder at the High Museum of Art in Midtown. This architectural marvel is home to over 10,000 works, and plays frequent host to touring collections, such as those of Pablo Picasso and Norman Rockwell.

For all-out fascination, few attractions can match the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, which also offers a five-story movie screen in its IMAX theater. Or for a refreshing twist on history, learn that of the planet's most famous soft drink at the World of Coca-Cola Museum at Underground Atlanta.

Historical Landmarks

The legacy of Atlanta's past is given its rightful due in Buckhead at the Atlanta History Center, just down West Paces Ferry Road from the Governor's Mansion. In addition to its excellent museum, the history center maintains an expansive property of gardens and trails, complete with an authentically-restored working plantation.

Of course, no event played a more prominent role in the history of Atlanta than the Civil War. The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was perhaps the South's most significant victory in the fight for Atlanta in 1864, and this slice of history is immortalized at the 3,000 acre Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield. For more on Atlanta's role in the Civil War, visit the Cyclorama in Grant Park, a 365 degree mural that depicts the Battle of Atlanta. And no view of Atlanta history would be complete without a glance through the eyes of Margaret Mitchell. The Margaret Mitchell House and Museum in Midtown is where she wrote most of the legendary epic "Gone With the Wind."

Just east of downtown, the Jimmy Carter Center occupies a 30-acre compound of gardens and pools, and commands an impressive view of the city. Just down the road, another of Atlanta's favorite sons is honored at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site.

For an often overlooked glance into Atlanta's past, stop by the Oakland Cemetery where you'll find a veritable Who's Who of Atlanta history, literature, politics and society dating back to 1850.

Theater

Atlanta's premier venue for stage events is also one of her most beloved and storied landmarks. The Fabulous Fox Theatre was built in 1916 at the corner of Peachtree Street and Ponce de Leon, as a temple for the Shriners fraternal organization. Today, the Fox plays host to myriad cultural events, including concerts, musicals, opera, ballet, and regular performances by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

A few blocks down Peachtree, the Woodruff Performing Arts Center is the home turf of the Alliance Theatre Company, and also sponsors a full schedule of ballet and children's shows.

Numerous other companies compete to produce a crowded theater schedule each year in Atlanta. Among the most popular venues are Midtown's Shakespeare Tavern, Seven Stages Theatre and the Neighborhood Playhouse.

Music

For top-notch classical entertainment, nothing beats the summer classics series at Chastain Park Amphitheatre. This 6,000 seat pavilion plays host to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra from June through August, as some of the biggest names in show business perform to the accompaniment of the ASO.

If you like your music a bit louder, head down I-85 to the HiFi Buys Amphitheatre. This outdoor venue features 7,000 covered seats and an expansive, sloping lawn to accommodate 12,000 more. Recent bookings have included such powerhouses as the Dave Matthews Band and the Lilith Fair.

Tops among smaller venues is Blind Willie's, a tiny Virginia-Highlands dive that offers an intimate setting for some of the best local talent and legendary stars working in blues today. A few blocks away in Midtown, the Cotton Club is popular with a younger crowd, and provides a great atmosphere for getting to know the best in up-and-coming bands. For true variety, head over to the Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points. Harmony and soft strings are the keys at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, where such prominent acts as the Indigo Girls frequently drop in.