Take a Trip Through Time This Winter in Atlanta

A southern Mecca in the south, the capital of Georgia, and a gateway to exploring American history, Atlanta is designed for an adventure into the past. This winter, instead of sitting at home in hopes of out-witting the cold, venture out and take a trip through time.

The best starting place for your Atlanta history tour begins at the Atlanta History Center. Located on Paces Ferry Road, this massive museum houses exhibits on the Civil War, Atlanta history, African American history, and contains a large collection of Southern folk art. The outside of the museum boasts nearly as much as the interior with thirty-three acres of woodland trails relating local horticultural history along with a 1928 mansion, The Swan House, and a 1845 plantation farmhouse, The Tullie Smith Farm.

The Atlanta History Center is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and $4 for ages 6-17. Children under 6 receive free admission. More information may be obtained by calling (404) 814-4000

Once you have an over-all flavor for history in Atlanta, the possibilities for further exploration are endless. Continue your trip through time at one, or all of the following:

The William Breman Jewish HeritageMuseum. Detailed exhibits, a discovery center, and special displays allow visitors to learn about the Jewish culture and community in Atlanta from 1845 to the present. The museum is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, and $3 for seniors and students. Call (404) 873-1661 for more information.

HighMuseum of Art. Feast your eyes on exhibits highlighting art from the 14^th century through today. Collections of contemporary art, African art, photography, and decorative arts will dazzle and delight your senses. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6 per adult, and $4 for seniors and students. More information may be obtained by calling (404) 733-4400

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Auburn Avenue is home to the birthplace, church, and grave of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as well as The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. Historical programs and educational exhibitions chronically Dr. Martin Luther King's life and work are open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Call (404) 331-3919 for additional information and special program offerings.

FernbankMuseum of Natural History. Featuring "A Walk Through Time in Georgia" this lovely museum also boasts an IMAX theatre. Films on natural history topics are presented hourly. Open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., admission is $8.95 with discounted rates available for seniors, students, and children ages 3 to 12. Form more information and IMAX theatre rates, call (404) 370-0019

Civil WarMuseum. This museum houses the Atlanta Cyclorama, a three hundred-sixty degree painting of the Battle of Atlanta. This spectacular painting is viewed by visitors from seats situated on a revolving platform floor. History buffs will also find numerous exhibits, information, and memorabilia from the Civil War period. The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $3 for children ages 6 through 12. Call (404) 658-7625

Carter Presidential Center and Museum of The Jimmy Carter Library. Featuring more than twenty-seven million documents, artifacts, and photographs from the Carter administration, the museum also houses a multi-media exhibit detailing the terms of America's first thirty-nine presidents. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for seniors. Children under the age of 16 have free admission.

If your winter days are growing long and you still have more time for your journey, check out other historical offerings such as those found at the Georgia State Capital building, Oakland Cemetery, the Margaret Mitchell House, and Rhodes Hall. Before you know it, spring will be in the air and the winter chills will be a distant memory!