Atlanta has made a name for itself as one of the country’s most exciting cities, but it’s also one of its most historic. The city has been home to many important figures over the years, plus many of the world’s most influential companies started in Atlanta. It’s no surprise that the city would have many museums showcasing many parts of the world that make it outstanding.
The best part of finding museums in Atlanta is that there’s a diverse array of choices that fit everyone’s interests. Here’s a look at some of the best museums in Atlanta you can find today.
National Center For Civil and Human Rights
The National Center For Civil and Human Rights is a museum that highlights the history of human rights movements throughout the world. The museum has exhibits explaining the history of the American civil rights movement of the twentieth century. It includes a collection of letters and papers written by Martin Luther King, Jr. The venue also highlights stories surrounding many aspects of modern-day movements to improve living conditions for marginalized people throughout the world. The museum has a replica of a Greyhound bus used by Freedom Fighters and an interactive simulation of a lunch counter sit-in.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park
Operated by the National Park Service, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park is home to the house where the civil rights leader was born. You can tour the house, the church building where he was baptized and later ordained, and the crypt where he is buried. The park includes exhibits highlighting King’s work, his impact on society, and how he was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. The Civil Rights Walk of Fame at the park displays the history of civil rights activism and the people who have moved society forward.
High Museum of Art
The High Museum of Art houses many historic art pieces, including art from the United States, Africa, and Europe. There’s also a series of sculptures and an extensive photography wing at the museum. The museum also hosts various temporary exhibitions throughout the year focusing on many famous artists, so check the museum’s website to see what is showing here.
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
The tenure of the 39th President of the United States is on display at this museum in Atlanta. The museum includes a replica of Jimmy Carter’s Oval Office as it appeared from 1977 to 1981. The Oval Office includes a full-scale reproduction of the Resolute desk featured in the White House. You will see many exhibits surrounding Carter’s life and work as President, plus stories on his extensive humanitarian work following his presidency. His Nobel Peace Prize is also on display at the museum.
World of Coca-Cola
The history of the world’s most popular soft drink is on display at the World of Coca-Cola. This multimedia experience features exhibits on the history of Coca-Cola, from its formation in the late-nineteenth century to how it is enjoyed throughout the world today. You will find many artifacts surrounding Coca-Cola here, including old delivery trucks and vending machines, a recreation of an old soda bar, and many other features. There’s also an assembly line on site that shows how Coca-Cola is made. You can also enjoy various Coca-Cola products from around the world at the museum’s tasting station.
Delta Flight Museum
Delta Air Lines has held a strong presence in Atlanta since its formation in 1929. Today Delta has a museum near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the airline’s main hub. The museum is surrounded by a 1940s aircraft hangar near the airport. You can see many planes from Delta’s history that showcase the evolution and history of commercial aviation. There’s a 1931 Travel Air plane symbolizing the airline’s first passenger craft, the company’s first Boeing 767-200, and many other old aircraft at the museum. A Virgin Atlantic hot air balloon is also on display here. You can also visit the museum’s flight simulator to explore how pilots operate a plane and keep it in the air.
Atlanta History Center
The history of Atlanta is preserved at the Atlanta History Center, a venue formed in 1926. The center includes permanent exhibits on many important parts of Atlanta’s history, including exhibits on railroads in Atlanta, Native American history, the 1996 Olympics, and Southern folk art. There’s also a massive collection of Civil War artifacts on display, including cannons, swords, and other items used in the conflict. A panoramic cyclorama painting that is about 49 feet tall displays stories about the Civil War and looks back at this historic moment from an analytical perspective.
The museum also houses many historic buildings, while the Gouzeta Gardens features many beautiful ornamental gardens inspired by many parts of Europe and Asia. One of the most famous houses at the center is the Margaret Mitchell House, the building where Mitchell wrote much of her iconic novel Gone With the Wind.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
You can explore the exciting world of natural history at the Fernbank Museum, a venue that highlights the natural history of Georgia and the evolution of its land. There are various skeletal reproductions of dinosaurs here, plus you will find real fossils, gems, and other natural artifacts here. The museum also houses an old-growth forest with 65 acres of Piedmont forest. As an old-growth forest, it has experienced minimal disruption over the years, producing an exciting atmosphere.
Center For Puppetry Arts
The whimsical and creative world of puppetry is the focus of this museum in Atlanta’s Midtown arts district. The Center For Puppetry Arts includes exhibits about the history of puppetry and includes artifacts from many productions. You will see marionettes from the early days of puppetry, plus you will see how the art form has evolved over the years. There’s also a classroom for puppetry workshops and a theater that houses live shows at the museum.
The most popular part of this venue is the Jim Henson Wing, a section that features many of Henson’s earliest puppets and hundreds of his Muppet models. You’ll also find many old films, sketches, and other items used in many Jim Henson Company products here.
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame moved to Atlanta in 2014, making it one of the newest museums in the city. The Hall of Fame celebrates the pageantry and excitement of college football, one of the country’s most popular sports. You will see many pieces of college football memorabilia on display here, including recreations of some of the game’s most famous awards. There are also multiple physical challenge experiences and other multimedia presentations highlighting the atmosphere of college football.
The museum also has a massive wall featuring more than 700 football helmets, with each helmet belonging to an officially recognized college football team. The museum building also has an intriguing architectural design, with the building being shaped like a football.
Trap Music Museum
The Trap Music Museum in Atlanta holds a claim to being the world’s first museum dedicated to hip hop music. The museum explores the history of hip hop music and how it has grown in popularity in Atlanta and elsewhere in the South. The museum also has a vast bar with many hip hop-influenced drinks, plus there’s an escape room at the museum. You will also find a mock jail cell showing stories of many rappers who have spent time in jail.
The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum
The Breman Museum is the largest Jewish museum in the Southeastern United States. The museum includes exhibits on the history of Jewish people in the South and their many values, traditions, and customs. The museum places a strong focus on the Holocaust and how many Jewish people fled to Atlanta and other places in the Southeast to escape persecution. The history of Jewish people in Poland, Greece, Germany, and other countries is also highlighted here.
SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion and Film
The Savannah College of Art and Design runs the FASH Museum as a celebration of fashion as an art form and expression of the self. The museum houses various traveling exhibitions illustrating the evolution of fashion and new trends in the field. You’ll learn about how fashion trends change and what makes the industry special and personal for many. The museum’s exhibitions showcase various productions from some of the world’s top designers.
Chick-Fil-A Backstage Tour
The Atlanta-based fast food chain Chick-Fil-A has a museum near its headquarters where you can learn about the history of the restaurant. You’ll see a recreation of an older Chick-Fil-A location from when the store opened, plus the museum has many old cars used for delivery purposes. The museum also houses a testing center where Chick-Fil-A regularly tests and refines new product offerings.
Children’s Museum of Atlanta
The last of the best museums in Atlanta to visit is the Children’s Museum of Atlanta, a museum with many fun interactive exhibits for children from one to eight years of age. The museum includes fun activities where kids can learn about health, geography, science, and other entertaining features. There are permanent exhibits highlighting how food is prepared at a farm, how various machines and everyday tools work, and an art studio where kids can express their creative sides. The museum’s Morph Gallery also hosts various traveling exhibitions each year, with many of these highlighting science, creativity, and nature.