Many people know Atlanta as the capital of Georgia and simply as a huge modern city that is great to visit with children. And this is absolutely true. Glittering skyscrapers, vast green parks, and a host of activities for all tastes make Atlanta a prime travel destination.
Its most popular attractions include the Atlanta Zoo, Georgia Aquarium, CNN Studios, and Olympic Park. This is a great set for family travelers, but what if you prefer sights to explore local history, culture, and art? Fortunately, Atlanta has a lot to offer in this case too.
Despite its modernity and elegance, it has managed to preserve its historical roots, and you as a traveler can enjoy it. We’ve compiled a list of the best places to discover Atlanta’s art, culture, and heritage. It would be great to rent a car and go exploring them at your own pace.
Atlanta History Center- Visit in Atlanta
There’s no better way to immerse yourself in the history of the capital of Georgia than to travel to the Atlanta History Center in the Buckhead area. Thus, go there in your rental car for an unforgettable experience.
Founded in 1926, it currently offers 12 major exhibitions on the history of the Olympic Games, the American Civil War, the development of folk art, and Indian history. In addition to its exhibitions, the Atlanta History Center is famous for its ancient buildings and gardens that are open to the public.
The most popular is the Swan House, built at the beginning of the last century. It got its name due to the many sculptures and images of swans on its graceful facade. The area occupied by the Atlanta Historic Center, including historic buildings and gardens, exceeds 20 hectares. So you will surely find where to go.
High Museum of Art- Visit in Atlanta
This ultramodern exotic building on Peachtree Street houses the finest collections of classic and contemporary art in Atlanta. So, it would be a great idea to drive up to the museum in an exotic car rental Atlanta GA to match its high-tech style.
The billowing atrium contains four interior levels of galleries. The first level contains works of art from the 18th and 19th centuries, while the last one offers contemporary works of artists and sculptors.
The permanent collection of the museum has more than 13 thousand exhibits, including paintings, photographs, sculptures, and installations. In addition, the High Museum of Art regularly hosts various thematic exhibitions of classical and contemporary art.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Fernbank Museum of Natural History is one of the best museums in the city. Besides its excellent collection, it’s easily accessible by rental car as located only 5 miles away from the city center.
The museum appeared in 1992 but has already managed to gather a fairly rich collection of exhibits. Thus, the museum offers a hall entirely dedicated to dinosaurs, which is its main source of pride. In other rooms, you will admire themed exhibitions that tell the history of Atlanta through soil cuts and changes in flora and fauna.
Also, there are exhibitions devoted to archeology, ecology, and geology of the region. The purpose of museum exhibitions is to show visitors how all sciences are closely related and how they affect the perception of the world. These exhibitions are especially useful for children.
Museum of Design Atlanta
If you don’t know where else to go in your rental car to enjoy the art, keep your way to the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA). Located on Peachtree Street in the downtown area, it specializes in the history of contemporary design and its impact on consumers.
The museum regularly hosts exhibitions of various directions – from architecture and interior design to fashion shows. The Museum of Design Atlanta was reopened in 1993. The total area of the museum is 850 square meters, of which 600 are exhibitions. By the way, the exhibition hall offers a built-in video system with digital ceiling projectors, excellent audio, and a lighting system, which makes exploring the exhibits even more exciting.
The variety of expositions and coverage of different segments of the target audience is impressive. For example, recently there was the Water Dream exhibition, dedicated to the bathroom design and the history of its development. Shortly thereafter, the museum hosted an exhibition on the evolution of skateboarding. All this makes MODA a must-visit place for all lovers of art, fashion, and design.
Georgia State Capitol – Visit in Atlanta
The Georgia State Capitol is a building of immense importance to America, both in terms of history and architecture. At the same time, it’s the perfect place to immerse yourself in Atlanta’s rich cultural heritage.
After getting there, leave your rental car nearby and head to explore the building. The offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Secretary of State are on the second floor, while the General Assembly meets on the third floor.
The fourth floor houses a museum and several art galleries dedicated to the history of Georgia. Here you can see many artifacts of the indigenous people of this region. They include Indian military weapons, clothing, and jewelry, as well as samples of folk art. In addition, the museum has a large collection of fossils and minerals.