Atlanta Life Insurance Building

142-148 Auburn Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30303

Built 1905 

Founded in 1905 by Alonzo Herndon, Atlanta Life Insurance Company became one of the leading African American insurance companies in the nation. Herndon, who rose from enslavement to lead the company, became the first African American millionaire in Atlanta. Headquarters for the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Company (the company changed their name to Atlanta Life Insurance Company in 1923) was originally located at what is now 148 Auburn Avenue. The company built an annex in 1936 on 142 Auburn Avenue, and in 1980 dedicated a new six-story headquarters on 100 Auburn Avenue.