Culture and Society

Learn more about the stories of those that lived and labored in north Georgia, including the fourteen enslaved persons who labored on the Smith Farm.

Party with the Past is a program series that travels to historic sites around the city. On Wednesday, September 18^th, we head to Concordia Hall in Downtown Atlanta. This event features a temporary exhibit that dives into the history of the rest of the neighborhood, walking tours, and more.

In 1971, Betty Byrom and John Sanford’s interracial love faced Georgia’s outdated anti-miscegenation laws — despite their unconstitutionality. Refusing to back down, they enlisted the U.S. Justice Department, leading to legal intervention that helped force Georgia’s compliance with federal law. Their story reshaped state policy and redefined what love and courage could achieve.

As baseball fans across North America rejoice over the opening of the 2025 Major League Baseball season, Atlanta History Center celebrates baseball heroes of the past by examining the teams and players of the Branch Rickey League. From 1956 to approximately 1969, Black baseball players from Atlanta and surrounding areas participated in highly competitive amateur leagues filled with future professional baseball players. Atlanta History Center has launched a project to locate and interview former players and participants in these leagues.

Founded in 1985, Atlanta-based Ichiban Records played a pivotal role in shaping Southern hip-hop, nurturing iconic artists, and fostering a distinctive sound. The label, led by visionary John Abbey, was a crucible for talent like MC Shy-D and Kilo, blending diverse musical influences. Despite challenges, including a risky partnership with EMI and internal issues, Ichiban’s impact on the music industry, especially in nurturing local talent and promoting diversity, is undeniable. The story is a compelling narrative of ambition, innovation, and the complexities of the music business.

In September of 1963, Vincent Anthony, a young actor living in New York City answered an ad in Backstage magazine for an audition with the Nicolo Marionettes, a puppetry company. His audition would be his first experience with the vast and varied world of puppetry. It would also set in motion events that changed the art scene in Atlanta, Georgia. Read more about The Center for Puppetry Arts’s history.

Atlanta History Center, in collaboration with the Christine King Farris Legacy Foundation, Inc. and members of the King Family, is proud to have the Hats of the King Family Women Exhibit on display.

Explore our Civil Rights reading list as recommended by our own Director of Community Collaborations, Dr. La’Neice Littleton.

Atlanta History Center mourns the loss of former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter. During their 75 year marriage, they supported each other through a governorship, presidency, and more than forty years of humanitarian work.

Atlanta Negro Voters League: Strength in Unity explores the history and legacy of the grassroots voting rights organization that influenced Atlanta elections from 1949 to 1965.

Atlanta Negro Voters League: Strength in Unity explores the history and legacy of the grassroots voting rights organization that influenced Atlanta elections from 1949 to 1965.

During November and December Smith Farm and Wood Cabin will be activated with additional activities for families visiting during the holiday season.

Author of Bon Appétit, Y’all: Recipes and Stories from Three Generations of Southern Cooking, Revised and Updated  Virginia Willis shares a delicious recipe with us in anticipation of her upcoming Author Talk on October 15.

Party with the Past is a program series that travels to historic sites around the city. On Wednesday, September 18^th, we head to Concordia Hall in Downtown Atlanta. This event features a temporary exhibit that dives into the history of the rest of the neighborhood, walking tours, and more.