A BRIEF HISTORY OF ATLANTA

In 1837 the town of Terminus sprang up at the end point of a railroad line. The name was changed from Terminus to Marthasville to Atlanta. In 1847 Atlanta was incorporated and quickly became an important regional transportation hub.

When the Civil War erupted, Atlanta was a town of fewer than ten thousand inhabitants but it had already billed itself as the "Gate City of the South." The slogan was a bit of self-promotion but was grounded in truth; the region's major railways converged in the city.

During the Civil War, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman apparently believed the city's promoters and recognized the city's strategic importance. He laid siege to Atlanta in July of 1864 and, after more than a month of fighting, succeeded in capturing the city. Atlanta was later burned before Sherman and his troops began their infamous "March to the Sea."

Today, the city's seal includes a fiery Phoenix rising from ashes. After the Civil War, the city was indeed, rebuilt from ashes. With tireless work and promotion by its residents the city continued to prosper and grow. Atlanta became the capital of Georgia in 1868.

Like every great city, Atlanta has always been equal parts reality and aspiration. The city's promoters continually dreamed of ways to expand Atlanta's influence. The city hosted the Cotton States and International Exposition in 1895. The regional branch of the Federal Reserve Bank located here in 1914 and by the 1920's Atlanta began to aggressively recruit businesses and industries to relocate to the city. Emory University was brought to Atlanta from Oxford, Georgia, in 1915

By the mid-twentieth century the city was of national importance. Few things illustrate this more than the city's role in the Civil Rights movement. For many years, the city has had one of the nation's most influential and well-organized African American communities. In the 1950's that community nurtured many of the civil rights movement's leaders, chief among them was Martin Luther King Jr. In 1959 Mayor William Hartsfield called Atlanta "a city too busy to hate." Indeed, desegregation was a relatively peaceful process for the city. Though there have been unfortunate exceptions during the South's history, Atlanta has been and remains a progressive and welcoming community. In 1990 Atlanta won the bid to host the 1996 Centennial Olympic games. This feat announced to the world that the city was not only a regional city but also an international city. The Olympic bid was once again a combination of reality and aspiration, but the dreamers made it happen. Today the city boasts four professional sports teams. It is also home to the first 24 hour television news coverage and the first all-news television network in the United States. Atlanta is truly of international importance.

ATLANTA STATISTICS 5.3 million residents 9th largest metro Largest city in Southeast Established 1837 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in 1929 in a two-story Queen Anne style house at 501 Auburn Avenue in a neighborhood known as the "Sweet Auburn District." The Ebenezer Baptist Church, where for eight years he shared the pulpit with his father, is a short walk away at the corner of Auburn Avenue and Jackson Street.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was considered to be the most important leader in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and 1960's. In April of 1968 King traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers. On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Dr. King was assassinated.

The King family determined that Atlanta would be the fitting place to bury Dr. King. His grave site occupies most of the cleared lot east of the Ebenezer Baptist Church to Boulevard Street. In 1976 a memorial park was installed around the marble crypt. The park consists primarily of a brick and concrete plaza with an arch- covered walkway and chapel partially surrounding a reflecting pool. In the center of the pool, on a raised pedestal rest the crypts of Dr. King and his wife, Coretta Scott King. On his is engraved the inscription: "Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968, "Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, I'm free at last"

The Historic Site includes the Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc., which continues King's legacy and work. Martin Luther King, Jr. worked tirelessly to assure the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr. was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

The King Center, established in 1968 by Coretta Scott King, is the official living memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. leader of America's greatest nonviolent movement for justice, equality, and peace. WORLD OF COCA-COLA

In May of 1886 Coca-Cola was invented by Doctor John Pemberton, a pharmacist from Atlanta, Georgia. He concocted the Coca-Cola formula in a three legged brass kettle in his backyard. In 1887, another Atlanta pharmacist and businessman, Asa Candler bought the formula for Coca-Cola from inventor John Pemberton for $2,300. By the late 1890s, Coca-Cola was one of America's most popular fountain drinks, largely due to Candler's aggressive marketing of the product.

Since its grand opening in 1990, World of Coca-Cola Atlanta has welcomed nearly ten million visitors and has become one of Atlanta's most visited indoor attractions. Today, the World of Coca-Cola Atlanta traces the century-old history of the world's most popular soft drink and is designed to showcase the rich heritage and global reach of Coca-Cola, with exhibits that appeal to both young and old.

In addition to interactive exhibits and video presentations, the attraction features the largest collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia ever assembled containing over 1,000 Coca-Cola artifacts presented in chronological order. Visitors are taken on a virtual journey from the invention of Coca-Cola to its present proliferation throughout the world. An average of 9,600 Coca-Cola Company beverages are consumed every second.

There is a fully functioning bottling plant in the museum. The Pop Culture Exhibit (2nd Floor) contains computers that allow students to make their own pop culture products.

The museum is laid out in galleries called "Milestones of Refreshment."

Gallery 1 (Invention) showcases the time in which John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola. Gallery 2 (Developing a Logo) showcases the importance of a logo. Gallery 3 (Early Marketing) showcases how Asa Candler used new types of marketing to grow The Coca-Cola Company. Gallery 4 (Early Bottling) showcases how bottling operations expanded throughout the United States and the world. Gallery 5 (1916 - the Contour Bottle) showcases how the innovation of the contour bottle design was accomplished. Gallery 6 (Lifestyles of Entertainment) showcases how advertising reflects desired lifestyles at the time the advertisement was used. Slogans as well as the importance of automobiles are displayed. Gallery 7 (Within an Arms Reach of Desire) showcases how innovations have been used to change how customers purchase the Coca-Cola product. Gallery 8 (International Expansion) World War II case showcases Coca-Cola's efforts to bring the product to soldiers in World War II. Gallery 9 (Sports & Entertainment) showcases both sports and entertainment figures who were important in Coca-Cola advertising.

CNN STUDIO TOUR

In 1980, R.E. (Ted) Turner broke new ground with the launch of CNN, the first 24- hour all-news network, forever changing the way the world saw breaking news. Today, CNN services reach nearly one billion people around the globe.

Journey into the heart of CNN Worldwide and get an up-close look at global news in the making. Inside CNN Studio Tour is a 55-minute guided walking tour offering guests exclusive behind-the-scenes views of Atlanta's CNN studios. Get an exciting glimpse of news gathering and broadcasting in action from the world headquarters of CNN, the Most Trusted Name in News.

Students will get an insiders look at how an event becomes news that reaches you. Every element of live news coverage comes together in CNN's Control Room. See Studio 7E where personnel create memorable broadcasts through advanced computer technology. Students may be asked to give a broadcast or weather report in front of a studio camera. THE GEORGIA AQUARIUM

Bernie Marcus, cofounder of Atlanta-based Home Depot wanted to give a gift to Atlanta. The son of Russian Jews, he grew up in New York remembering the aquarium from his days as a youth at Coney Island. He decided to give Atlanta a world-class attraction that would serve to educate and thrill both locals and visitors.

The Georgia Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the world, opened in 2005. With more than eight million gallons of fresh and salt water and more aquatic life than found in any other aquarium, you are sure to see things you have never seen before.

The Georgia Aquarium promises wonder and excitement around every corner. The Cold Water Quest gallery features fish and marine mammals from cold ocean waters worldwide. Beneath the waves, curious animals such as Australian Weedy Sea Dragons, Beluga Whales, giant Pacific Ooctopus, Garibaldi Damselfish and Japanese Spider Crabs hang among rocky ledges and kelp forests.

The Georgia Explorer gallery is a highly interactive gallery with touch pools full of horseshoe crabs, sea stars, stingrays and shrimp. Several large habitats feature a loggerhead sea turtle and the fish of Gray's Reef - an underwater area off the Georgia coast designated a National Marine Sanctuary. Whales live right off the Georgia coast! This gallery will connect you with Right Whales, which are one of the most endangered mammals on the planet.

The River Scout gallery, presented by Southern Company, shows how rivers are a source of life for animals, people and cultures throughout the world. In the River Scout gallery you will discover a wide diversity of animals found in the rivers of Africa, South America, Asia and locally in Georgia.

In the Ocean Voyager gallery walk through an acrylic tunnel and you will feel like a SCUBA diver in an endless blue sea, mesmerized by thousands of fish swimming overhead. TURNER FIELD

The Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum & Hall of Fame (BMHF) is open year-round and is the starting point of Turner Field Tours. The museum features more than 600 Braves artifacts and photographs that trace the team's history from Boston (1871- 1952) to Milwaukee (1953-65) to Atlanta (1966-present). This is a one hour guided tour of the stadium. The tour will take students to many areas off-limits during games including Sky Field, a luxury suite, the press box, broadcast booth, clubhouse (locker room), dugout, and the new SunTrust Club. STONE MOUNTAIN

Today's Stone Mountain Park is really the dream of one man, Scott Candler. The Dekalb County politician felt that completing the Confederate Memorial in combination with other attractions could be a massive revenue generator for the county and the state. As Georgia's Secretary of State, Candler successfully organized the purchase of the land in 1958.

Before the state purchased Stone Mountain, work had already begun on building a lasting memorial to honor the Confederate leaders. Stone Mountain is the largest piece of exposed granite in the world. Construction of the carving started in 1923 and delays caused by world events and disagreements with artists delayed its completion for almost fifty years.

In 1972, the carving was officially declared complete. It is the largest bas-relief carving in the world. The Confederate Memorial Carving of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and Generals Robert E. Lee and "Stonewall" Jackson is 90 feet by 190 feet.

Stone Mountain today is a thriving park. It has a sky ride that takes people to the top of the mountain, a locomotive that takes people around the base of the mountain, a paddle wheel boat, antebellum buildings open for touring, shopping and activities for all ages. In the summer, see a laser light show projected on the mountain side. ZOO ATLANTA

Atlanta's oldest cultural attraction began the day a circus came to town - and never left. In March 1889 problems forced the circus owner into bankruptcy. Circus employees quit and left the animals in their cages.

Soon, the animals began to draw crowds of curious onlookers. Two weeks later, businessman George Valentine Gress purchased the collection at public auction and donated all the animals to the city of Atlanta. City leaders relocated them to Grant Park, a favorite local picnic destination.

By the 1950s, the animal cages were replaced in favor of naturalistic enclosures. Today, the zoo features the World Of Reptiles, Flamingo Plaza and the Wildlife Theater. The Ford African Rain Forest opened in 1988. The Ford exhibits created lush habitats for a collection of Low Land Gorillas loaned by the Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University. In 1999 Zoo Atlanta prepared a state-of-the-art exhibit to receive two giant pandas, Lun Lun and Yang Yang. The Zoo is one of only four zoos in the United States housing the giant pandas. FERNBANK MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

The idea of the Fernbank Museum of Natural History came from a forest near Atlanta and the dream of Emily Harrison, a young girl who loved the area. Growing up in the late 1800s, Emily Harrison often played in the forest surrounding her home just east of Atlanta. Emily enjoyed learning about the plants and animals around her. She later became an educator and led the effort to preserve this unique area of old growth forest.

One of Emily's favorite spots in the forest was a creek bank covered with a variety of ferns. She was the first to call the area "Fernbank." In 1974 a science center was built on the Fernbank grounds and in 1992 the Fernbank Natural History Museum was completed. Thus, Ms. Harrison's love of the forest and of learning can be found at Fernbank.

Today, the Fernbank Museum is one of the largest in Atlanta. You can come face- to-face with the world's largest dinosaurs, explore the development of life on Earth through the landscapes of present-day Georgia, connect with cultures from around the globe, and engage in a variety of hands-on exhibits. See the world's largest dinosaur, Argentinosaurus. and the world's largest carnivorous dinosaur, Giganotosaurus.

In the gallery, Sensing Nature, with the help of lasers, mirrors, water, and acoustics you will see how our senses work together to understand the environment and the weather. See a tornado forming right before your eyes.

In the gallery, The World of Shells, you will learn how shell material is formed, the numerous ways animals use their shells, and the life processes of shelled animals. Fernbank hosts special exhibitions throughout the year, so there is always something new to discover.

ATLANTA CYCLORAMA

The CYCLORAMA is a painting of the Battle of Atlanta which occurred during the Civil War. While the massive work of art was painted in Wisconsin, many of the artists came from Europe as it was difficult to find enough skilled artists locally. The artists were divided into three groups: landscape artists; animal artists; and figure artists.

When the painting was completed in 1886, it was 50 feet high, 400 feet long, and weighed 9,000 pounds. In 1893 it came to Atlanta and was put into a wooden structure. In 1921 it was placed in a new fire-proof building. In 1936 a diorama was added to give the painting a 3-D effect. Today the painting is 42 feet high and 358 feet long. It is still the largest oil painting in the world! STUDENT STUDY GUIDE

Atlanta History 1. Atlanta was first named?

2. Atlanta played a vital role in what movement?

3. In 1996 Atlanta hosted what international event?

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1. Dr. King was born in a neighborhood called

2. He was assassinated in what city?

3. Dr. King was the youngest person to receive what prize?

World Of Coca-Cola 1. Who invented Coca-Cola?

2. Why would a company want to advertise?

3. How much did a coke cost when it first came out?.

CNN Studio Tour 1. Who started CNN?

2. What do the letters CNN stand for?

3. What is the screen called that a weather person stands in front of?

Georgia Aquarium 1. What type of life will you see in The Cold Water Quest gallery?

2. Where in the world would you find Zebra Shark?

3. The Arawana fish is found in what South American river? Stone Mountain 1. How high is Stone Mountain?.

2. Who are the men in the carving?.

and

3. When was the carving completed?

Turner Field 1. What is the name of the baseball team that plays here?

2. What city was the team located first?

3. Who is your favorite baseball player?

Zoo Atlanta 1. How did the zoo get started?.

2. What kind of creatures would you find in the World Of Reptiles?

3. What is your favorite animal/reptile and why?

Fernbank Museum Of Natural History 1. Where did the museum get it's name?.

2. The world's largest dinosaur is the

3. A canoe made from a tree trunk is called a

The Cyclorama 1. The CYCLORAMA is a painting of what battle?.

2. The battle of Atlanta happened during what war?.

3. How large is the painting?

10 ANSWERS

Atlanta History 1. Terminus 2. Civil Rights Movement 3. Centennial Olympic games Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1. Sweet Auburn district 2. Memphis 3. Novel Peace Prize World Of Coca-Cola 1. John Pemberton 2. So people know about their products 3. 5 cents CNN Studio Tour 1. Ted Turner 2. Cable News Network 3. The Blue Screen Georgia Aquarium 1. Whales, Sharks, etc 2. Indian Ocean, S. Pacific Ocean 3. Amazon River Stone Mountain 1. 800 feet 2. Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson 3. 1972 Turner Field 1. Atlanta Braves 2. Boston 3. open for discussion Zoo Atlanta 1. from a circus 2. snakes, turtles, lizards, etc 3. discussion Fernbank Museum Of Natural History 1. A creek bank covered in ferns 2. Argentinosaurus. 3. Dugout The Cyclorama 1. Battle of Atlanta 2. Civil War 3. 42' high and 358' long

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