Atlanta’s Historic House Museums

Atlanta has several historic house museums that are worth a visit. Two have been the homes of well known authors, one is now part of the Atlanta History Center, and another has been the official residence of Georgia governors for 45 years. All are within an easy drive of downtown Atlanta.
The Margaret Mitchell House is a popular destination in midtown. The three story brick apartment building was Mitchell’s home during the time that she wrote Gone With the Wind, her Pulitzer Prize winning Civil War novel. The building was known as the Crescent Apartments, and Mitchell referred to it as “the dump”. The building was restored after years of decline and two arson fires. Today it is part of the Atlanta History Center. Visitors may tour Mitchell’s apartment and view exhibits on Mitchell’s life, as well as an exhibit on the Gone With the Wind motion picture. The Margaret Mitchell House is located at 990 Peachtree Street. Hours are Monday-Saturday from 10am-5:30pm and Sunday from noon-5:30pm. Admission is $13 for adults, $10 for seniors and students ages 13-18, and $8.50 for ages 4-12.

The Wren’s Nest belonged to another famous Atlanta author, Joel Chandler Harris. He wrote the Brer Rabbit Tales and Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings. Harris lived in the Queen Anne Victorian style home from 1881 until his death in 1908. The home reflects an upper middle class lifestyle around the turn of the 20th century. Most of the furnishings in the home belonged to the Harris family. The Wren’s Nest is located at 1050 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. SW, and is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-2:30pm. Visitors can enjoy storytelling every Saturday at 1pm. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, and $5 for children.

The Swan House is one of Atlanta’s most photographed landmarks. The home is on the grounds of the Atlanta History Center. It was built in the 1920s by the Inman family, who made their fortune in the cotton brokerage business. The elegant home is open for tours, and visitors can enjoy strolling through the beautiful gardens. The Tullie Smith Farm is also on the History Center grounds. The farmhouse was built in the 1840s and depicts rural Georgia farm life during the 19th century. The house was originally located east of Atlanta and was moved to its present site. The Georgia History Center is located at 130 West Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead. Hours are Monday-Saturday from 10am-5:30pm and Sunday from noon-5:30pm. Admission is $16.50 for adults, $13 for students and seniors, and $11 for ages 4-12.

Just down the street from the Atlanta History Center is the Governor’s Mansion, located at 391 West Paces Ferry Road. The home has been the official residence of Georgia’s governors since 1967. Built in the Greek-Revival style, the home has 30 Doric columns supporting its porches. Visitors may tour eight rooms on the first floor that are used for official entertaining, including the state drawing room, state dining room, and the library. The rooms are furnished with antiques from the Federal period. Docents are stationed in each room to answer questions. Visitors may tour the Governor’s Mansion Tuesday-Thursday from 10-11:30am. Admission is free.

By: Ajay Sethi

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Ajay Sethi, the General Manager at the Sheraton Perimeter hotel. From the moment you enter this Perimeter hotel’s warm and stylish lobby until you rest your head on The Sheraton Sweet Sleeper™ Bed, you’ll feel at ease and at home. Experience all that Atlanta has to offer while escaping the rush of the city at the new Sheraton Atlanta Perimeter hotel. For more information visit: www.ATLANTAPERIMETERHOTEL.com