ATLANTA — City officials are looking at weighing options for moving The Cyclorama, a number of reports indicate. However, a move doesn’t appear to be imminent, nor is such a move guaranteed to take place.
Located in Grant Park next to Zoo Atlanta, The Cyclorama is best known for its painted depiction of the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864. The Cyclorama dates to the 1880s, but the current building dates to 1921; both the painting and the building were restored in the 1980s.
The theater rotates in a 360-degree circle, allowing the audience to see the entire 42-foot-tall painting. An introductory film narrated by James Earl Jones sets the scene for visitors before they enter the room that houses the painting; narration on each part of the scene as the room rotates highlights the various events depicted in the painting.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has formed a task force, which met last month, charged with looking at options. Discussion about moving the Cyclorama has come up previously, though such discussion in the past hasn’t resulted in any action.
“I think they’ve lost their minds, and we’ll fight,” The New York Times quoted one Grant Park resident as saying. “This is ours.”
The American Panorama Company in Milwaukee created the painting. While visitors are waiting to view the painting, they have the chance to see the locomotive Texas, the engine that ultimately caught up with the General to help end the Great Locomotive Chase.
- For more information: http://saportareport.com/blog/2011/08/city-of-atlanta-could-move-cyclorama-from-grant-park/
- For more information: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/us/moving-of-atlanta-cyclorama-is-raised.html
