ATLANTA — This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Atlanta History Center, and the city council has passed a resolution to commemorate the milestone.
The museum traces its origins to the Atlanta Historical Society, which was organized on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 1926, at a meeting of the curators at the Athletic Club. Per the proposed charter, the group’s purpose was “to preserve all sources of information on the history of the city of Atlanta … and collect and treasure facts of Atlanta’s history.”
It was renamed the Atlanta History Center in 1990.
“Atlanta History Center was founded in 1926 to preserve this city’s story, and over the past century we’ve evolved alongside Atlanta itself,” Sheffield Hale, president and CEO of Atlanta History Center, said in a release. “This centennial isn’t about looking back alone. It’s about setting the direction for the next 100 years as a trusted place for clear, even-handed, evidence-based history for the place we call home.”
During the Monday, July 6, Atlanta City Council meeting, District 8 Councilmember Mary Norwood recognized the Atlanta History Center’s milestone 100th year with a proclamation. It honored the center’s enduring role in Atlanta’s cultural fabric and its continued commitment to preserving and educating the public about the city’s history.
“From humble beginnings as the Atlanta Historical Society 100 years ago, the Atlanta History Center has grown to become one of the nation’s premier history organizations,” Norwood said in a release.
“It not only shared the story of Atlanta’s history with more than 100,000 annual visitors but also wove Atlanta’s narrative into the broader tapestry of our nation’s history through its exhibitions, educational programs, research initiatives, and community partnerships,” Norwood added. “As a jewel of Atlanta, here’s to another 100 years of inspiring curiosity, deepening understanding, and strengthening community connections through the power of history.”
During its centennial year, the Atlanta History Center hosted the “Documents That Forged a Nation” exhibit, featuring original founding-era documents that helped shape the United States. Atlanta was the only city in the Southeast to present this traveling exhibition.
The Atlanta History Center also continued its commitment to presenting history through multiple perspectives with the “Atlanta in 100 Objects: A Century of Stories” exhibit and its upcoming exhibition, “Exile from Georgia: The Cherokee and Muscogee Trail of Tears.”
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