Atlanta is the capital city of the American state, Georgia. It is also regarded as the ‘capital of the south’. It is one of the most populated cities in the USA with nearly 5 million inhabitants. Atlanta is an important business and transportation centre with companies such as Coca-Cola, Georgia-Pacific, Delta Air Lines and CNN based here.

A Brief History

Atlanta originated from a Native American village called Standing Peachtree. In 1822, white settlers took over this village from the Native American tribes, the Cherokee and the Creeks, and established a settlement in Decatur. Between 1838 and 1839, after the Cherokee Nations were forcibly removed from the land, the railroad was constructed. This railroad was built to develop trading with the midwestern states of the USA. Atlanta was an important military transportation hub during the American Civil War. This led to 90% of the city being burnt to the ground in 1864.

Atlanta was rebuilt and promoted as a modern city, one that was focused on business rather than on agriculture. Racial tensions ran high from the early 1900s to the 1960s. Atlanta played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement with one of the leaders being Atlanta native, Dr. Martin Luther King. This city also became the national headquarters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Compared to other Southern cities, segregation here ended pretty painlessly with the white Atlanta Mayor, Ivan Allen Jr., supporting the desegregation. The then president, John F. Kennedy promoted this city as being a good example of integration.

Since, the 1970s, Atlanta has developed into a multicultural city with immigrants from Asia and Latin America making it their home also. The 1996 Summer Olympics led to a huge improvement in public spaces, facilities and transportation services.

Attractions

The top attractions to visit during a trip to Atlanta include the Georgia Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the world, the newWorld of Coca-Cola with numerous interactive exhibits and 1,200 artifacts to entertain you with, the Martin Luther Kin, Jr. National Historic Site, a living memorial complex to honour Dr. King, the Centennial Olympic Park, which now invites everyone to use on a daily basis and the Woodruff Arts Centre/ The High Museum of Art, which is one of the most important visual and performing arts centre in America.

Transportation

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) operates the bus and subway transport system in Atlanta. Trains and buses transport passengers to most parts of the city but there are limited services outside the citys boundaries. A MARTA pass can be used on a train or a bus with weekly, weekend and visitor passes available also. Please note that Atlanta is a dangerous city for pedestrians.