One of the largest and most diverse cities in the country, Atlanta is well-poised to sustain its thriving museum industry. When was the last time you visited a major Atlanta museum? If it’s been a while, take a look at what’s on display at six of the best.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
If you love dinosaurs or have a budding paleontologist in the family, the Fernbank’s upcoming exhibit might interest you. “The World’s Largest Dinosaurs” will explore the anatomy and presumed livelihoods of the largest creatures ever to roam the earth. The exhibit is on display from September 12 through January 2 and Fernbank Museum is just a ten-minute drive from AMLI Parkside.
Michael C. Carlos Museum
Atlanta’s oldest art museum, the Michael C. Carlos Museum houses an eclectic collection of art spanning 5,000 years of human history. The museum’s current special exhibition, on display until November 27, showcases Tibetan Buddhist artwork in accordance with its sacred context. The museum also boasts extensive collections of Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art. Housed on Emory University’s campus, it’s just a 15-minute drive from the Buckhead apartments at AMLI Lindbergh.
College Football Hall of Fame
The specialty exhibit currently on display at this Atlanta museum is “College All-Star Saturdays: A Century of America’s Best.” Visit to see footballs, jerseys, trophies, and other memorabilia dating back to 1921. The College Football Hall of Fame is located just east of Centennial Olympic Park.
Atlanta History Center
Brush up on your knowledge of local culture and history with a walk through “Atlanta in 50 Objects,” one of four exhibitions on display through December 31. “Atlanta in 50 Objects” was curated in part by Atlanta’s very own everyday citizens. Curators reached out to the public on social media and via suggestion boxes placed at the museum so locals could make suggestions as to what should be included in the exhibit. The other exhibits explore Atlanta’s native populations, the 1939 premiere of Gone with the Wind, and Atlanta in the 70s through Boyd Lewis’ photography. If you visit the Atlanta History Center before October 10, you can also get a feel for how the clothes we wear have evolved over time by exploring the exhibit “Fashion in Good Taste.”
High Museum of Art
If you’re reading this post right after it was published, you’ve got a few days left to catch the Walker Evans photography retrospective. It closes on September 11, along with an exhibit dedicated to exploring issues of identity and memory called “What is Near: Reflections on Home.” There’s still more to see though. An exhibit featuring 47 wood sculptures from collector Gordon W. Bailey’s collection is on display through October 30. Life-size (and larger) sculptures created by Jaime Hayon and installed on the Sifly Piazza can be viewed through August 27. And a retrospective featuring more than 80 collages by legendary children’s book author and illustrator Eric Carle is open now and runs through January 8.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
As the birthplace and longtime home of leading activist Martin Luther King, Jr., Atlanta will always be closely linked to the civil rights movement. Personal papers and items that belonged to Dr. King are on display at this Atlanta museum until September 12 as part of the “Voice to the Voiceless” exhibition. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is located on the northern end of Centennial Olympic Park, a short drive from AMLI’s Poncey Highlands apartments.
A visit to an Atlanta museum can be educational and fun for the entire family. It’s also a great way to support arts and culture in the bustling metropolis you call home. Keep these exhibits in mind as you plan your next several weekends.
Have you explored any of the exhibits discussed in this article? Review your experience in the comments.
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Feature image courtesy Wikimedia Commons/Chris Yunker
View All Posts by Jason Ernst