Historic Photos of Atlanta

The City in the Forest, Atlanta was a spot found in the wilderness of north Georgia for the end of a railroad line. It was thought few people would stay here, because most would be passing through to somewhere else. Instead, the people remained and the town grew, growing from Terminus to Marthasville to Atlanta. The city was defined by the rail lines, and for that reason, General William T. Sherman came with the Civil War. After he left the city in ruins, Atlanta rebuilt, rising from the ashes, raising a brave and beautiful city.For a century and a half, Atlanta has been the southern city on the move, a town of railroads, business and trade—putting up and pulling down—airplanes and highways, America's team and international Olympics. Along the way, professional and amateur photographers have documented Atlanta's rich visual history. This volume, Historic Photos of Atlanta, presents nearly two hundred images of the city's past, including views of its streets, the people who called it home, and the life, look, and feel of Atlanta.