Atlanta

Atlanta's capital was completed in 1889 for $118.43 under budget. I wonder how many projects are completed under budget today?

We did a self-guiding tour inside. There was small, but interesting museum of Georgia and Atlanta on the 3rd floor.

Just a few blocks away was Underground Atlanta. Yes, it really is an underground area, left when they built viaducts over the railroads in the early 1800s.

When the automobile and pedestrian traffic started to crowd the small roadways, which had been built for horse drawn carts, they built these viaducts over the existing streets. The trains continued to move underground, and eventually the businesses moved their main wares up to the "2nd" floor. Over time, the 2nd floor became the main floor and the original first floor became the basement. For years this area was deserted and unused, but has been resurrected as a new shopping and dining area.

Underground shopping today.

The owner of this old building must have refused to sell. It still sits with all these high rise glass and steel building surrounding it.

We went to the Cyclorama at Grant Park. Inside is the "Texas". This is the train engine which chased down the "General" when Federal soldiers stole it from the Confederates. Walt Disney made a movie about this incident, "The Great Locomotive Chase". All of the Federal soldiers were caught, tried and several hung.

The cyclorama was commissioned in the late 1800s by a private individual, but he died before it was completed. It was sold to a circus, where it toured for several years until the circus closed. The entire circus, animals, cyclorama and all was bought for $1100. The animals were donated to the city of Atlanta and was the beginning of the Atlanta Zoo, and the Cyclorama was permanently placed on display next door to the zoo in the early 1900s. Around 1938 they added a diorama.

You sit in seats and they turn so you can view the 3 story, 360 degree oil painting and diorama. It depicts the Battle for Atlanta.

In Woodruff park we saw this giant chess set and people playing.

The local library even sets up a reading room at the park.

At every one of those tables sits a pair of chess players and many by standers watching.

Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves.

Leftover visage of the 1996 Summer Olympics which were held in Atlanta.