Atlanta history

For our second tour city, we are traveling to Atlanta Georgia. This city is young by American standards. There were a number of cities that were thriving before Atlanta was a settlement. Atlanta's personality is like no other cities. It's personality is bright, brash, aggressive, and tempered by fire. The rough edges have been smoothed by time and is dashing with southern charm.

Atlanta is located in the southern part of the United States. In the beginning this city was founded as a rail crossing. An ante-bellum small rough and ready frontier town similiar to the towns of the Old West. This town did not fit the mint julep and magnolia image of the Old South. The catalyst for this city's growth and economic vitality was transportation and still is today.

The Creek and Cherokee Indian tribes orginially occupied the land more than 150 years ago. The first white settlers came to this area during the War of 1812. In 1825 the Creek Nation ceded their lands to State of Georgia. In 1835 the Cherokee nation agreed to leave their lands and moved west under the Treaty of New Echota. The infamous Trail of Tears occured because Georgia officially took possession of Cherokee lands.

The early settlers were craftsmen and farmers. These settlers came from Virginia, the Carolinas, and North Georgia. They were hard-working, deeply religious and small landowners. The steam engine spawned Atlanta with the combination of geography and necessity. Atlanta's growth is not impeded by any natural barriers. Atlanta's growth similar to boom towns of the West was rail lines instead of mining.

When the American Civil War erupted, Atlanta was in a position of regional importance with four rail lines. The city's population was 10,000, with iron foundries, mills,warehouses, carriage and wheelwright shops. Soon the city became the supply and shipping center of the Confederacy. In July 1864 the war came to Atlanta. Atlanta surrendered on September 2 after a series of bloody battles and a month long siege. While the city was still smoldering Atlantans started the rebuilding.

This spirit made Atlanta the hub of Southeastern commerce and the confidence for a stronger Atlanta. From the end of the war through the 1830's, the city experienced rapid growth. By 1903 Atlanta was the headquarters for numerous national and regional companies. The 1920's was a great building boom for this city. Most of the residential buildings of the decade clung to the revival styles of architecture. The architectural styles in this city evolved between 1890 and 1930, following the trends of reviving elements of Gothic, Classical, and Colonial.

This is a city of the future with strong ties to its past. The old in new Atlanta is the soul of a vibrant growing city. The quality of life in this contemporary city is enhanced by its heritage. The artifacts of their culture is the soul of the city.