I hope you are enjoying my list so far and getting fantastic ideas for places you would like to visit the next time you visit the peach state!
H. High Museum of Art (also known as the High)
Founded in 1905 as the Atlanta Art Association, the museum holds more than 14,000 works of art in its permanent collection, more than one-third of which were acquired since 1999. The collection includes 19th and 20th century American and European art, decorative art, modern and contemporary art, and photography with highlight artists including Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Claude Monet, Dorothea Lange, and Chuck Close. Frequently, special exhibits are held at the museum featuring works from other museums including the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Tickets to the museum cost around $20 per person unless you are a college student (student ID required). It may be worth looking into the cost of a membership if you intend on visiting the museum more than 3 times in a year or if you have 3 or more children. As with all museum memberships, a membership to the High Museum may qualify you for a tax deduction. Speak with a professional to find out more.
I. Imagine It! Children's Museum (now known as The Children's Museum of Atlanta)
One of the only children's-only museums in Atlanta, the 16,316 square foot museum features exhibits designed and geared toward young children. The permanent exhibits encourage children to think about their community, most especially with regards to the cultivation of food from farm to grocery store. Other opportunities provided for children include the opportunity to paint, build sand sculptures, and learn to use tools. At a cost of $12.75 per person (children and adults both), it may be a fun place to play for a day, but don't expect any amazing or entertaining adult activities. Bring a book or get involved in your child's creations.
As a sidenote, the one time I went to visit Imagine It! with a shy 3 year old, I was surprised at how pushy some of the older children (think 8-9 year olds) were. While this is definitely a fun location for younger children, I recommend going during the week when most other children are in school, so that you can enjoy all that the museum has to offer without worrying about tears.
J. Joel Chandler Harris House (aka The Wren's Nest or Snap Bean Farm)
Built in 1870, this house was the home of Joel Chandler Harris, author of the wildly popular and controversial Uncle Remus Tales as well as editor of the Atlanta Constitution.
Much like Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind, the Uncle Remus Tales are a collection of stories told by a former slave, Uncle Remus, during the reconstruction era after the Civil War. Disney eventually took on a few of the tales featuring main characters like Uncle Remus, Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox in Song of the South. The movie offered a unique combination of live action and animation and was released in 1946. The film won an Academy Award for Best Song in 1947 for "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" and was an inspiration for the Disney theme park attraction Splash Mountain. While the film received $3.3 million at the box office, it has also received a lot of critical attention for it's depiction of slavery. The NAACP said shortly following the opening of the film at the box office that "Song of the South [had] remarkable artistic merit in the music and in the combination of living actors and the cartoon technique. [...} However, in an effort neither to offend audiences in the north or south, the production helps to perpetuate a dangerously glorified picture of slavery. Making use of the beautiful Uncle Remus folklore, Song of the South unfortunately gives the impression of an idyllic master-slave relationship which is a distortion of facts." (see Wikipedia article here.)
While there is no denying that the Uncle Remus Tales are full of controversy, I think it is worth a visit to the Wren's Nest as a historic landmark. I've never been myself, but I hope to go some day…
K. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Located between Marietta and Kennesaw, Georgia, the name "Kennesaw" is derived from the Cherokee Indian meaning "cemetery" or "burial ground" and was designated as a U.S. Historic district on October 15, 1966 (Wikipedia). Best known for the Civil War battle that took place between June 19, 1864 until July 2, 1864, the park is 2,923 acres and provides walking trails, historic earthworks and includes three monuments representing the states who fought in this location.
Having never been to the park, I can't say whether or not it is worth a visit. The grounds look nice for a hike and the history may make this a unique experience for taking children. Plus, you can never go wrong with free admission! Just be certain not to take home any relics you may find in the park, because doing so is punishable by law.
So what do you think? Have you been to any of the places I've mentioned so far? Is there somewhere you think I should have included in my A-Z list? Share! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
