Did You Know? Atlanta Facts from 1900-1949

1. In 1906, the Atlanta Race Riot erupted, resulting in days of violence and increased racial tensions in the city.

2. The Coca-Cola Company officially moved its headquarters to Atlanta in 1919, cementing the city’s role in the company’s growth.

3. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport began as Candler Field in 1925, named after Coca-Cola founder Asa Candler.

4. The Fox Theatre, one of Atlanta’s most iconic landmarks, opened in 1929 as a movie palace and performance venue.

5. In 1936, Margaret Mitchell’s novel “Gone with the Wind” was published, becoming an instant bestseller and putting Atlanta in the national spotlight.

6. In 1949, WAGA-TV became Atlanta’s first television station, marking the city’s foray into the TV industry.

7. The Great Atlanta Fire of 1917 destroyed more than 300 acres of the city, including over 2,000 buildings.

8. In 1920, Atlanta became the first city in the Southeast to introduce aerial firefighting, using airplanes to locate fires.

9. The Varsity, the world’s largest drive-in fast food restaurant, opened in 1928, becoming an Atlanta institution.

10. In 1941, Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital introduced Georgia’s first emergency room, revolutionizing emergency care in the state.

11. In 1907, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce launched the Forward Atlanta campaign to promote industrial growth.

12. In 1946, Atlanta native Martin Luther King Jr. enrolled at Morehouse College at the age of 15.

13. Piedmont Park, a major public green space in Atlanta, hosted the Cotton States and International Exposition in 1895, but remained a popular site throughout the 1900s.

14. The Atlanta Crackers, a minor league baseball team, was one of the most successful teams in the South during the first half of the 20th century.

15. In 1924, Emory University relocated to its current campus in the Druid Hills area of Atlanta.

16. The Atlanta Constitution merged with The Atlanta Journal in 1948, forming one of the largest newspaper operations in the country.

17. Atlanta University, now part of the Atlanta University Center, became one of the nation’s first graduate schools to offer degrees to African Americans in 1929.

18. In 1901, Booker T. Washington gave his famous speech in Atlanta, calling for racial cooperation and economic development.

19. In 1941, Eastern Airlines made Atlanta a hub, greatly expanding the city’s role in air travel.

20. The Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank was established in 1914, serving as a key institution for the U.S. banking system in the Southeast.

21. In 1923, the Atlanta Black Crackers, an African American baseball team, formed as part of the Negro Leagues.

22. In 1932, the first Radio Station WSB began broadcasting, becoming one of the most influential radio stations in the South.

23. The Southern Railway established its headquarters in Atlanta in 1914, contributing to the city’s growth as a transportation hub.

24. In 1921, Atlanta’s Terminal Station, designed in a Beaux-Arts style, opened, accommodating thousands of rail passengers daily.

25. In 1948, the city of Atlanta adopted a city manager form of government, streamlining operations and services.

26. The Rich’s Department Store introduced its famous Pink Pig Christmas ride in 1948, becoming a holiday tradition.

27. In 1913, the Leo Frank case, a highly publicized murder trial, highlighted racial and anti-Semitic tensions in Atlanta.

28. The Southeastern Fair, held annually at Lakewood Park starting in 1915, attracted thousands of visitors from across the region.

29. In 1940, Clark Atlanta University was formed from the merger of Atlanta University and Clark College, both historically Black institutions.

30. In 1922, Techwood Homes, the nation’s first public housing project, was completed in Atlanta.

31. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra held its first performance in 1945, becoming a cornerstone of the city’s cultural scene.

32. In 1914, Asa Candler, founder of Coca-Cola, donated land for the establishment of Candler Park, now a popular public space.

33. In 1947, the Atlanta Braves played their first game in the city after relocating from Boston.

34. Morehouse College, one of the most prestigious historically Black colleges in America, saw significant growth during the early 20th century.

35. The Winecoff Hotel Fire of 1946 was one of the deadliest hotel fires in U.S. history, killing 119 people and leading to changes in fire safety codes nationwide.

36. In 1909, Atlanta hosted its first aviation exhibition, attracting aviation enthusiasts from across the country.

37. In 1940, the first African American fire station opened in Atlanta, staffed entirely by Black firefighters.

38. Atlanta’s streetcar system reached its peak in the 1920s, with dozens of lines crisscrossing the city.

39. In 1944, Benjamin E. Mays became president of Morehouse College, inspiring a generation of civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr.

40. The Atlanta Chapter of the NAACP was founded in 1917, becoming a central organization in the fight for civil rights in the South.

41. In 1929, Atlanta opened its first aviation school, offering pilot training to both military and civilian students.

42. In 1942, Fort McPherson in Atlanta became a major training facility for U.S. soldiers during World War II.

43. The High Museum of Art, founded in 1905, expanded its collection significantly during the 1940s, growing into one of the South’s premier art institutions.

44. In 1910, Joel Chandler Harris, author of the Uncle Remus stories, died in Atlanta, leaving behind a literary legacy celebrated in the city.

45. In 1941, Delta Air Lines moved its headquarters to Atlanta, establishing a lasting connection with the city.

46. Atlanta’s Fox Theatre narrowly avoided demolition in the 1940s, thanks to a public outcry and preservation efforts.

47. In 1939, the world premiere of “Gone with the Wind” was held in Atlanta, drawing Hollywood stars and national attention.

48. In 1908, the first electric streetlights were installed in downtown Atlanta, replacing older gas lamps.

49. In 1916, Atlanta saw the opening of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, a luxury hotel catered to the growing business community.

50. In 1946, Wesley Woods Senior Living, a pioneering senior care facility, opened in Atlanta, offering new standards in elderly care.

51. In 1910, Atlanta’s West End became one of the first neighborhoods in the city to implement zoning laws.

52. In 1940, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport saw its first international flight, marking its rise as a global travel hub.

53. In 1904, Grady Memorial Hospital opened its first nursing school, training nurses to meet the needs of the growing city.

54. In 1921, Atlanta’s first radio station, WSB, began broadcasting, marking the start of the city’s influence in the radio industry.

55. In 1943, Atlanta hosted the Southern Regional Council, a multiracial organization dedicated to promoting civil rights and racial justice.

56. In 1915, Tech Tower, the iconic symbol of Georgia Tech, was completed and quickly became a city landmark.

57. In 1947, the Atlanta Braves moved to the city from Boston, bringing major league baseball to the South.

58. In 1927, Ponce City Market, originally known as the Sears, Roebuck & Co. building, was constructed and became a vital part of Atlanta’s commerce.

59. In 1906, the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the most successful Black-owned businesses in the U.S., was founded by Alonzo Herndon.

60. In 1945, Atlanta’s Auburn Avenue became known as the richest street for African Americans, home to thriving Black-owned businesses.

61. In 1937, Atlanta held the New South Exposition, showcasing the city’s industrial and cultural achievements.

62. The University of Georgia School of Law opened its Atlanta campus in 1949, expanding the state’s legal education.

63. In 1924, Morris Brown College became affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, strengthening its ties to the Black community.

64. In 1940, Emory University’s medical school expanded its programs, offering advanced medical education to students across the Southeast.

65. The Piedmont Driving Club, founded in 1887, was expanded during the 1940s, solidifying its role as an exclusive social institution.

66. In 1912, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce launched the Forward Atlanta campaign, promoting the city’s post-war growth.

67. In 1925, the first traffic lights were installed on Peachtree Street, improving safety and regulating traffic in the busy downtown area.

68. In 1919, Eugene Talmadge became Georgia’s governor, beginning a political career would significantly impact Atlanta.

69. In 1935, the King Plow Arts Center opened in Atlanta, serving as a creative hub for artists and entrepreneurs.

70. In 1942, Atlanta’s Peachtree Street became one of the first streets in the South to install neon signage, contributing to the city’s nightlife.

71. In 1920, Atlanta’s public transportation system expanded with new bus lines, complementing the streetcar network.

72. In 1934, Atlanta became home to the Southern Regional Council, advocating for civil rights and improved race relations.

73. In 1928, the Biltmore Hotel opened, becoming one of Atlanta’s grandest hotels and a social hub for the city’s elite.

74. In 1944, Atlanta University partnered with several other historically Black colleges to create the Atlanta University Center.

75. In 1930, the city of Atlanta launched the Midtown Beautification Project, improving the appearance of public spaces.

76. In 1948, Atlanta’s first television broadcast aired, with WAGA-TV leading the way.

77. In 1904, Georgia State University was founded as a night school for business students, becoming a key institution in the city’s educational landscape.

78. In 1920, John Wesley Dobbs, known as the “Mayor of Auburn Avenue,” helped organize voter registration drives helping Atlanta’s African American community.

79. In 1947, The Varsity hosted its first New Year’s Eve party, solidifying its place in Atlanta’s cultural scene.

80. In 1933, Atlanta’s Fox Theatre almost closed due to the Great Depression but was saved by a local preservation effort.

81. In 1926, the Coca-Cola Company moved into its new headquarters building, a modern skyscraper became one of Atlanta’s tallest buildings.

82. In 1914, Atlanta became home to Fort McPherson, a major Army post played a role in World War I training efforts.

83. In 1949, Atlanta saw the completion of the Highland Avenue Viaduct, a key infrastructure project for the city.

84. In 1905, the Druid Hills neighborhood was developed, becoming one of Atlanta’s most prestigious residential areas.

85. In 1931, Atlanta opened its first public swimming pool, located in Piedmont Park.

86. In 1946, Delta Air Lines expanded its operations in Atlanta, marking the beginning of the city’s long association with the airline.

87. In 1907, the Atlanta Athletic Club was established, becoming one of the city’s most prestigious clubs.

88. In 1939, Atlanta’s first Department of Aviation was created to manage the rapidly growing airport operations at Candler Field.

89. In 1943, the city opened its first public library for African Americans, providing greater access to educational resources for the Black community.

90. In 1915, the Southern Railway’s Peachtree Station was completed, furthering Atlanta’s reputation as a major transportation hub.

91. In 1927, the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium opened, hosting concerts, political rallies, and other major events for decades.

92. In 1934, Atlanta introduced its first public bus system, replacing several aging streetcar lines.

93. In 1945, Atlanta’s Big Bethel AME Church became a center for civil rights activism, hosting meetings and rallies.

94. In 1910, Bobby Jones, the legendary golfer, was born in Atlanta, going on to become one of the greatest golfers in history.

95. In 1949, Atlanta’s Lenox Square Mall was planned, though it wouldn’t open until 1959; it became one of the first regional shopping centers in the Southeast.

96. In 1916, the first commercial motion picture theater opened in Atlanta, reflecting the growing popularity of cinema.

97. In 1924, Piedmont Park hosted Atlanta’s first public open-air movie screenings, drawing large crowds during summer evenings.

98. In 1947, The Gate City Nursery opened in Atlanta, offering employment and childcare services to working-class families.

99. In 1936, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta played a key role in stabilizing the Southern economy during the Great Depression.

100. In 1940, Lakewood Park was developed as a major recreational area, hosting the Southeastern Fair and other public events.