Atlanta in 50 Objects

A pink pig and a renegade cow. A movie prop and a Coke bottle. A Pulitzer Prize–winning book and a Nobel Prize–winning icon.

How do you tell the story of Atlanta in 50 objects? We decided the best experts were Atlantans themselves—residents who cheer the Braves and rue I–285 rush-hour traffic, who understand how Civil War losses and Civil Rights victories together helped forge the city’s unique identity. Atlanta History Center asked the public to submit what objects they think best represent their town. The parameters were broad: an object could also be a person, a place, an institution, or an idea. After receiving hundreds of submissions, History Center staff assembled a collection of fifty pieces that represent the themes identified by the public. In addition to items from our own collections, we have partnered with many local institutions and individuals to gather artifacts from around the city to tell this community–driven story.

Multi-colored pin buttons with various text about Georgia on blue background

Filmmaking Hub

Throughout the twentieth century, there was the occasional movie filmed in Georgia.

But since 2008 when the state began offering tax incentives for film and television productions, the industry is booming. Georgia is third behind Hollywood and New York, and fifth worldwide, in the number of productions. In 2014, 248 films and television shows were produced in Georgia and the industry generated $5.1 billion for the state economy.

Major motion pictures filmed in Atlanta in recent years include Marvel’s Ant Man; Captain America: Civil War; Anchorman 2; Selma; The Fast and the Furious franchise; The Hunger Games franchise (including filming at Atlanta History Center’s Swan House), and most Tyler Perry productions.

Television shows produced in Atlanta included the CW’s The Vampire Diaries; USA’s Satisfaction; FOX’s Sleepy Hollow; Lifetime’s Devious Maids; BET’s Being Mary Jane; BRAVO’s Real Housewives of Atlanta; and AMC’s The Walking Dead.

By 2018, The Walking Dead was the highest rated cable drama in history, reaching as many as seventeen million viewers each week. Fans of the show travel from all over the world to see where it is filmed, making The Walking Dead a boon to Georgia’s tourism industry as well.

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