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.
John Portman
Atlanta architect and developer John Portman transformed the downtown Atlanta skyline and contributed to the revitalization of the inner city beginning with construction of the Merchandise Mart in 1961.
When the Hyatt Regency Atlanta opened in May 1967, Portman’s $18 million, 800-room hotel was hailed by architectural critics. Within three months of opening, the hotel booked a spectacularly successful ninety–percent occupancy rate. The open-atrium design influenced hotel architecture worldwide and the Hyatt Corporation adopted the design feature as a company standard with twenty-six open-atrium hotels by 1987.
The Peachtree Center district of downtown Atlanta is dominated by John Portman buildings. These include the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel, the tallest hotel in the nation when it opened in 1976; Peachtree Center office towers (1969-1979); Atlanta Market Center [Atlanta Merchandise Mart / AmericasMart] (1961, addition 1968); Atlanta Apparel Mart (1979, addition 1989); Inforum (1989); Atlanta Gift Mart (1992); Atlanta Marriott Marquis hotel (1985); and One Peachtree Center / Sun Trust Plaza (1992).
Header Image: Lobby of the Regency Hyatt House, designed by John Portman, ca. 1967.
Architect John Portman standing in Peachtree Center, ca. 1975.
View of Atlanta’s downtown skyline, dominated by John Portman’s buildings, ca. 2016.