DiscoverAtlanta.com homepage
Loading

Civil War Legacy Itinerary

Tour Civil War sites in and around Atlanta

Take the morning to tour Atlanta History Center then wind down in the afternoon with walks through Historic Oakland Cemetery and the Inman Park neighborhood.

DAY ONE

ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER

Start your dive into Atlanta’s Civil War history in Buckhead, at Atlanta History Center. Between the exhibits, “Turning Point: The American Civil War” and “Cyclorama: The Big Picture,” you will spend the better part of a morning.

“Turning Point” is among the nation’s largest and most comprehensive Civil War exhibits. Cyclorama: The Big Picture is a 132-year-old hand-painted work of art that depicts the historic Battle of Atlanta, one of only two cycloramas in the United States.

Insider Tip: Atlanta History Center is home to more than 1,500 Union and Confederate artifacts, including a Medal of Honor that was won by the United States Colored Troops (USCT). Guests can browse a variety of collections from the African American regiments, including original documents, in addition to viewing a rare battle flag from one of the USCT regiments.

Address: 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
Estimated time: 2 – 3 hours

Atlanta History Center
Atlanta History Center; © Katie Snyder, AtlantaPhotos.com

SOUPER JENNY

When it’s time for lunch, stop at Souper Jenny, which you’ll find at the entrance to Atlanta History Center. Grab a salad or a bowl of soup, and don’t forget a cup of java at BRASH Coffee, right on the premises. Be sure to take several minutes to see (and board) the Texas locomotive before you leave. If you’re looking for souvenirs or books about Atlanta, stop in the gift shop, next to Souper Jenny.

Address: 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

HISTORIC OAKLAND CEMETERY

You probably will be ready for some wind-down time, and there’s no place better than Historic Oakland Cemetery, an 88-acre garden cemetery and popular spot for strolling or taking a tour, self-guided or guided. There is no charge to visit the cemetery, which is the final resting place of several famous Atlantans including Maynard Jackson, Atlanta’s first African American mayor and Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone With the Wind” as well as nearly 7,000 Confederate soldiers and 16 Union soldiers. Visit historic areas including the Original Six Acres, Historic African American Grounds and Jewish Flat and Jewish Hill.

Address: 248 Oakland Ave SE, Atlanta, Ga. 30312
Estimated time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Historic Oakland Cemetery
Historic Oakland Cemetery

INMAN PARK

Not far from Oakland Cemetery is an area where some of the bloodiest fighting in the Battle of Atlanta took place. That battlefield today is the Inman Park neighborhood, another place for a leisurely walk. Inman Park became Atlanta’s first planned community and one of the nation’s first garden suburbs. See beautiful Victorian homes including Callan Castle at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Euclid Avenue, built in 1905 by Coca-Cola magnate, Asa Candler.

Address: intersection of Waverly Way NE and Elizabeth St NE
Estimated time: 1 hour

Typical Victorian home in Inman Park neighborhood of Atlanta
Typical Victorian home in Inman Park neighborhood of Atlanta

SIX FEET UNDER

Dine on burgers, shrimp tacos and salads at Six Feet Under while overlooking Historic Oakland Cemetery.

Address: 437 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

DAY TWO

Take another day to visit Stone Mountain Park then head just south of the city to Jonesboro, home to much more than Civil War history.

STONE MOUNTAIN PARK

There’s plenty to do at Stone Mountain Park besides walking or riding to the top of the mountain. Hike or walk to the top of the world’s largest exposed piece of granite. The park also houses the Historic Square, made up of original buildings built between 1790 and 1845, representing an authentic, pre-Civil War Georgia plantation and farmyard. Stone Mountain Park is also packed with attractions for the kids, hiking trails, fishing and even camping and a golf course.

Address: 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Estimated time: 3 hours

Visitors riding to the top of Stone Mountain
Visitors riding to the top of Stone Mountain

MARY MAC’S TEA ROOM

Head back into Atlanta and stop in at Mary Mac’s Tea Room, an Atlanta tradition with Southern favorites like fried chicken, salmon croquettes and barbecue. First-time diners receive a bowl of complimentary pot likker and cornbread, so be sure to let your server know. (You won’t be sorry if you get a dozen cinnamon rolls to go.)

Address: 224 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

PATRICK CLEBURNE CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL CEMETERY

After lunch, go to Jonesboro, where Gen. Sherman went after he finished destroying Atlanta. Historic Jonesboro saw bitter Civil War battles, including the 1864 Battle of Jonesboro, which resulted in the fall of Atlanta.The Patrick Cleburne Confederate Memorial Cemetery is the final resting place of 1,000 unidentified Confederate soldiers who fell during the Battle of Jonesboro.

Address: 111 Johnson St, Jonesboro, GA 30236
Estimated time: 1 hour

Confederate cemetery in Jonesboro, Georgia
Confederate cemetery in Jonesboro, Georgia; Editorial credit: Ken Chappell / Shutterstock.com

STATELY OAKS HISTORIC SITE

Stately Oaks Historic Site is located at Margaret Mitchell Memorial Park.  This site includes an antebellum home, the original 1839 cookhouse, the Old Bethel School, a tenant house, wellhouse and Juddy’s Country Store. The re-created Creek Indian Village behind the school is a reminder of those who were here before the Europeans arrived.

For more information, contact Clayton County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Address: 100 Carriage Ln, Jonesboro, GA 30236
Estimated time: 1 hour

PITTYPAT’S PORCH (Temporarily Closed)

Readers of Margaret Mitchell’s book or viewers of the movie will recognize Pittypat as the name of Scarlett’s aunt, who lived in Atlanta. Pittypat’s Porch has been serving old Southern charm for more than 40 years. This downtown Atlanta restaurant is decorated with memorabilia from the film, including original photographs, letters and sketches from both the movie and book. The menu features Southern cooking with dishes such as fried chicken and Georgia peach cobbler.

Address: 25 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30303

DAY THREE

Visit outlying areas with Civil War connections. The cities of Marietta and Roswell are less than an hour north of downtown Atlanta and about 30 minutes apart from each other. Although there’s enough to do for most of the day in each city, both can be visited on a very busy day.

Historic Marietta started as a retreat for wealthy coastal planters, and some of their historic homes from the Civil War era remain. Today, Marietta is home to a charming square surrounded by shops and renovated homes.

MARIETTA NATIONAL CEMETERY

More than 10,000 Union soldiers who died during Gen. William T. Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign are buried at the Marietta National Cemetery.

Address: 500 Washington Ave NE, Marietta, GA 30060

KENNESAW MOUNTAIN NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park preserves a Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign. Both sides maneuvered through the area during The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain from June 19, 1864 until July 2, 1864.

Address: 900 Kennesaw Mountain Dr, Kennesaw, GA 30152

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Trails at the park use signs to help tell the story of the 1864 battle that took place here. @ Snassek, flickr

SOUTHERN MUSEUM OF CIVIL WAR AND LOCOMOTIVE HISTORY

The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, in Kennesaw, highlights the story of a Confederate conductor who chases his stolen “General” locomotive from Atlanta to Chattanooga. It exhibits more than 50,000 Civil War and railroad artifacts.

Address: 2829 Cherokee St NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144

The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia
The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia; Editorial credit: Rob Hainer / Shutterstock.com

SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF ROSWELL

In the 1800s, Roswell was a village centered around mills that, during the Civil War, supplied clothing to Confederate soldiers. Roswell was occupied by 31,000 Union troops in July 1864. Today, antebellum homes have been restored and transformed into special events facilities, galleries line the area of Canton Street. Restaurants and shops make for an enjoyable afternoon. Stop by the Roswell Visitors Center at 617 Atlanta St. for more information. A self-guided walking tour of the area is available.

Address: 617 S Atlanta St, Roswell, GA 30075

Historic Roswell Visitors Center Building in Roswell, Georgia
Historic Roswell Visitors Center Building in Roswell, Georgia; Editorial credit: 9wittgiggs / Shutterstock.com

BULLOCK HALL

An example of pre-Civil War Greek revival architecture, Bullock Hall was built in 1840. It was the childhood home of Mittie Bulloch, mother of President Theodore Roosevelt.

Address: 180 Bulloch Ave, Roswell, GA 30075

Bullock Hall in Roswell, Georgia
Bullock Hall in Roswell, Georgia; Editorial credit: 9wittgiggs / Shutterstock.com

SMITH PLANTATION HOME

The Smith Plantation Home is an 1845 antebellum home that features still-working outbuildings including a cookhouse, carriage house, springhouse, barn and slave cabin.

Address: 935 Alpharetta St, Roswell, GA 30075

The legacy of Margaret Mitchell and “Gone With the Wind” were another important aspect of the Civil War. Check out our Gone With the Wind Itinerary to explore these important sites and landmarks.

Discover More

Get to know Atlanta, and discover the best things to do around the city.