During the winter break, our family decided to take an educational trip to Underground Atlanta to learn something new about the fair city we call home. While not originally from here, I thought we knew a good bit about the history of Atlanta, but we were truly intrigued by the one-hour guided walking tour offered by Underground Atlanta called “From Civil War to Civil Rights.” 

I was a little skeptical about whether the kids would pay attention, but it turned out I had little to fear. My 7-year-old is a lover of the “Magic Tree House” series and was excited about our own travel back-in-time to early Atlanta. The tour starts in the year 1848 with the completion of the railroad in the South, when Atlanta had a population of 21 people.

We were entertained with tales of street vendors and local legend and lore throughout our tour. Our tour guide and historian, Koni M. Lee, was a delightful storyteller, as well. Even I learned new things about Atlanta’s colorful history. The jail that stood at the corner of Alabama and Pryor streets amused us with its lack of a genuine security system. The historic Planters Hotel that became a military hospital, servicing the needs of both Union and Confederate soldiers, was also part of the tour. We even learned of the fictional location where soldiers were nursed in “Gone With the Wind.”

The tour ended with a beautiful view of the Capitol building and current-day Atlanta, home to over 4 million people. The children loved hearing the how the gold leaf covering of the Capitol dome was mined in Dahlonega. I can already tell we will be heading north soon to pan for our own piece of Georgia history.

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