Lower Peachtree

On this stretch of Peachtree Street (Marietta Street to Ellis Street) you will find some of Atlanta's beautiful and historic buildings. Walking northward, these include the Muse's Building, former location of the "Crystal Palace," the English-American (aka, Flatiron) Building, the Candler Building, the Carnegie Building and the Winecoff (now Ellis) Hotel and the Rhodes-Haverty Building. You will find details on these building on the Interactive Map.

Lower Peachtree Street looking north in early 1900s. You can see the Flatiron Building, Piedmont Hotel (now Equitable Bldg) and Candler Building.

Lower Peachtree Street (looking north) in 1930s

Built in 1897, the English-American Building (aka, "Flatiron" Building) is the oldest skyscraper in Atlanta...

Built in 1897, the English-American Building (aka, "Flatiron" Building) is the oldest skyscraper in Atlanta.

Historic buildings that are (unfortunately) no longer standing include the Carnegie Library (Atlanta Central Library), the Loew's Grand Theater (G-P Tower), the Piedmont Hotel (Equitable Bldg) and the Majestic Hotel (191 Tower). ​

Andrew Carnegie (November 25, 1835 – August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist, and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century and became one of the richest Americans in history. He became a leading philanthropist in the United States and in the British Empire. During the last 18 years of his life, he gave away $350 million (conservatively $65 billion in 2019 dollars, based on percentage of GDP) to charities, foundations, and universities – almost 90 percent of his fortune. His 1889 article proclaiming "The Gospel of Wealth" called on the rich to use their wealth to improve society, and stimulated a wave of philanthropy.

Woodruff Park

At six acres, Woodruff Park is Downtown Atlanta's largest green space. The park, whose western boundary is formed by Peachree Street, offers stunning views of the city's skyline. Established in the early 1970s, Woodruff Park was formerly known as Central City Park. The park was created thanks to a philanthropic gift from former Coca-Cola Company president Robert W. Woodruff, who donated the money anonymously. After two years of planning and preparation, the park opened in 1973. Learn more about Woodruff Park at AtlantaDowntown.com

On the western side of the park, you will find the iconic "ATL" sign. Centerpiece of the Woodruff Park Playground, this Instagram-worthy landmark was engineered and constructed Minnesota-based Landscape Structures Inc. Jeff Santos, of British Columbia, designed the original concept of the playground, having won the 2010 Playable 10 Contest held in partnership with Bank of America, Georgia Institute of Technology, CAP and the Atlanta Taskforce of Play. Shaped with Atlanta in mind, the playground’s design mimics the letters “ATL,” and features climbing walls, monkey bars and two differently sized slides.

At the southwest corner of the park, you will find a magnificent monument entitled, "Atlanta from the Ashes." The Phoenix — as it is popularly known — was commissioned in 1969 by the Rich Foundation to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its historic downtown department store.  James Siegler, who worked in Rich’s planning department, conceived of a sculpture of a woman lifting a bird of hope to the heavens, and drew the original drawings. Ultimately designed and cast in Italy, the sculpture became associated with the Phoenix, the mystical bird of Egyptian times, who was consumed by fire and rose from the ashes.  Now the unofficial symbol of Atlanta, it represents the city that ascended from the ashes and devastation of the Civil War to become an important international city. The bronze sculpture was refurbished in 1995 and rededicated in Woodruff Park for the 1996 Centennial Olympics. See also: City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs

At the northern end of the park, you will find a magnificent water feature called, "International Peace Fountain." Constructed in 1995, the fountain is the  that commemorates Atlanta’s role in the Civil Rights movement, as well as the global human rights movement. Located at the intersection of Auburn Avenue and Park Place, the fountain serves as the gateway to the historic King Memorial and Sweet Auburn Districts.

EXPLORER'S TIP: Walk out onto the open lawn in the middle of the park and do a "360" while standing in place. Make note of the various buildings you see along the horizon. Note the height and architectural styles of the buildings. Quite literally, 100+ years of history opens up right before your eyes. Watch video below to see what this looks like...

The Crystal Palace

At the address 66 Peachtree you will find a business called, Happy Hookah. At that location once operated the legendary "Crystal Palace," a barber shop owned by Alonso Herndon, a former slave who became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. An entrepreneur at heart, Herndon learned barbering and eventually opened his own shop in Atlanta called the Crystal Palace. Herndon later founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. 

Black Leaders of Atlanta

​EXPLORER'S TIP: Watch this video while standing (on the sidewalk next to Woodruff Park) across street from the "Happy Hookah," located at 66 Peachtree Street. 

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