Everything Decatur is known for
Decatur, Georgia, a city in DeKalb County and part of the Atlanta metropolitan area, has a notable connection to music. While known for its vibrant food scene and festivals, Decatur is also home to several accomplished artists across various genres.
Artists like folk duo Indigo Girls and R&B singer Keri Hilson call Decatur home. The city is also mentioned in songs such as "ATLiens" by OutKast and "Money in the Grave" by Drake.
Songs written about the waterways and highways that run near Decatur.
The original Waffle House opened in Avondale Estates, Georgia on Labor Day 1955. It's now a museum preserving the first counter, stools, and jukebox. The chain grew to 2,000 locations, all open 24/7. FEMA developed the unofficial Waffle House Index — if the local Waffle House is closed, the disaster is catastrophic. No other restaurant chain measures emergency severity.
The Krog Street Tunnel is a narrow railroad underpass on Atlanta's east side, carrying Krog Street beneath the rail corridor and linking the historic Inman Park and Reynoldstown neighborhoods with Cabbagetown. More than a century old, it has become the city's best-known graffiti landmark, every surface layered in spray paint that is painted over and renewed so often that the tunnel is essentially never the same twice. It serves as a community bulletin board for flyers, proposals, and protest art. On October 22, 2014, roughly 100 people painted the entire tunnel gray overnight to protest a ticketed party the city had permitted there; the color returned within days. (Sources: Wikipedia; Atlanta Magazine.)
Mary MacKenzie opened her tea room in Midtown Atlanta in 1945, one of 16 tea rooms in the city. She's the last one standing. Every table gets a pencil and pad to write your own order — a tradition from the postwar years when help was scarce. The pot likker and cornbread arrive before you ask. It's the dining room of the South, where governors and construction workers eat the same fried chicken.
The church where three generations of Kings preached and where Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral was held in 1968.
The Queen Anne-style house at 501 Auburn Avenue where Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929.
The largest exposed granite monolith in North America, featuring a massive bas-relief carving of Confederate leaders begun in 1916 and completed in 1972.
The house where MLK was born in 1929. Sweet Auburn neighborhood in Atlanta.
The original 1955 Waffle House in Avondale Estates GA is now a museum. FEMA uses the Waffle House Index to measure disaster severity. That's real.
Atlanta's beloved BBQ. Texas transplants who brought brisket religion to Georgia.
Atlanta's dining room since 1945. Pot likker and cornbread. Every table gets a pencil to write your own order. Southern hospitality distilled.
The world's largest drive-in restaurant since 1928. What'll ya have? Two miles from Georgia Tech.
The original 1955 Waffle House preserved as a museum in Avondale Estates GA. Scattered and smothered history.
77 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.
The original Waffle House opened in Avondale Estates, Georgia on Labor Day 1955. It's now a museum preserving the first counter, stools, and jukebox. The chain grew to 2,000 locations, all open 24/7. FEMA developed the…
Pull over here for a second; this unassuming house was a front-row seat to history. The Mary Gay House was home to Mary Ann Harris Gay, a woman who documented the Civil War's impact on the South. She moved here with her…
This unassuming spot was once a beacon of hope, offering a haven for children in need. In the early 1900s, the Scottish Rite Convalescent Home for Crippled Children started as a small cottage in Decatur, providing care…
The original 1955 Waffle House preserved as a museum in Avondale Estates GA. Scattered and smothered history.
Ever wonder what happens to old factories? Here's one that got a serious makeover. This is Pullman Yard, once a sprawling industrial complex where railcars were repaired and maintained. It was built in the early 1900s…
Get ready to glimpse into a world of lavish parties and eccentric hobbies – this is Briarcliff, once the estate of Asa Griggs Candler Jr., son of the Coca-Cola founder. In 1922, Asa Jr. built this grand mansion on 42…
Fancy a pint in a historic mansion? You're near the Kriegshaber House, now home to the Wrecking Bar Brewpub! Victor Hugo Kriegshaber, born in 1859, was a big deal in Atlanta's building scene. He founded the Atlanta…
Pull up a chair—you’re about to discover why Manuel's Tavern isn't just a bar, it's an Atlanta institution. Opened in 1956 by Manuel Maloof, this unassuming spot quickly became a hub for political discussions,…
Atlanta's beloved BBQ. Texas transplants who brought brisket religion to Georgia.
Ever wonder what it would be like to live in a luxury apartment with a private zoo? That was almost the reality here at the Briarcliff Hotel.Asa Griggs Candler Jr., son of the Coca-Cola magnate, was quite the character.…
Heads up, you're approaching a true Atlanta original: the Clermont Lounge. This isn't your average strip club; it's a basement dive that's been doing its own thing since 1965. Located in the basement of the Clermont…
Believe it or not, this building was once the headquarters of a soda empire! The National NuGrape Company, the brains behind NuGrape soda, called this place home. In 1937, the National NuGrape Company, already a…
You're driving past a spot that helped put America on wheels! This unassuming building was once Ford's regional headquarters and assembly plant, churning out thousands of cars for the Southeast. Back in 1915, Ford…
Before it was a foodie paradise, this building was a giant catalog warehouse that shaped Atlanta's growth. Sears, Roebuck and Co. built this massive structure in 1926. For decades, it served as their Southeastern…
The Krog Street Tunnel is a narrow railroad underpass on Atlanta's east side, carrying Krog Street beneath the rail corridor and linking the historic Inman Park and Reynoldstown neighborhoods with Cabbagetown. More than…
You're approaching Cabbagetown, a neighborhood that grew from the dust of hard work and the hum of machinery. In 1881, the Fulton Cotton Bag and Manufacturing Company, later known as Fulton Bag and Cotton Mills,…
The church where three generations of Kings preached and where Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral was held in 1968.
Escape the city bustle in Piedmont Park, a sprawling urban oasis with a rich history. This wasn't always a place for picnics and strolls; it once hosted world's fairs and grand expositions.Originally, this land belonged…
The Queen Anne-style house at 501 Auburn Avenue where Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929.
The house where MLK was born in 1929. Sweet Auburn neighborhood in Atlanta.
Pull over for a moment and consider this: you're surrounded by Atlanta's history, resting peacefully beneath these oak trees. This is Oakland Cemetery. Originally founded as Atlanta Cemetery in 1850 on just six acres,…
Pulling up on Oakland Cemetery, you're passing a spot loaded with complicated history, marked by that towering Confederate Obelisk. Dedicated in 1874, this monument was erected to honor Confederate soldiers buried here.…
Mary MacKenzie opened her tea room in Midtown Atlanta in 1945, one of 16 tea rooms in the city. She's the last one standing. Every table gets a pencil and pad to write your own order — a tradition from the postwar years…
Check out that building! It's a reminder that Atlanta's always been a city of firsts. That's the Piedmont Park Apartments, now known as Wilburn House, and it was designed by Leila Ross Wilburn. Wilburn was Georgia's…
Buckle up, because you're about to cruise through a piece of Atlanta history designed for drivers like you! Ansley Park was Atlanta's first 'automobile suburb.' In the early 1900s, developer Edwin Ansley envisioned a…
Pull over for a second and check out that building – it's the Fabulous Fox Theatre, a true Atlanta icon! Originally intended as a Shrine Temple with a Moorish design, plans shifted, and the Fox opened in 1929 as a…
Step back in time to the very place where one of the best-selling novels of all time began its journey. This is the Margaret Mitchell House, where the seeds of 'Gone With the Wind' were sown. Margaret Mitchell and her…
Get ready to step back in time and witness a pivotal moment in American history! The Atlanta Cyclorama once housed a massive, 360-degree painting depicting the Battle of Atlanta. The Battle of Atlanta took place on July…
Picture this: Atlanta's attempt to bring a little Parisian elegance to the South. That's the Georgian Terrace Hotel. Construction on this Beaux-Arts beauty started in 1910 and it officially opened its doors in 1911.…
Ever wonder what Atlanta looked like a century ago? The Ponce de Leon Apartments offer a glimpse into that past. Built in 1913 by the George A. Fuller Company, this building was designed by architect William Lee…
Believe it or not, this unassuming building was ground zero for Coca-Cola's global domination! Built in 1891, it was the Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company's headquarters and the place where Coke transitioned from a…
Ever wonder what it was like to live the high life in Atlanta during the roaring twenties? The Atlanta Biltmore Hotel and Biltmore Apartments offer a glimpse into that glamorous past. Developed by William Candler, son…
Check out that building! It looks like a castle in the middle of Midtown Atlanta. That's because it *is* called The Castle, or sometimes Fort Peace. It was built by Ferdinand McMillan, a successful agricultural…
Ever notice that beautiful, old church amidst the skyscrapers of downtown Atlanta? That's the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and it's got a great story. Back in 1880, a new parish, Saints Peter and Paul, was…
Pull over for a minute, because right here stands a silent witness to Atlanta's roaring past. The Imperial Hotel is one of the few survivors from the city's early 1900s construction boom. Back in 1910, this eight-story…
Check out that grand old building! The Medical Arts Building was once *the* place to go for cutting-edge healthcare in Atlanta. Designed by G. Lloyd Preacher, who also designed Atlanta City Hall, this Beaux-Arts beauty…
Imagine being here for the most glamorous movie premiere in history! Loew's Grand Theatre was the place to be in Atlanta for the 1939 premiere of *Gone With The Wind.* The Loew's Grand, originally DeGive's Grand Opera…
The world's largest drive-in restaurant since 1928. What'll ya have? Two miles from Georgia Tech.
See the vision of architect John Portman Jr. come to life in this iconic downtown Atlanta district. Beginning in the 1960s, Portman began developing Peachtree Center. He envisioned a city within a city, a modern complex…
Imagine a little slice of Baltimore dropped right here in Atlanta! That's Baltimore Block, a rare example of rowhouses more common up north. Back in 1885, a Baltimore native named Jacob Rosenthal built these eight…
Pull over for a second. This building, now the Ellis Hotel, has a dark history. It used to be the Winecoff Hotel, the site of one of the deadliest hotel fires in US history.On December 7th, 1946, a fire broke out in the…
Check out that building! It's the Candler Building, and it was essentially built by Coca-Cola money. Asa Griggs Candler, the Coca-Cola magnate, commissioned it. The Candler Building opened in 1906. At 17 stories, it was…
Check out that striking building! It's the Hurt Building, and it helped shape Atlanta's skyline as one of the city's earliest skyscrapers. Businessman Joel Hurt envisioned a modern business hub and commissioned the…
Did you know Atlanta has its own Flatiron Building? It predates the famous one in New York City! This wedge-shaped building at the intersection of Peachtree, Poplar, and Broad Streets played a key role in shaping…
Look up! That gothic-style skyscraper is the Healey Building, a monument to Atlanta's soaring ambitions just before World War I. William T. Healey commissioned the building in 1913. The original design called for two…
Ever wonder why downtown Atlanta's streets feel a little… off? It's all thanks to Fairlie-Poplar, the historic district we're approaching. Back in the late 1800s, Atlanta was booming as a railroad hub. Fairlie-Poplar…
Atlanta's story is one of unlikely resilience. Its location, high enough to give it a slightly milder climate than the surrounding lowlands, wasn't initially destined for greatness. The bedrock beneath the city, ancient…
Pulling up to the Georgia State Capitol, you're looking at more than just a building; you're seeing a symbol of a state forged through history. Construction on this impressive structure finished in 1889. The building…
Ever wonder where Atlanta's technological prowess took root? You're practically standing on it! This is the Georgia Tech Historic District, the heart of the school's original campus. It all started in 1885, when Georgia…
This unassuming church holds stories of division, occupation, and ultimately, resilience. Central Presbyterian Church was founded in 1858 after a split from First Presbyterian Church. During the Civil War, Atlanta was a…
This building whispers tales of retail dreams and Atlanta's growth. For decades, this was the heart of Rich's Department Store, a shopping mecca for generations of Atlantans. Morris Rich, along with his brothers, built…
You're looking at the heart of Georgia Tech, Tech Tower! This isn't just a pretty building; it's stood here since the very beginning. Back in 1888, they built this as the Academic Building, right next to the shop where…
Check out that building! It's a reminder of how much Atlanta's South Downtown has changed. The M.C. Kiser Company Building was built in 1923 as a shoe factory. For decades, it contributed to Atlanta's manufacturing…
Ever wonder what Atlanta travel was like before Hartsfield-Jackson? Check out Hotel Row, a block of buildings that whispers tales of a bygone era of train travel. Back in 1905, when Terminal Station opened nearby, this…
Welcome to Castleberry Hill, where Atlanta's gritty past meets its vibrant art scene. This isn't just another pretty neighborhood; it's a place forged in the fires of industry and transformed by the power of art. Once a…
Ever wonder how old warehouses find new life? Right here on Means Street, you're looking at a prime example. Back in 1869, this street was plotted and named for landowner Alexander Means. Soon after, warehouses sprung…
Pull over here, you've got to hear about this place! This elegant mansion is the Herndon Home, a testament to one man's incredible journey from slavery to millionaire. Alonzo Herndon, born into slavery in 1858, defied…
Pull over here for a minute; you’re looking at a place that helped shape the future of Black education in the South. This is Fountain Hall, the oldest building still standing from the early days of what is now Clark…
Prepare to be inspired! The Goat Farm Arts Center is more than just a collection of studios; it's a testament to Atlanta's artistic spirit, reborn from industrial roots. Originally constructed in the 1880s, the complex…
Ever wonder why Atlanta became such a major city? This spot holds a big clue. Howell Interlocking District marks the place where four major railroad lines came together, solidifying Atlanta's role as a vital…
You're driving through a neighborhood that rose from the ashes of war. Knight Park–Howell Station was almost completely wiped out during the Civil War. When Sherman marched to the sea in 1864, his troops destroyed…
Lakewood Heights tells a story of industry, community, and constant change. Established in the late 1800s, this area really took off in the 1920s and 1930s. It became a hub for both factories and homes, attracting a…
Pull over here for a minute – this unassuming house was once home to the creator of one of America's most enduring, and controversial, literary figures: Uncle Remus. From 1881 until his death in 1908, Joel Chandler…
The largest exposed granite monolith in North America, featuring a massive bas-relief carving of Confederate leaders begun in 1916 and completed in 1972.
From school to hotel to private home, this building has lived many lives. It's called The Seminary, and it stands right here in Lithonia. Built around 1895, it originally served as a schoolhouse, educating generations…
Imagine an invisible line stretching for miles, a silent testament to a pivotal moment in American history: Johnston's River Line. This wasn't just a line on a map; it was a desperate attempt to defend Atlanta during…
This quiet spot was once at the heart of a bustling community, and a site of minor Civil War skirmishes. Ruff's Mill, built in the 1840s, was more than just a gristmill. It was the center of local commerce, where…
Ever wonder what it was like to travel like a President? Here, you're near a piece of that history, a railcar known as The Superb. This luxurious Pullman car was built in 1911. It served as President Warren G. Harding's…
Imagine the whirring of machinery and the shouts of workers – this is Roswell Mill, once the largest cotton mill in North Georgia. It wasn't just a factory; it was a cornerstone of the region's economy. Founded around…
Pull over for a moment, you're about to discover the story of Barrington Hall, a silent witness to the birth of Roswell. It's more than just a beautiful old house; it's a window into the lives of the King family and the…
Pull over here for a second – this place is more than just a pretty house. It's where a future president's story began. This is Bulloch Hall, built in 1839. Martha Bulloch, nicknamed Mittie, grew up here. She was a…
Step back in time at this 1845 plantation home, built by one of Roswell's founders, and imagine life through three generations of the Smith family. The Archibald Smith Plantation Home was built by Archibald Smith, one…
Ever read *Gone With The Wind*? A lot of that story, although fictional, was set right here in Jonesboro. While the book isn't a history book, Jonesboro is a real place with real history. The Jonesboro Historic District…
Imagine stepping back in time to the Old South. This is Stately Oaks, built in 1839, a prime example of a Greek Revival antebellum mansion. It was originally known as the Robert McCord House, and it was the centerpiece…
Admire the Greek Revival architecture of this house, built in 1847-1851 and known by names like Bushy Park and Rocking Chair Hill. This is the Glover–McLeod–Garrison House. Entrepreneur John Heyward Glover had it built,…
Walk among heroes at Marietta National Cemetery, where rows of white headstones mark the final resting place for thousands who served our nation. Established in 1866, the cemetery primarily holds the remains of Union…
Pull over and check out this historic home, a testament to a man who served two very different nations. This is Brumby Hall. Built around 1851, Brumby Hall was the residence of Arnoldus Vanderhorst Brumby, a West Point…