You'd Never Know One Of The Most Incredible Wonders In Georgia Is Hiding In This History Museum
By Lisa Sammons|Published February 21, 2023
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Lisa Sammons
Author
Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
There are so many natural wonders in Georgia, that it’s easy to see why some of our man-made structures don’t get quite as much attention. Sure, things like the 1.9-mile Talmadge Memorial Bridge in Savannah are pretty incredible, but it’s up in the air as to whether or not it can compare to things like the 729-foot tall Amicalola Falls, or the magnificence of the mighty Okefenokee Swamp. Whether you prefer our architectural and artistic Peach State feats, or are more a fan of the natural beauty that surrounds us here, one Georgia sight that is absolutely spectacular in person is the Atlanta Cyclorama painting.
The Cyclorama was once located in Atlanta's Grant Park, but it's now on permanent display at the Atlanta History Center. The 33-acre center is one of the most impressive history museums in Georgia, and there's a lot to see here, but you don't want to miss the Cyclorama.
If you're unfamiliar with a cyclorama, it's an oversized circular painting that surrounds the viewer. It was essentially an early form of virtual reality, intended to make the viewer feel like they were inside the painting.
This particular cyclorama is one of only two in the United States. It is 49 feet tall and 358 feet long (about the size of a football field), with a weight of more than 10,000 pounds.
The Atlanta Cyclorama depicts the Battle of Atlanta during the Civil War. The battle was easily won by the Union Army, and Atlanta was nearly destroyed. The painting was designed to tour the Northern United States as a form of entertainment in a time before movie theaters and video games.
In 1891, the painting was purchased by the son of a Confederate veteran and moved to Atlanta. The painting's new owner made a few edits to make it look like the battle had been won by the Confederacy.
A group of Confederate prisoners of war were painted over to give them the appearance of defeated Union soldiers. In the 1930s, the painting was restored to its original appearance and the pro-Confederate edits were removed.
In 2014, when the Cyclorama was moved to its current home at the Atlanta History Center, extensive renovations were done to clean and restore it.
