Buckhead has plenty of places to shop and dine, but one of its most distinctive outings is a 33 acre campus where you can walk through a historic mansion, wander woodland trails and see a 19th century cyclorama. The Atlanta History Center's Buckhead campus is the kind of place residents bring visiting family, and it is also the kind of place that rewards a local who has lived nearby for years and never gone in. This guide explains what is on the campus, what admission costs, and how to plan a visit, using the center's own pages.
The hours, prices and details below were read on the center's official pages while writing this guide. They can change, so confirm them before you go.
What Is on the Atlanta History Center Campus?
The center's Buckhead page lists the address as 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30305, with free onsite parking, and describes the site as a 33 acre experience. The page lists the Swan House, the Cyclorama exhibition The Big Picture, Goizueta Gardens, Smith Farm, a 5,000 square foot Goizueta Children's Experience, the Kenan Research Center and a historic Wood Cabin. It also lists a Food and Coffee section and a Museum Shop.
Hours
The campus is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 4pm, and the historic houses open at 11am. Check the page before you go, since schedules can change for events and seasons.
Admission
General admission for adults ages 13 and up is 31 dollars on weekdays and 35 dollars on weekends. Youth tickets for ages 4 to 12 are 27 dollars on weekdays and 31 dollars on weekends. Children ages 0 to 3 are free, as are members. The page notes that buying online saves 2 dollars per ticket, and that military personnel receive 6 dollars off for themselves plus one guest with a valid military ID. Because a weekday visit costs 4 dollars less per adult ticket than a weekend visit, it is the more economical choice if your schedule allows.
What Is Swan House?
The Swan House page says the house was designed in 1928 by Philip Trammell Shutze for Edward and Emily Inman, who moved in that year. Shutze adapted Italian and English classical styles, and many consider it his finest residential work. The page dates the gardens to 1926 through 1928 and says the house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
How it became a museum
According to the page, the Atlanta Historical Society bought the home and most of its original furnishings in 1966, and it opened to the public in 1967 as a house museum and as the society's headquarters. The furnishings range from 18th century antiques to 20th century objects. A 5.4 million dollar restoration of the house and its furnishings was completed in 2004.
For design fans
The page also mentions a collection of Shutze architectural drawings, 638 sets, 497 of them digitized, and two exhibitions: Mandarin Shutze, A Chinese Export Life, and The Road to Good Taste, The Design Life of Ruby Ross Wood.
What Is There to See in Goizueta Gardens?
The Goizueta Gardens page describes a 33 acre landscape with nine distinct gardens, preserved woodland, plant collections and heritage breed animals.
Quarry Garden
The Quarry Garden is described as a native garden with herbal medicinal plants, the mysterious lost camellia and quiet waterfalls, and the page says it holds Georgia's largest native plant collection in one place, 25 feet down.
Swan Woods
Visitors can walk through a forest along the Swan Woods Trail and explore freely around the cabin. It is a good choice if you want a quieter stretch after the house.
Swan House Gardens and Entrance Gardens
The Swan House Gardens were designed by Shutze, and the Entrance Gardens are described as the newest additions to the campus, spanning eight acres and featuring a 60 foot Tree Table. Olguita's Garden honors Olga Goizueta and is designed for flowering and fragrant plants.
Other gardens
The page also lists Smith Farm Gardens, a Rhododendron Garden, an Asian Garden and Veterans Park. Every Saturday at 2pm, a heritage breed animal takes a weekly stroll across campus, which is a small detail families tend to enjoy.
How Do You Plan a Visit?
Because the campus is large, the best visits have a shape. A few ideas follow.
A house and garden morning
Arrive when the grounds open at 9am, walk the gardens first and visit Swan House when the historic houses open at 11am. Weekday mornings are a gentle way to see the campus.
A family day
The Goizueta Children's Experience, Smith Farm and the Saturday animal stroll give a household with children a plan. Pair them with a snack from the Food and Coffee section and a walk on the Swan Woods Trail.
A history afternoon
The Cyclorama exhibition, The Big Picture, is listed on the campus page, as is the Kenan Research Center, which the center describes as preserving extensive primary source holdings for the study of Atlanta. A day with a history focus can combine the exhibition with the research center's page and Swan House.
Pace yourself
With the campus open from 9am to 4pm, there are seven hours in the day, and the historic houses open at 11am, which leaves five hours after the houses open. A full visit does not need to include everything. Choose two or three anchors, such as Swan House, a garden walk and a meal, and let the rest wait for another day. Because the campus offers free onsite parking and a large amount of outdoor space, a slow visit costs little extra.
Beyond Buckhead
The center also operates a Midtown site at the Margaret Mitchell House, at the corner of 10th Street and Peachtree Street, where the writer wrote Gone With the Wind. The center's visit page lists both locations as open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 4pm, and members receive complimentary access to everything the center has to offer.
Who Is the Campus For?
The center's pages describe offerings for several kinds of visitors, which is part of why the campus works for repeat trips.
Families
The Goizueta Children's Experience is described as a 5,000 square foot space where children explore the city through play, exploration and storytelling. The campus page lists Smith Farm under activities for families, and the Saturday animal stroll adds a weekly reason to visit.
Garden and history enthusiasts
For adults who enjoy gardens or architecture, the Swan House, the nine gardens and the Shutze drawings are the draw. The campus page lists the Cyclorama, which the center's visit page describes as a 19th century cyclorama, alongside award winning exhibitions.
Researchers and curious locals
The Kenan Research Center is described as preserving extensive primary source holdings for the study of Atlanta. If you have ever wondered about a particular part of town, it is the center's resource for that kind of question.
Groups and events
The visit page says groups of ten or more get discounted admission, and that private events can be held at seven indoor and outdoor venues. Tickets can also be bought online to skip the line, and the campus page says buying online saves 2 dollars per ticket.
What Does a Campus Like This Say About Buckhead?
Buckhead is known for its shopping and dining, but a 33 acre history campus with gardens, woodland and a historic house adds another side. It is a place for a slow morning, a day off or a visit with out-of-town guests, and it sits on West Paces Ferry Road, one of the area's best known streets.
Living near the things you enjoy
People who live in Buckhead often describe the neighborhood in terms of the places they use: a park, a garden, a favorite restaurant, a museum. If a place like this is on your list, a conversation with an agent can help you picture which parts of Buckhead and the areas around it are close to it.
Atlanta History Center FAQ
Where is the Buckhead campus?
130 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30305, with free onsite parking.
What are the hours?
Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 4pm, with the historic houses opening at 11am.
How much is admission?
Adults ages 13 and up are 31 dollars on weekdays and 35 dollars on weekends. Youth ages 4 to 12 are 27 dollars on weekdays and 31 dollars on weekends, and children ages 0 to 3 are free.
Are there gardens to walk through?
Yes. Goizueta Gardens covers 33 acres with nine distinct gardens, and Swan Woods has a forest trail.
Conclusion
The Atlanta History Center in Buckhead combines a mansion, a set of gardens, a farm and a research center on one campus. Choose a morning, watch for the opening times and enjoy a place that is easy to take for granted. If you would like to talk about living in Buckhead and the neighborhoods close to it, The Agency Atlanta would welcome a conversation.
