5 Fun Atlanta Facts
Here at Roundabout Atlanta, we love to share the local history that makes Georgia’s capital one of the best places to visit and live. With a population of six million, it’s no secret that ATL offers something for everyone. Our tours cover the city’s black history & civil rights, Stone Mountain Park, and Atlanta’s thriving Downtown. Roundabout is excited to share our wealth of local knowledge with you. Before you join us, enjoy our list of 5 fun Atlanta facts, they’re sure to draw you in!
1. The ATL airport houses art exhibits.
Most of us know that the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world, but did you know that the airport houses rotating and permanent art exhibits? Check out the Atlanta history exhibit located between terminals B and C next time you’re waiting on departure. And don’t forget to schedule your stress-free shuttle to and from the airport with Roundabout Atlanta!
2. The fastest baseball game in history was played in Atlanta.
The average major league baseball game lasts just under three hours. However, on September 17, 1910, at Ponce de Leon Park, Alabama’s minor league Mobile Sea Gulls beat the Atlanta Crackers 2-1 in just 32 minutes! The game was the season finale for both teams, and no one is sure exactly what prompted such a quick event. Prior to this, the shortest recorded game lasted 44 minutes, played by Atlanta and the Shreveport Pirates on September 24, 1904. If you’re a sports fan then you should check out our Top Atlanta Sports Podcasts of 2022.
3. Georgia’s State Capitol glistens with 43 ounces of gold.
The Georgia State Capitol building is gilded with 43 ounces of locally-mined gold. Completed on March 20, 1889, lawmakers appropriated $1 million for the building and stipulated that the capitol “shall be built of granite rock and marble, and that all the materials used in the construction of said building shall be those found and procured within the State of Georgia.” It wasn’t until 1957 when architect A. Thomas Bradbury proposed that the original tin dome be replaced with Georgia gold, and boy does it shine! Unfortunately, the dome has had to be regilded and requires continuous maintenance due to the vulnerability of gold to wind, rain and heat. It’s still one of the most identifiable features of the Atlanta skyline.
4. Atlanta has been teaching ballet for close to 100 years!
Founded in 1929 by dancer Dorothy Moses Alexander, Atlanta Ballet was the nation’s first regional ballet company. Now it holds the title of the longest continuously performing ballet company in the United States, employing 25 professional dancers. In 1946, the then-named Atlanta Civic Ballet, made history by becoming the first dance company to help fund a symphony by donating to the Atlanta Youth Symphony, now known as the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Check out one of Atlanta Ballet’s classic or contemporary performances while you’re here, as mentioned in our Things to Do in Fall: Atlanta Guidebook blog.
5. Atlanta hosts the largest multi-media and pop culture event.
Pull out your cosplay best and get ready for a Labor Day weekend celebration with this fun Atlanta fact. It all started in the fall of 1987 when Pat Henry, David Cody, John Bunnell and Robert Dennis each chipped in $300 to create a then unheard of multimedia convention they called Dragon Con. They wanted to combine gaming, science fiction and rock ‘n’ roll, all in one event. Since then, it has become an overwhelming success, bringing fans and celebrities from all over the world, like William Shatner and David Tennant, to Dragon Con. Seriously, the costume contests are out of this world!
At Roundabout we want to share more interesting facts about Atlanta, Georgia. That’s why we’ve been offering unforgettable tours like our City Lights and Customized Group Tours since 2011. Join us as we showcase the best of the A City!