History and Science Museums in Atlanta

Explore the topics of history, science and more at these museums

Childrens Museum Atlanta
Photo credit: Courtesy of Children's Museum of Atlanta

Check out this list of Atlanta museums where you can learn about natural history, and science in addition to Atlanta’s Civil War history:

African-American Panoramic Experience features permanent exhibits depicting history from the perspective of African-Americans. Includes a replica of the Yates and Milton Drug Store, one of Atlanta’s first black-owned businesses, and other artifacts, photographs and multimedia presentations on the Af... | more...

Founded in 1926, the center includes the Atlanta History Museum featuring signature and traveling exhibitions, the Smith Family Farm, the 1928 Swan House mansion, research archives/special libraries, and 22 acres of gardens. | more...

Housed in Delta’s two 1940s aircraft hangers. Includes Ship 41, the first Douglas DC-3 to carry Delta passengers in 1940; the Spirit of Delta, Delta’s first Boeing 767; and a replica of the first Delta station in Monroe, La., in 1929. The 747 Experience, the most recent addition to the Delta Flight ... | more...

Offers free, self-guided tours of the Monetary Museum and Visitors Center.


The museum features a display on the history of money; interactive, multimedia exhibits explaining the Federal Reserve’s role in the economy; and a view of the bank’s automated vault and cash processing areas. In addition, ... | more...

The Marietta ‘Gone with the Wind’ Museum at historic Brumby Hall is a walk back in time. A refreshing must-see stop for all fans of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and Academy Award-winning movie. The museum is often mentioned as one of the top stops for tourists wanting to explore the South’s ant... | more...

Originally built in the 1830s, this historic building was first used as a finishing school for the county’s young women, the Lawrenceville Female Seminary. After being destroyed by fire, it was reconstructed in 1855 and was later converted into a ‘civic center’ for community activities, and at one t... | more...

Although born into slavery, Alonzo Herndon became a barbershop mogul and the richest black man in Atlanta by the early years of the 20th century. His mansion is available for tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. | more...

Features firefighting techniques and equipment from the 1800s to the present. Highlights include the “Aurora,” a 139-year-old horse-drawn Silsby Steamer pumper. | more...

A small museum on the second floor of an 1845 building that houses exhibits on subjects as varied as the Dahlonega gold rush, the famous Union attempt to steal a Confederate locomotive, and growth of the Bell Bomber Plant, now part of Lockheed/Martin. | more...

The Millennium Gate is a classically-styled monumental arch located inside Atlantic Station in Midtown Atlanta, historically called “The Gate City.” The Gate houses a 12,000-square-foot museum that narrates Georgia’s and Atlanta’s history through interactive technology, as well as film, period rooms... | more...

From modest beginnings in a single rented room to a state-of-the-art 50,000-square foot facility on a 14-acre campus, the Museum of Arts and Sciences (MAS) represents more than a half-century of community investment in education. Its founders – educators and civic leaders – had a vision: to create a... | more...

The Museum of History and Holocaust Education comprises one division within the Kennesaw State University Department of Museums, Archives & Rare Books (MARB). Formed in 2010, the Dept. of Museums, Archives and Rare Books is under the executive leadership of Dr. Catherine Lewis, professor of history ... | more...

This museum features two trains in the exhibit hall, more than 70 pieces of retired railway rolling stock, and train rides aboard restored cabooses. | more...

The Southern Museum opened in 1972 as the Big Shanty Museum in Kennesaw, Georgia. It showcased the famous General locomotive and was dedicated to telling the story of the April 12, 1862 “Great Locomotive Chase,” an event that briefly elevated the engine and the City of Kennesaw to prominence during ... | more...

CL: Extensive documents and profiles record Atlanta’s Jewish history, making the museum the largest of its kind in the Southeast. Particularly notable for special exhibits that emphasize the value of tolerance and diversity.
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The Youth Museum is a non-profit educational center offering imaginative tours for elementary and middle school classes. Located in a natural setting, the Youth Museum’s property is adjacent to the Cheatham Hill area of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, three miles west of the Marietta Sq... | more...

You heard right, we said, “Waffle House Museum.” In 1955, neighbors Joe Roger Sr. and Tom Forkner embarked on a plan to smother and cover the world (or at least Avondale Estates) with 24-hour dining. More than 50 years and 1,600 restaurants later, the chain’s original location still stands as a test... | more...

Visit one of the oldest homes in the Atlanta area and experience life for a middle class family living in antebellum Georgia. Home to the Root family from 1845 to 1886, the Root House is more typical of its time and place than the grand plantations and columned mansions popularized by Gone With the ... | more...