Atlanta: City in a Forest

A City in a Forest

Atlanta serves as both the capital and the largest city in the state of Georgia. Because it has so many oak, pine, and magnolia trees, people often call it the City in a Forest. In the eighteen hundreds, new railroads turned the small town into a busy center for trade. Today, one of the busiest airports on Earth sits just south of downtown Atlanta. The city is also known worldwide as the home of a famous soda brand.

Civil Rights and Olympic Park

Atlanta played a leading role in the fight for civil rights across the United States. Because Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. grew up in the city, visitors can still tour his childhood home and church. Downtown, Centennial Olympic Park still honors the 1996 Summer Olympic Games held in the city. Nearby, the massive Georgia Aquarium lets visitors watch giant whale sharks glide slowly past thick glass walls. Beluga whales and countless colorful fish also share these enormous man-made ocean tanks.

Falcons Football and Rise Up

Inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, thousands of fans cheer loudly for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. Because the roof can open and close like a camera lens, fans enjoy games no matter the weather. A massive video screen circles the entire inside of the stadium, showing replays to every seat. Dressed head to toe in red and black, fans transform the stands into a wall of color. Before kickoff, the crowd erupts into the thunderous Rise Up cheer, uniting fans across the state.