Welcome to Atlantic Station: A Look into the Past

Welcome to Atlantic Station, in downtown Atlanta. Why wouldn’t you want to tour a place as wonderful as this? Here at Atlantic Station we take pride in honoring those before us; those that have given their lives so we can build a place as lavishly as this. According to the theory toolbox, “History is a record of things that have happened, an archive of the past’s most important and pivotal events.” (95) However, most events in history are either overlooked or altered to prevent the truth from being exposed; but here at Atlantic Station, we embrace our history. Many disregard the fact that we have such a rich historical background because of what we are made up of today; shopping centers, homes, restaurants and wonderful tourist events. We even received the EPA’s 2004 Phoenix award as the Best Nation Brownfield Redevelopment, as well as the Sierra Club’s 2005 America’s Best New Development Projects listing. However, there was a time when turmoil lurked the streets and riots that lasted for days left a bitter taste in people’s mouth whenever they spoke of it.


The year was 1906 when what is known today as The Atlanta Race Riot, broke out in the streets of Downtown Atlanta. The riot lasted several days and left approximately 40 African Americans dead. How did something so treacherous take place behind the beautiful, clear glass frames of Atlantic Station? The riot began the morning of September 22nd, 1906, when competition for employment between African Americans and white Americans started to fuse. During that time, after the civil war, the famous election between Hoke Smith and Clark Howell was going on. Each candidate feared the black vote will result in the others win of the election. Suspiciously, a faulty news report was printed stating that four white women were assaulted. This resulted in a mob of over 10,000 white men. For five days they beat, stabbed, shot and harassed African Americans.
However, we have not forgotten the bloodshed that erupted in the Metro-Atlanta area. It has been over one hundred years since the riot and we still have a memorial service for those who have lost their lives in the riot of 1906. The mission of those in charge of the memorial service is to promote awareness. It is important to know your history. This event is overlooked whenever students are taught about the post civil war era.


Nonetheless, the history of Atlantic Station is not all bad. The riots and bloodshed that flooded the city was mildly suppressed by one of the biggest manufactures to the South. In 1901 the construction of the Atlantic Steel Mill began. The Atlantic Steel Mill, however, supplied the south over fifty years. They provided nails, barbed wire, plough shears and galvanized steel. Approximately fifty years after the Atlanta Race Riot of 1906, The Atlantic Steel Mill provided over 2,300 people with jobs. However, due to heavy competition The Atlantic Steel Mill quickly decreased its number of employees tremendously. By 1997 the number of employees that worked at The Atlantic Steel Mill averaged to about 400 people. When the Steel Mill closed in 1998, the city faced a lot of problems. One of the main issues was there were soil and water contamination due to the Steel being open for over 100 years. Contrary to what most believe, the land you stand on is relatively new. Atlantic Station did not open for redevelopment until the year 2005. It took approximately 250 million dollars to clean-up the remains of Steel Mill and to build present day Atlantic Station. Suspiciously, in 2005 an unknown fire erupted, during the day, and destroyed a large wood frame residential building. It was ruled arson and was under investigation. At least five million dollars worth of damage was done to the building including damages to near-by buildings and eighteen parked cars.


The history of Atlantic Station truly shocks most. Come take a tour of this historical landmark where riots erupted and mysterious fires spewed. Gain some knowledge of the area and learn what textbooks won’t teach you. There will be plenty to do here at Atlantic Station. Visit us, we promise you won’t regret a thing.



-- Janiqwa Worsley