The Georgia State Capitol has been the seat of state government since 1889 and is classed as a National Historic Landmark. The governor, secretary of state, the General Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate all work from here. Visitors to the Georgia State Capitol may tour the building and browse the Georgia State Museum.
The Capitol was built on the former site of, and with the old bricks from, the late 19th-century Fulton County Courthouse and Atlanta City Hall. Because Atlanta was a major transportation center and commercial hub for the southeast, it was a logical choice for the new capital.
The white building in neo-classical renaissance revival style faces Downtown Atlanta from Capitol Square. As you approach the building, notice the Statue of Freedom with her sword and raised lantern on the top of the gilded dome.
Inside, sweeping marble staircases, glittering chandeliers, decorated wall panels, and tall columns and stairwell galleries add to the grandeur of the building.
See who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 in the Capitol’s Hall of Fame under the rotunda. Among the other marble busts in the hall are the local author Margaret Mitchell, who wrote the epic novel Gone with the Wind and Juliette Low, the founder of the US Girl Scouts.
Head up to the fourth floor to browse the Georgia State Museum with its dioramas about the local natural history, historic flags and local artworks.
Before you leave, walk around the Capitol building to find the bronze statues of past state leaders among the native Georgia oaks, elms and magnolias. Both the Confederate Governor Joe Brown and the African American local pastor and civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. have been given a statue here. Another one is former President Jimmy Carter who started out as a Senator here.
The Georgia State Capitol is closed on weekends and holidays. Enter via Washington Street or Mitchell Street. Adults must show photo ID. Guided group tours and self-guided tours with an app are offered for free. Parking is available for a fee on the surrounding streets or in underground garages near the Capitol. There is a gift shop across the street.
