History Afoot Atlanta Review: South Downtown Walking Tour

Atlanta has torn down a lot of its old buildings over the years, but South Downtown is a rare glimpse at how the city used to be. Instead of high rises, the neighborhood has old storefronts and early 1900s buildings with stories about Atlanta’s first shopping district, Civil Rights history, and the people who helped shape the city.

We took History Afoot Atlanta’s South Downtown walking tour to explore the neighborhood more closely, and we ended up hearing stories we’d never heard before. We wandered through Hotel Row, traced the area’s retail history, and learned how South Downtown is being revitalized without losing its historic character.

If you’re thinking about booking the History Afoot Atlanta South Downtown tour, here’s what the experience is like, what stood out to me, and whether I think it’s worth it.

A special thanks to History Afoot Atlanta for hosting us on their South Downtown walking tour! As always, all opinions are my own.

What Is History Afoot Atlanta?

History Afoot Atlanta is a female-owned walking tour company that brings Atlanta’s history to life through stories about the people, neighborhoods, and events that shaped the city.

The company offers guided tours of Downtown, Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, the Beltline, and Ponce City Market. Their tours explore everything from Atlanta’s early development to its Civil Rights history, connecting the city’s past with the places you see today.

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My Experience on the South Downtown Walking Tour

I took the Explore South Downtown Past and Present tour because I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn more about one of Atlanta’s oldest neighborhoods.

I’ve lived in Atlanta for years and even written a book about the city’s history, but South Downtown was an area I hadn’t explored much. While much of Downtown’s historic architecture has been demolished to make room for modern developments, South Downtown still has entire blocks of early 1900s buildings, and I’m really interested in old architecture.

I’ve explored plenty of historic places around Atlanta, but this tour introduced me to buildings and stories I hadn’t heard before. Here’s what we discovered along the way.

Discovering South Downtown’s Historic Buildings

We met our guide, Lisa, at Atlanta Tech Village – Sylvan inside of Hotel Row.

Since we were the only ones on the tour that day, we had a little bit of flexibility in where we went, so Lisa showed us inside the Atlanta Tech Village space, which has converted the old hotel rooms into office space for start-ups. It was really interesting to see how they combined the old with the new.

Most of the walking tour was outside, though, so we took to the streets of South Downtown. We learned about Hotel Row and all the hotels that were built here to service travelers coming into the now demolished Terminal Station.

We walked around the block, looking at the architecture of these historic buildings that have managed to survive modernization and listening to stories of the different communities that made South Downtown their home in the early 20th century.

Lisa had pictures to show us what has changed on the buildings’ facades and stories about renovations to the interiors for some of the buildings without sacrificing their historic charm.

Learning About Atlanta’s Early Shopping District

As we made our way through South Downtown, we got into its history as Atlanta’s early shopping district. For decades, starting in the 1850s, this area was a bustling retail hub.

This railroad-centered commercial district stretched along Mitchell Street, Broad Street, Forsyth Street, and Peachtree Street.

Department stores like Rich’s got their start here and were booming through the mid-1900s. We learned about the many department stores, pharmacies, shoe companies, and wholesalers that were the hub of the city’s shopping district.

Exploring Atlanta’s Civil Rights History

South Downtown also played a role in the Civil Rights Movement, with a few locations connected to this history that are easy to overlook.

There were protests, marches, and lunch counter sit-ins in this area, even at the restaurant inside Rich’s Department Store.

We also learned about an unlikely connection to Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral — the wagon that MLK’s coffin was carried in for his funeral procession was borrowed from a storefront in South Downtown (without the owner’s knowledge) and then returned without a word a few days later.

Seeing the Future of South Downtown

We also learned about the efforts underway to revitalize South Downtown and give its historic buildings new life.

At the start of the tour, we saw the offices of Atlanta Tech Village. That company is the one responsible for revitalizing much of South Downtown. Their vision is to turn the neighborhood into a thriving community with new businesses, restaurants, residential spaces, and technology companies, all while preserving the architecture that makes this part of Atlanta unique.

We ended the tour at another Atlanta Tech Village office with a miniature model of South Downtown, showing just how much of the neighborhood they’re working on revitalizing.

After our tour, Kevin and I had lunch at El Tesoro, one of the new restaurants calling South Downtown home. It was a delicious way to end our tour.

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What I Liked About the History Afoot Atlanta Tour

There was a lot to love about History Afoot Atlanta’s Explore South Downtown Past and Present walking tour, especially as someone who’s lived in Atlanta for years and enjoys learning about the city’s history. Here are a few things that stood out to me:

• Discovering a different side of Atlanta: I’ve spent plenty of time exploring Atlanta’s historic neighborhoods, but South Downtown was an area I knew surprisingly little about. I loved getting to see an older side of the city that’s so different from the modern skyscrapers and developments that dominate much of Downtown today.
• The storytelling: Lisa did an excellent job connecting the buildings we passed to the people and events that shaped Atlanta. I especially liked that she brought along historic photographs so we could compare what the streets and buildings looked like decades ago to what we were seeing in person. It made the history much easier to visualize.
• The variety of history: We covered a lot more than just architecture! I enjoyed learning about Atlanta’s early shopping district, the businesses and communities that once filled these streets, lesser-known Civil Rights stories, and the plans to revitalize the neighborhood. The mix of past and present kept the tour interesting throughout.
• The relaxed walking pace: Most of the tour took place within a few blocks of South Downtown, so we weren’t rushing around trying to cover a huge area. We had plenty of time to stop, look at the buildings, and hear Lisa’s stories.

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Who Is This Tour For?

I’d recommend the History Afoot Atlanta South Downtown walking tour for anyone interested in learning more about the city’s history, whether you’re visiting Atlanta for the first time or have lived here for years.

This tour is especially good for:

• Atlanta locals: Even if you’ve lived here for years, there’s a good chance you’ll discover something new about the city. I certainly did!
• History buffs: If you enjoy learning about the people and events that shaped a destination, you’ll love the stories about Atlanta’s early businesses, communities, and Civil Rights history.
• Architecture enthusiasts: You’ll get an up-close look at some of Downtown Atlanta’s surviving early 20th-century buildings and learn how they’re being preserved and restored.
• First-time visitors: This tour introduces you to a part of Atlanta that you probably wouldn’t explore on your own, especially if your sightseeing plans focus on the city’s major attractions.
• Couples looking for a unique date idea: Kevin and I enjoyed exploring the neighborhood together, and you can easily turn the tour into a date by grabbing lunch or dinner at one of South Downtown’s restaurants afterward.

That said, this tour is very history-focused. If you’re more interested in seeing Atlanta’s famous attractions like the Georgia Aquarium or World of Coca-Cola, you might prefer a general sightseeing tour that covers more of the city.

Most of the experience also takes place outdoors, so you’ll need to be comfortable walking and standing outside for the duration of the tour, especially if you’re taking the tour in the heat of summer like we did.

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What to Know Before Booking the South Downtown Walking Tour

Is the History Afoot Atlanta South Downtown Tour Worth It?

Absolutely! The History Afoot Atlanta South Downtown walking tour gave me a new appreciation for a neighborhood I’d previously overlooked. Lisa was knowledgeable, the stories were fascinating, and I came away wanting to explore more of South Downtown.

If you’re interested in seeing a different side of Atlanta, I’d recommend adding this tour to your itinerary.

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Ready to visit Atlanta, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Atlanta to help plan your trip!
• Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
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• Save on Attractions: Save 50% on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS.

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Cheers!

Paige

Have you taken a tour with History Afoot Atlanta? Let me know in the comments!