Atlanta, Georgia is a cultural destination like no other. With some of the best museums in the Southeast, Atlanta is a great choice for those looking to explore art, history, and culture. Check out these top-rated museums that are favorites with travelers as well as Atlanta locals.
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The Best Museums in Atlanta
From Civil Rights and history museums to art and sports museums, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in Atlanta. Check out these top 10 museums in Atlanta, Georgia that you have to see.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights explores from the American Civil Rights Movement to today’s global human rights movements.
The museum features three permanent exhibits that include the papers and artifacts of Martin Luther King, Jr., the history of the U.S. civil rights movement, and stories from the struggle for human rights around the world.
Admission to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights costs $19.99 for adults, $17.99 for seniors, and $15.99 for children. Get discounted admission using the Atlanta CityPASS.
100 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Atlanta History Center
The best place to learn about the history of Atlanta is at the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead. This sprawling museum covers 33 acres and really needs a full day to be experienced in its entirety.
The museum features exhibits on Atlanta’s railroad history, Native American history in Georgia, Civil War history, historic homes from the area, and more. The History Center is also the new home of the cyclorama painting of The Battle of Atlanta.
Admission to the Atlanta History Center costs $24 for adults, $20 for students and seniors 65+, and $10 for children ages 4-12.
130 W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
World of Coca-Cola
World of Coca-Cola is a museum dedicated to Atlanta’s most famous beverage. Go through the history of Coca-Cola’s invention, the bottling process, try to crack the code of the secret formula, and more.
The best part of a visit to the World of Coca-Cola is the tasting room where you can try over 100 different Coca-Cola brand drinks from around the world.
Admission to the World of Coca-Cola costs $19 for adults, $17 for seniors, $15 for children aged 3 to 12, and free for toddlers 2 and under. Get discounted admission using the Atlanta CityPASS.
121 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is an interactive museum and hall of fame devoted to college football. It has a 45-yard indoor football field, more than 50 interactive exhibits, and a shrine to the best players and coaches of college football.
A visit to the museum includes time at the Indoor Playing Field, an examination of Why We Love College Football, an in-depth look at Game Day , an exploration of how legends become legendary, and a look at the inductees to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Admission to the College Football Hall of Fame costs $30.25 for adults, $23 for seniors and students; $22.75 for children aged 3 to 12, and free for children under 3 and military. Get discounted admission using the Atlanta CityPASS.
250 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
High Museum of Art
A visit to the High Museum of Art is a must for art-lovers in Atlanta. This highly-rated art museum has an impressive permanent collection with more than 18,000 pieces of art.
Explore African art, American art, decorative arts and design, European art, folk and self-taught art, modern and contemporary art, and photography. Budget a few hours to take in all the great art the High Museum has on display.
Admission to the High Museum of Art costs $16.50 per person and is free for children under 6.
1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
| Save on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS.
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum
The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum houses papers and other material relating to the Carter administration and the Carter family. This state-of-the-art museum dedicated to the life and works of the Georgia native sits inside a beautifully landscaped 35 acre park.
The museum holds interactive exhibits covering the former President’s life before, during, and after his time in office. You’ll see a life-sized replica of the Oval Office as well as Carter’s Nobel Peace Prize on display.
Admission to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum costs $12 for adults; $10 for seniors, military, and college students; and free for children 16 and under.
441 John Lewis Freedom Pkwy NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30307
Michael C. Carlos Museum
The Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University has the largest ancient art collection in the Southeast. It’s also one of the oldest museums in Georgia with a collection that dates back to 1876.
Their permanent collections contain more than 16,000 works of art. Exhibits include artworks from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Africa, the Near East, and the Americas as well as a collection of works on paper from the Renaissance to the present day.
Admission to the Michael C. Carlos Museum costs $8 for adults; $6 for seniors, students, and children aged 6-17; and free for Emory University students, faculty, and staff with their Emory ID and children under 5. You can rent an audio guide to the exhibits for an additional $2.
571 South Kilgo Cir NE, Atlanta, GA 30322
Center For Puppetry Arts
The Center for Puppetry Arts is one of the most unique museums in Atlanta. It’s the largest organization dedicated to the art form of puppetry in the United States and is one of the few puppet museums in the world.
An experience unlike any other, this museum wants you to rethink everything you know about puppets and puppeteers. The museum presents puppets from various time periods and countries around the world. Their collection includes puppets from the film The Dark Crystal, The Lion King Broadway show, The Muppets, and more.
Admission to the Center for Puppetry Arts for the All-In-One Ticket (the museums, a show, and create a puppet) varies by show, but typically costs around $22 per person; for the Museum Only Ticket costs $16 per person; and a museum guided tour, when available, costs $6.50 per person.
1404 Spring St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
Delta Flight Museum
The Delta Flight Museum is an aviation museum dedicated to Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines. The museum is housed in two 1940s-era aircraft hangars at Delta’s headquarters near the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The museum’s exhibits highlight aircraft and artifacts from Delta and other airlines, exploring aviation history and technology. There are 12 restored aircraft, including the only Waco 125 propeller plane in existence and the historic Boeing 767, The Spirit of Delta.
Admission to the Delta Flight Museum costs $15 for adults, $12.50 for seniors, $10 for children ages 5-17, and free for children 4 and under.
1060 Delta Blvd, Hapeville, GA 30354
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
Learn all about the leader of the modern Civil Rights Movement by visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. This historic site contains MLK’s childhood home and the original Ebenezer Baptist Church where he was a pastor.
The visitor center also contains a museum of the American Civil Rights Movement; an 1894 firehouse, staffed by park volunteers, explores the desegregation of the Atlanta Fire Department; and the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame commemorates the pioneers of the movement.
Admission to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park is free.
450 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312
Where to Stay in Atlanta
Find the perfect place to rest your head on your visit to Atlanta, from the top rated accommodations to unique stays you can’t get anywhere else.
- Top Hotel: The Candler Hotel
- Great Value: Hampton Inn & Suites Perimeter Dunwoody
- Unique Stay: Stonehurst Place
Craving More Atlanta Activities?
If you need more things to do while visiting Atlanta, check out these top posts:
- 75+ Free and Budget Things To Do in Atlanta, Georgia
- Top 15 Atlanta Sightseeing Tours
- 14 Romantic Things To Do for Couples in Atlanta, Georgia
- A Weekend in Atlanta with the Atlanta CityPASS: Itinerary
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.
- Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Atlanta using Booking.com.
- Save on Attractions: Save 44% on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS.
Cheers!
Paige
What are your favorite museums in Atlanta, Georgia? Let me know in the comments!
All these museums seem amazing, specially the Delta and Coca Cola Museums. Thank you.
The World of Coca-Cola is my favorite!
I hope I can go there someday ☺️
I hope you can, too!
The Delta flight museum looks fascinating! I had no idea there were so many good options in Atlanta.
The Delta Flight Museum is such a cool place!
Thanks for sharing this list! Atlanta is only about 4hrs away for us so we will have to visit some of these.
Atlanta makes for a great day trip or weekend trip!
Wow I had no idea there was a Coca Cola museum in Atlanta I would definitely want to go there. I also really want to visit the History Centre and the Delta Flight Museum. They look so interesting.
The Atlanta History Center is so great, it does take an entire day to go through, though, so you really have to commit to it!
Great post. Hope visit soon! 🙂
Yes, definitely plan a trip to Atlanta soon!
I never knew that Atlanta had so many museums. My other half would love the coca cola one; he would love to try the different varieties. My choice would be the Michael Carlos Museum, it sounds so fascinating.
I love the World of Coca-Cola too, but I’m obsessed with all things Coke 😉
I’ve been to all of these except for the Michael C Carlos Museum. Thanks for letting me know about that one!
So glad I could introduce you to a new museum!