Best known to many as President Snow’s mansion in The Hunger Games, the Swan House is just one piece of the 33-acre Atlanta History Center—a deep dive into the city’s past through immersive exhibits, historic homes, and sprawling gardens.

Founded in 1926 as the Atlanta Historical Society, the center began as an archival research organization and has since expanded to include Goizueta Gardens, four preserved homes, and the Atlanta History Museum, which features a range of signature and rotating exhibitions.

Inside the museum, the Cyclorama is a standout attraction. This massive 360-degree painting of the Battle of Atlanta was once the largest oil painting in the world. Restored with cinematic lighting and narration, it surrounds visitors with towering soldiers and cannon fire, immersing them in a turning point of the Civil War. Other exhibits cover everything from Indigenous history to the 1996 Olympics, showcasing rare artifacts and personal narratives.

Beyond the museum, history takes shape in the Smith Family Farm, an authentic 1860s homestead with heritage livestock, a working garden, and live demonstrations. The center’s curated gardens and wooded trails offer a peaceful contrast to the deep dive into history.

As a member of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, the center ensures that Atlanta’s past isn’t just preserved—it remains part of today’s conversations on human rights and social change.