If you were to choose a single object or idea to represent the city of Atlanta, what would it be? Two years ago, the Atlanta History Center posed this question to visitors, school groups, and the general public, inviting the community to help curate its exhibition Atlanta in 50 Objects. “They sometimes know the story better than we ever could,” says cocurator Don Rooney. More than 300 suggestions were submitted, which History Center staff whittled to 50—some profound, some kitschy, and all on display through December 31. Here, six items from the time capsule–like exhibition.
High Style
Purse included with the Delta stewardess uniforms from 1969
The real thing
Coca-Cola bottle and its original hobble-skirted mold, circa 1915
She slay
Michonne’s katana from The Walking Dead
“What’ll ya have?”
Reproduction of the Varsity’s Combo Meal No. 1, on a car hop tray
World Champs
Braves’ 1995 World Series ring
Gone Girl
First edition of Gone with the Wind
Photographs by Caroline C. Kilgore
This article originally appeared in our December 2016 issue.
