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Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Grant Park
800 Cherokee Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30315
(404) 658-7625
800 Cherokee Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30315
(404) 658-7625
- Hours:
Tue-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
6 reviews for Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum
I had heard a lot of buzz about the Cyclorama at the start of my tenure in Atlanta, but I really thought it was some event involving bicycles (to be fair, I moved to Atlanta right around the time of CORNDOGORAMA). When I was informed no, it has nothing to do with bicycles, it's a giant rotating civil war diorama, I was all in. I mean, that's just weird. In a good way.
You should know that there are viewings of the Cyclorama at various times of day. We had just missed one, so we had to wait almost 40 minutes for ours. There are some things to look at in the waiting area, but not a whole lot. It was cool to look at maps of Civil War Atlanta area after living here awhile. ("Hey, it's Erica's house!") I don't imagine tourists would really find that that cool.
One thing you should know is that they have a pre-Cyclorama movie they make you watch. So when they let you into a small theater, don't worry, that's not the main attraction. I imagine native Atlantans feel about the pre-Cyclorama movie the way I feel about the Colonial Williamsburg movie. It's odd but fun to watch what short filmmakers 20 years ago perceived about a really old war, outdated special effects and all.
After the movie you get to go into the big room and sit on fuzzy bleachers. They tell you that the best views are *starting* at the third row and going back from there. We sat about in the third or fourth row and I didn't feel like I missed anything. The painting is gigantic - you feel a bit like you're in a planetarium but your main focus is forward. The painting "becomes" 3-D at the bottom - the diorama was not actually part of the original painting, but is arguably the coolest part. It was difficult for me to tell where the painting portion ended and the sculpture portion began. I have no depth perception, so I'm not the best person to vouch for this impressive blending job, but others around me seemed to have the same view.
The Cyclorama makes two full rotations, during which the guide points things out with his flashlight and describes them. The background lighting also helps to highlight certain aspects of the art. The guide also tells you interesting facts about the size, making, and selling of the Cyclorama - unsurprisingly, it had to do with some dude's ego. I won't spoil my favorite part, but it has to do with Rhett Butler.
The gift shop is tripped-out Confederate. I enjoyed going in there with my friends and giggling over the political incorrectness of it all. Definitely a must visit.
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With a friend from San Francisco and another from Florida, we were four former college buddies walking from Hank's Ice Cream and waiting for our team to tip it off against our hated rivals.
But what to do with the intervening hour? The friends had already seen the rest of Grant Park. We had no kids in tow, so, preferring to refrain from questions regarding any perceived creepiness, the zoo was out of the question. That's when SF friend asked, "What's the deal with this Cyclorama?"
"Don't know," we answered.
"Wait, how long have you lived in Atlanta?"
"A long time."
"And how long have you lived in Grant Park?" he asked of my other friend.
"The entire time."
"You guys are idiots."
"That we can't argue."
"I'm gonna go check it out."
So we spent an hour at the legendary Cyclorama. The Cyclorama, home of the world's largest oil-based painting and depicting the fierce Battle of Atlanta. It was the 19th century equivalent to IMAX. We spent our time before the "show" visiting the exhibits displayed in the Cyclorama's small museum. Pictures of Atlanta from back when, an antique steam locomotive, they would have all driven me into catatonia when I was younger. But now I read each word.
The show began with us piling into a set of bleachers. I believe that, with the exception of the tour guide, my friend and I were the only 2 Atlantans in the room. And then the bleachers began to spin. No, it didn't spin like we were training to be astronauts, but it spun to show off the different scenes painted on the canvas in front of us.
As I said before, all this would have bored my Pop Rocks-addled, 12 year old brain to tears. The lack of angry barrel-throwing gorillas, multi-colored ghosts, or any missiles to command would've been too much to bear. But in my old age, I actually found it all very interesting. The story about the battle itself, the story about how the Cyclorama came to live in Grant Park, and even how Clark Gable himself played into it all was fairly entertaining. I think we also only spent $5 to get in, so the price wasn't bad either.
Despite the disturbing conclusion that I've turned into my dad, I still think it was worth the visit. My friends all agreed as well. That it was enjoyable, I mean. Ok, they also think I've turned into my dad, but that's beside the point.
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Okay, this is a Atlanta must see. I not a civil war buff or enthusiast, but I really enjoyed this.
The restoration they have put into this piece is amazing. I don't want to ruin it for you but defiantly a must see. Especially if you like art.
Also, you can get a military discount on the price and it great to be able to hit grant park and the zoo, so near by.
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Fergit, HELL!!!!
This place makes Gone With the Wind look like a boring documentary with its romanticizing of the War of Northern Aggression aka, the Civil War. This is a perfect introduction for those looking to get into reenacting but aren't quite ready to go whole hog and risk emergency field surgery.
This is the biggest oil painting in the world.
It's near the top of my list whenever someone asks what to see when visiting Atlanta.
The South Will Rise Again, when it cools off a little.
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Before movies you had cycloramas.
It is the largest oil painting in the world.
And I think it is the longest running entertainment show in the US.
You sit down, you see the whole Battle of Atlanta during the battle of the between the 'rebs and the Yankees, chock full of the sounds of warfare, as it goes around...and around...
A piece of history well worth your time and dollar.
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Now granted this is based on a foggy memory from my childhood. It was for a school field trip and I can't recall if it was for middle school or junior high but here it goes.
It was hyped up in as an "interactive" 3-D depiction of the Civil War. Awesome, I get to leave school, sit in an air-conditioned, circular room with rotating seats while a "real-life animation" of the Civil War is unfolded before me! Sweet, now I know how Queen Elizabeth felt during her 45yr. reign or Queen Isabella when C.C. unvealed his voyage.
Feeling omnipotent, I was ready to do this! Imagine my disppointment and slight nausea when I discovered the images weren't really 3-D and the seats were spinning either too slowly or quickly. Either way, it wasn't the right speed and technically, I suppose the painting is 3-D if you can call the nose of a Civil War solider's is lighlty elevated or bumpy b/c of extra paint.
All in all, if you have nothing else to do or want to see what people called "art" or entertainment back in the day, then go. If however, the world hasn't ended and you have other options for entertainment, then by all means go and live your life.
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