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Carter Center
Category: Arts & Entertainment Museums Museums [Edit]
453 Freedom Pkwy NEAtlanta, GA 30307
Neighborhood: Inman Park
(404) 420-3216
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 9 am - 4:30 pm
Sun 12 pm - 4:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
11 reviews for Carter Center
11 reviews in English
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Review from Mick D.
2/1/2011
The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum should not be confused with the Carter Center. The Carter Center makes ongoing efforts to wage peace, fight disease, and build hope. Just next door to the Carter Center, the Jimmy Carter Library & Museum offers a nice glimpse into the Carter Presidency. There you will see lots of memorabilia, historical displays, and exhibits & events (not to mention a gift shop).
But whatever takes you there, be sure to spend some time in the surrounding gardens. Thirty-five acres of gardens surround the center, and they are open to the public year-round. This is a perfect spot for a springtime picnic or a quick stroll. And when you're done, nearby Virginia Highlands offers a wide variety of culinary experiences to round out the day. -
Review from Max L.
New York, NY
8/5/2010
OK full disclosure, I work here (in the center, not the museum).
Since a lot of people use this site for food I thought that I'd go ahead and mention that there is a restaurant inside the Carter Center.
The menu rotates daily through a roster of cafeteria and Americanized ethnic favorites think - Salisbury Steak, Chicken Pot Pie, Fajitas, Fried Chicken, Entree Salads, etc.
From what I understand, local catering company, Proof of the Pudding, staffs the kitchen.
The food is good and inexpensive, though it is cash only (ATM located in the dining room). It's only open from around 11-2 Mon-Fri, but if you're in the area and want a cheap homestyle meal that you can enjoy outside on a beautiful patio overlooking a coy pond and a view of the ATL skyline, then it's worth a stop.Listed in: Out of town
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Review from Natalie A.
Atlanta, GA
1/29/2011
Check out the Gardens!
The Carter Center Museum is great to visit, and their humanitarian efforts are inspiring, but my plug for the day is the gardens behind the museum.
I visit just to enjoy the peace and quiet of the 35 acres of woods that are part of the Center. Several different areas are landscaped by a variety of master designers, and my personal favorite is the tiny but beautiful Japanese Garden. Freedom Parkway is right around the corner, but it feels like stepping into a different world, far from all the traffic & chaos. -
Review from Ron W.
Ok, I know a lot of y'all Yelpers probably weren't even born when Jimmy Carter was president but the Carter Center is still definitely worth a visit if you're visiting Atlanta! Tucked away in the Virginia Highlands neighborhood, it's a wonderful piece of American and political history that's worth the effort. It's a surprisingly large museum containing memorabilia of President Jimmy Carter's four years in office and work post-presidency which is really fascinating!
Step back in time as you learn about his inauguration and challenges he faced in 1976: post-Watergate, post-Vietnam national trauma, deflationary recession, the Cold War and more. And then follow President Carter's works over the last 20 years as he spends the rest of his life working on healthcare (river blindness) problems and freedom issues (democratic vote in Nicaragua) in the developing world, very impressive! And from what I've been told, the grounds are lovely in the springtime when everything is blooming.
While there will be many who will argue that President Carter was not particularly effective during his four years as the country's leader, I would argue that he brought a moral compass to the nation at a time it badly needed one. The Carter Center is a wonderful reminder about the history and legacy of a man who wanted the world to be a better place, regardless of socio-economic status. If you're a fan of politics and US history certainly stop by and learn more about this humble, peanut farmer from GA! -
Review from Blake B.
Atlanta, GA
6/20/2007
This is one of my favorite places in Atlanta to go and roam, though not perhaps fully for the reasons it was intended. I've only been actually INSIDE the center once, a long time ago, and I don't remember it at all.
What I like about the Carter Center is the gardens. The building is surrounded on two sides by beautiful flower gardens and fountains and walkpaths that go through the flowers to strange little nooks. There seems to never be anywhere else around. It seems almost like you're wandering in a deserted palace of some sorts. Magical in many ways.
The back side of the center has a large field that seems to stretch until you can't see it anymore. There is a rather large pond where I've seen men fishing, again surrounded with grass and hills. There is also a little Japanese pond with rocks you can walk on to the center. There are more people on this side of the building usually, but still not very many.
It's a secret little place that I almost don't want to unveil. But you should take some time and wander a bit.
I think you could make a pretty awesome game of Capture the Flag here, though it would probably be illegal. -
Review from Amy B.
8/23/2007
I LOVE presidential history so the libraries/ museums are a natural for me. I flew to Atlanta to visit my sister, a freshman at Emory - but my secret was that I really wanted to go to the Carter Center.
I wanted to love the Carter Library SO MUCH. I mean, Jimmy Carter was a peanut farmer who became President - if that isn't interesting, I don't know what is! The information about Jimmy, his life, and his presidency seemed to be very sparse - I wanted so much more!
Unfortunately, the Carter Center does little to capitalize on any of the interesting portions of Jimmy's life. Nor does it really dive into any of the really critical issues that took place during his presidency.
It is also clear that the Center was built and decorated in a rather unfortunate time - so expect polyester. I'm hopeful that a redecoration could provide some positive changes.
As others have stated - the gardens surrounding the Center are beautiful. The gift shop also has great items ranging from serious to kitschy.Listed in: Presidential History
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Review from Foster K.
Pasadena, CA
8/15/2007
Unfortunately I didn't have time to check out the gardens that Blake B. and Coley W. tout in their reviews, so next time I visit I guess the Carter Center will get that fifth star!
I just got through watching the entire West Wing series from start to finish (over 4 months!), and I stopped in here in the middle of that phase. So, needless to say I was focused more on the Presidential aspects than the horticultural.
The history of Pres. Carter's life was really interesting, I'd find it hard to predict that a peanut farmer could get elected President today... The gifts presented during Carter's term were also really neat to see, kind of like judging how much your relatives like you when you go through the wedding gifts! However, I nearly wet my pants when I saw the Oval Office (see reference to West Wing above!). That alone was worth the price of admission for me. -
Review from Jane B.
Decatur, GA
10/16/2009
Often The Carter Center and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum are confused. They are both part of the same building - but the Museum is open to the public. The Center does have guided art tours by the fabulous volunteers. With 6+ original Andy Warhols and other pieces, the art tour is worth it alone.
The Museum was just recently renovated and re-opened on Oct 1 2009 (President Carter's 85th birthday). It has incredible new features including an interactive table in which you travel to the different areas in which the Center works and "a day in the life" section that pulls from President Carter's diary while he was President. -
Review from Coley W.
Atlanta, GA
3/13/2007
Learn all about former president Jimmy Carter. See what the oval office looked like when he served (each president gets to redecorate the office). Check out campaign posters and buttons. See short films about what the country was like while he was in office.
Then go outside and really enjoy the Carter Center.
One thing a lot of people don't know about the Carter Center is that, in addition to the Library, there is a gorgeous Japanese garden with very tranquil pond where you can go and read in the shade or otherwise just relax. It's an underutilized spot. -
Review from Kate C.
12/18/2008
I found the Carter Center nice place to go if you enjoy history. Having seen it once, I don't feel the need to go back. It encaptures the short time he was in office. They have displays representing the campaign process as well as some beautiful gifts he was given from leaders around the world. Since I was not born yet and grew up in another state, it was a part of history I was not familiar with. I found it to be a nice snapshot of history. The gardens outside were lovely too.
Listed in: Where I get my learning on -…
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Review from Evan B.
East Point, GA
4/12/2009
Check out the Carter Center gardens. The gardens in season are gorgeous and the area around the center's ponds at least used to be very dog friendly. Anyone have updates on that? The rose garden is beautiful! Occasionally you will see brides doing photography there too.
