Atlanta Historical Museum offers snapshot of city's proud heritage
By Stephen Jones
Atlanta's small town charm is steeped in a rich, unique history. And one of the best places to brush up on its proud heritage is at the Atlanta Historical Museum, housed inside the historic Texas and Pacific Railroad Depot in downtown.
The first inhabitants of the Atlanta area were the Caddo Native Americans. They called this area home for at least 1,000 years before the Europeans would claim the land as theirs. The Caddo people were farmers who lived in houses made of grass and cane, making their living from the production of maize. The museum displays replicas and artifacts of this tribe, including ceremonial clothing and pottery.
Atlanta’s earliest settlers came from Georgia in the early 1840s, in the hopes of getting a new start. These settlers lived off of the surrounding forests, making houses and furniture from the overwhelming abundance of trees. This rural town was officially established in 1871 and started to flourish, thanks to the introduction of the Texas and Pacific Railway, which eventually ran from El Paso to New Orleans. Even though the train depot that connected Atlanta with Bloomburg burned down in 1920, the museum contains various relics from this time; such as train tickets, postcards, and train lights.
Visitors will also discover the contributions that thousands of Atlanta residents made in America’s multiple war efforts. In this section of the museum, military supplies like first-aid kits and canteens are nestled next to a military uniform, formerly worn by Atlanta native, Brigadier General Kelley Arnold. Arnold’s served in the military for 44 years, encapsulating events ranging from World War II to the Korean War, and was eventually appointed as the Deputy Commander of the 49th Armored Division of the Texas National Guard. Arnold was married to the like-minded, Ruth Hughes Arnold, who volunteered in the American Red Cross while Kelley served.
Another interesting wartime contribution is The Atlanta of Texas steamship, which was launched July 14, 1920. During World War I, Cass County raised enough money to construct this 5,000 ton ship. The museum displays photographs and newspaper clippings detailing this historic event.
The most prominent feature of this museum has to be the life-size replica of Bessie Coleman’s Queen Bess airplane. Almost every Atlanta resident knows the origin and importance of the African-American, female pilot, but the museum has an extensive exhibit on Coleman, just in case you forgot. Coleman broke down barriers, all in the hope of achieving her dream of becoming a stunt pilot. After being constantly denied access to flying schools in the United States, she took it upon herself to learn French so she could finally attend flying school in France, where she would eventually make history and earn her pilot’s license.
The President of the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce, Miranda Johnson, values the way in which the museum portrays Atlanta's history. "Atlanta's history is deeply tied to the railroad," said Johnson, "so having the museum stationed at the old train depot gives people a unique way to learn about the town's history."
The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free to the public.
