Downtown museums make the USA Today list of Top 10 Atlanta museums

August 25,2015

Atlanta’s museums brilliantly highlight her rich and tumultuous history, and well as her increasing notoriety in the nation’s art and culture scene. From the precious art of High Museum Atlanta to the high-tech touches at the College Football Hall of Fame, patrons continuously meet with engaging opportunities for fun and learning.

1. National Center for Civil and Human Rights
The Center for Civil and Human Rights is a powerful, moving museum that ties the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s with the today's global Human Rights movement. Visitors can tour a number of permanent and temporary exhibits, including the Morehouse College collection of MLK memorabilia, an interactive gallery of the Civil Rights Movement and a human rights exhibit that encourages onlookers to identify with modern-day activists around the globe who are being persecuted in their own countries. Expect to see emotionally raw images and portrayals at this new Atlanta attraction, watching, seeing, hearing and interacting with history in an intimate and modern setting. The Center will stir your emotions, move you to tears, allow you to celebrate how far we have come and recognize how far we have to go. ((678) 999-8990)

4 College Football Hall of Fame
Feel the excitement and spirit of college football fanfare from the moment you step inside the football-shaped building. Your ticket includes high-tech RFID credentials. This microchip-enabled ticket personalizes your museum experience. You see stats, photos and intel about your favorite college football team displayed on walls and kiosks as you wind your way through the exhibits. It also allows you to show off your football experience with friends. Once home, log onto the website to retrieve photos and videos from your visit, such as your ESPN call of the game or your fight-song karaoke tune. The big draw for many visitors is the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Skill Zone. Kick a field goal, run through a training course, or take the quarterback challenge. After that, make your way to the Game Day Theater, where the energy of college football comes to life. (404) 880-4800)

7. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site
The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social Change honors Dr. King's life and reflects love, justice and peace. Both Dr. and Mrs. King's remains are housed in a crypt on the grounds, with an eternal flame. Freedom Hall houses a foyer displaying African art and exhibits paying homage to Rosa, Parks, Mahatma Gandhi and the Kings. In addition to visiting the center, visitors can tour Dr. King's birth home, which is located in the Sweet Auburn district. A park ranger leads the tour. Also in the area are Ebenezer Church, where Dr. King preached and Firestation No.6, where King played as a boy. (404-331-5190, 404-331-6922)

9. World of Coca-Cola
Explore the history of Coca-Cola in the 60,000 + square foot exhibit. The attraction has the world's largest collection of Coke memorabilia, a tasting room and includes a functional bottling line. The tasting includes over 60 flavors of Coke from around the world. Depending how much you want to see and do here, plan to spend between one to two hours. The World of Coke is especially good for those visiting with young children. They will find the tasting room and the possibility of sampling so many varieties exciting. It is also fun to see the history of Coca-Cola from its beginning to how far the company has come today. (404-676-5151, 800-676-2653)

See full list at http://www.10best.com/destinations/georgia/atlanta/attractions/museums/