Underground Atlanta: What It Is, Where It Is, and Why It Matters Today

Underground Atlanta is a historic entertainment and retail district in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, built around the city’s original street level and railroad infrastructure. Over the years it has shifted from a bustling commercial hub, to a nightlife destination, to a redevelopment site that’s still evolving today.

If you live in Atlanta, are visiting, or just trying to understand what Underground Atlanta actually is now, it helps to look at three things: its location, its history, and its current and future role in the city.

Where Is Underground Atlanta?

Underground Atlanta is located in downtown Atlanta, directly beneath and around the intersection of:

• Alabama Street SW
• Upper and Lower Pryor Street SW
• Adjacent to Peachtree Street and the Five Points area

A simple way to think of it:

• It sits just south of the Five Points MARTA Station
• It’s a short walk from Atlanta City Hall, State Capitol, and Fulton County Government Center

General Area Details

• Neighborhood: Downtown Atlanta
• Nearby landmarks:
  • Five Points MARTA Station
  • Georgia State Capitol
  • Woodruff Park
  • Georgia State University (downtown campus)

If you’re using MARTA, Five Points Station is the closest stop, and Underground Atlanta is essentially right outside when you exit toward Alabama Street and Peachtree Street.

What Exactly Is Underground Atlanta?

At its core, Underground Atlanta is:

Over time, this foundation has been reused and reimagined as:

• A shopping and entertainment complex
• A tourist attraction with historic character
• A redevelopment site for arts, events, and mixed-use projects

Today, many Atlantans see it as both:

1. A symbol of old Atlanta (railroads, streetcar era, early commerce), and
2. A work-in-progress urban project that’s being reinvented again.

How Did Underground Atlanta Become “Underground”?

A quick history in plain language

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Atlanta was a major rail hub. Busy freight and passenger trains ran right through downtown. To separate trains from street traffic, the city built viaducts—elevated roadways—over the tracks.

When these viaducts went up, they:

• Created a new, higher street level
• Left the old storefronts and sidewalks below, in the shadow of the bridges

Those older streets and building fronts eventually became known as “Underground Atlanta.”

Key phases of Underground Atlanta

Here’s a simplified overview of how the area has changed over time:

If you talk to longtime Atlanta residents, they may remember Underground Atlanta’s bar scene, street performers, and tourist shops from previous decades, even if they haven’t been there in years.

What Is Underground Atlanta Used For Now?

Underground Atlanta has gone through multiple closures, reopenings, and ownership changes. In recent years, it has shifted away from being a traditional mall-style destination and more toward:

• Art and music events
• Pop-up markets and festivals
• Creative studio and performance spaces
• Experimental and mixed-use redevelopment

Depending on when you go, you might encounter:

• Public events on the upper plaza areas
• Art installations and creative uses in and around the historic buildings
• A mix of small businesses, nightlife, or experimental concepts that open and close over time

Because the site is in active redevelopment, the specific list of shops, restaurants, and attractions tends to change. Atlantans who are curious about what’s open now often check event calendars, local news, or the organization currently managing the property.

Why Underground Atlanta Matters to the City

Even if you don’t visit regularly, Underground Atlanta is an important part of Atlanta’s urban story.

1. A window into how Atlanta was built

The area physically shows:

• The old street level vs. the newer viaduct level
• The city’s role as a railroad crossroads
• Historic brickwork, arches, and infrastructure that are rare in a city that has repeatedly rebuilt itself

If you’re interested in how Atlanta grew from a rail junction (“Terminus”) into a major metro, Underground Atlanta is one of the clearest places to see that history in person.

2. A symbol of redevelopment challenges

Underground Atlanta has been:

• Opened
• Closed
• Reimagined
• Sold and re-developed multiple times

Because of this, it’s often part of local conversations about:

• Downtown revitalization
• The balance between tourist attractions and local needs
• How to reuse older infrastructure in a modern city

For people who live in Atlanta, Underground often serves as a kind of test case for how the city handles complex downtown properties.

3. A potential cultural and community hub

With more emphasis on arts, events, and flexible spaces, many residents see Underground Atlanta as an opportunity for:

• Local makers and artists to have space in the city core
• Community events that draw people back downtown
• A more authentically Atlanta experience, rather than a generic mall

What Can You Do at Underground Atlanta?

What’s available can vary by year and by season, but experiences generally fall into a few categories:

1. Explore historic downtown streets

You can:

• Walk along and around Alabama Street and the adjacent corridors
• See how the streets dip under the viaducts and how the buildings connect between levels
• Combine your visit with nearby sites like the Georgia State Capitol, Woodruff Park, or Fairlie-Poplar Historic District

This is especially appealing if you enjoy urban history, architecture, or photography.

2. Attend events and pop-ups

Depending on current programming, Underground Atlanta is often used for:

• Art shows or installations
• Music performances or DJ sets
• Seasonal or themed markets
• Cultural events and festivals

Locals who are interested in these typically track the latest updates from the property’s managing group, local arts organizations, or Atlanta event lists.

3. Connect with wider downtown attractions

Even if you don’t spend long at Underground itself, the area is a useful starting point or stopover when exploring downtown:

• A short walk to State Capitol tours
• Access to MARTA via Five Points Station
• Walkable routes to Sweet Auburn, Peachtree Center, or Georgia State University

How to Get to Underground Atlanta

By MARTA

• Take Red, Gold, Blue, or Green lines to Five Points Station
• Follow station signs for Alabama Street and Peachtree Street exits
• You’ll emerge within a short walk of Underground Atlanta’s main area

MARTA is often the most convenient option if you’re already in the city or staying near a rail line.

By car

The Underground Atlanta district is close to:

• I-75/85 (Downtown Connector) – take downtown exits near Martin Luther King Jr. Drive or Memorial Drive
• Various nearby parking decks and surface lots in downtown Atlanta

Because parking availability and pricing can change, many locals choose:

• Public transit (MARTA)
• Rideshare
• Or parking in a deck and walking

Nearby Government and Public Offices

If you’re downtown to handle official business, Underground Atlanta is within walking distance of several major buildings:

• Georgia State Capitol
  • Location: Near the intersection of Capitol Avenue SW and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE
• Atlanta City Hall
  • 55 Trinity Avenue SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Fulton County Government Center
  • 141 Pryor Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303

Many residents combine errands at these offices with a quick walk through the Underground area, especially if they are already parked or using MARTA.

Is Underground Atlanta Safe and Practical to Visit?

Experiences can differ by time of day, specific events, and city conditions, but common practical tips from Atlanta residents include:

• Daytime visits tend to feel more active and connected to nearby offices, GSU, and foot traffic
• Event times (concerts, markets, festivals) usually draw more people and organized activity
• As with any major city downtown, people often:
  • Stay aware of their surroundings
  • Travel with a friend or group when possible
  • Park in well-lit, attended lots or use MARTA

Because downtown patterns evolve, many locals check recent updates and current event information before planning a special trip specifically to Underground Atlanta.

Who Manages Underground Atlanta?

Over the decades, control of Underground Atlanta has:

• Shifted between public and private ownership
• Included multiple large-scale redevelopment plans
• Involved coordination with City of Atlanta agencies and downtown organizations

If you need official or up-to-date information about plans, zoning, or permits related to Underground Atlanta, common starting points include:

• City of Atlanta – Department of City Planning
  • Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Atlanta Downtown-focused organizations or business improvement districts, which often track major projects in the area

Local media and city council documents also frequently cover new proposals or construction phases affecting Underground.

What Underground Atlanta Means for You as an Atlantan or Visitor

Putting it all together, Underground Atlanta is:

• A historic set of streets and structures beneath today’s downtown viaducts
• A long-running entertainment and retail district that has changed forms multiple times
• A current redevelopment area that’s still evolving, with a growing focus on arts, events, and mixed-use activity

If you live in Atlanta, it’s worth understanding Underground Atlanta as part of the city’s past, present, and future—even if you only pass through occasionally. If you’re visiting, it’s a distinctive stop that shows you a side of downtown you won’t see from the interstate or the newer high-rises.