Exploring the Atlanta Battle Map: A Local Guide to the 1864 Campaign

If you live in Atlanta or are visiting and you search for “Atlanta Battle Map,” you’re usually trying to do one of three things:

• Understand where the Civil War Battle of Atlanta actually happened
• Find an easy-to-follow map of battle sites, markers, and preserved areas
• Plan a self-guided tour of key Civil War spots around the city and nearby suburbs

This guide walks you through how the Battle of Atlanta unfolded on today’s streets, which parks, markers, and museums to look for, and how to build your own Atlanta battle map experience using places you can visit right now.

The Battle of Atlanta in Today’s City Layout

The Battle of Atlanta took place on July 22, 1864, just a few miles east and southeast of downtown. While the battlefield is now dense neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and interstates, you can still trace the lines on a modern map.

In modern terms, the main battle area stretched across parts of:

• East Atlanta
• Edgewood
• Kirkwood
• Reynoldstown
• Areas around the Moreland Avenue, Flat Shoals Avenue, and I‑20 corridors

If you overlay most historical “Atlanta battle maps” onto today’s city, you’ll find:

• Union lines roughly along what is now the Georgia State Capitol area, stretching east toward Candler Park
• Confederate attacks sweeping from the south and east, moving through what’s now East Atlanta Village, Kirkwood, and Edgewood
• Heavy fighting in and around present-day Moreland Avenue, Flat Shoals Avenue, and Memorial Drive

The landscape has changed, but road names, markers, and small parks still help you mentally reconstruct the historical map.

Key Places to Visit on an Atlanta Battle Map

1. Battle of Atlanta Cyclorama (Atlanta History Center)

While not on the original battlefield, the cyclorama painting is one of the most powerful “maps” of the battle you can see.

Atlanta History Center
130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: (404) 814‑4000

Highlights:

• Massive circular painting of the Battle of Atlanta, created in the 1880s
• Detailed depiction of troop movements, terrain, and city landmarks as they appeared during the battle
• Exhibits explaining how the battle fits into the overall Atlanta Campaign

If you’re trying to understand the battle before you drive around the city, this is an excellent starting point.

2. Historic Markers and the “East Atlanta Battlefield” Area

Much of the actual fighting occurred where East Atlanta Village and surrounding neighborhoods now sit.

Focus your map search on:

• Intersection of Flat Shoals Ave SE & Glenwood Ave SE (East Atlanta Village)
• Nearby streets like Moreland Ave SE, Bouldercrest Dr SE, and I‑20 to the south

Look for:

• Georgia Historical Markers describing troop positions and movements
• Small plaques noting skirmish lines and artillery positions
• References to Columbia Seminary, Leggett’s Hill, or specific corps (e.g., the XVII Corps) on some historical maps

While there is no single large battlefield park inside the city, these markers collectively form an informal “walking map” of key spots from July 22, 1864.

3. Oakland Cemetery: City & Battlefield Landscape in One Place

Oakland Cemetery is not a battlefield, but it was inside the defensive perimeter of wartime Atlanta and is very helpful for understanding the geography of the city during the campaign.

Historic Oakland Cemetery
248 Oakland Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
Phone: (404) 688‑2107

Why it’s useful for your “battle map”:

• Overlooks parts of the old city approaches from the east
• Contains many Civil War-era graves, including soldiers from both sides
• Frequently used as a reference point on historic maps of wartime Atlanta

If you overlay an 1860s map of Atlanta over a current one, Oakland sits close to the heart of key supply routes and defensive positions.

4. Kennesaw Mountain: Wider Atlanta Campaign Map

Even though the main Battle of Atlanta occurred east of downtown, the broader Atlanta Campaign included major fights to the northwest of the city, especially at Kennesaw Mountain.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
900 Kennesaw Mountain Dr
Kennesaw, GA 30152
Phone: (770) 427‑4686

What you’ll find:

• Visitor center with detailed campaign maps showing troop positions from north Georgia down into Atlanta
• Trails along Union and Confederate lines
• Orientation films and exhibits that put the Battle of Atlanta into campaign context

If you’re planning a multi-day Civil War-focused visit, combining Kennesaw with in-town sites gives you a much better strategic map of how armies closed in on Atlanta.

Visual Guide: How the Battlefield Aligns With Today’s Atlanta

Below is a simple reference table to help you translate historical map terms into modern locations you can plug into your GPS.

Use this as a mental overlay: when you’re standing at an intersection, think about whether you’re roughly on the Union line, Confederate line of attack, or no-man’s land according to Civil War battle maps.

How to Build Your Own “Atlanta Battle Map” Tour

You don’t need a specialized historical atlas to follow the Battle of Atlanta. You can create a simple, effective plan using your phone and a few key stops.

Step 1: Start With Orientation

Begin at either:

• Atlanta History Center (Cyclorama) for a visual overview, or
• Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield for a campaign-wide map from north Georgia to Atlanta

Use their exhibits to capture a few key points:

• Where Union forces approached from
• Where Confederate forces tried flanking attacks
• How the Chattahoochee River and railroads shaped the campaign

Step 2: Move Into the City Core

Head to:

• Georgia State Capitol area – historically close to the wartime city center
• Oakland Cemetery – to see a preserved historic landscape and read interpretive signs

Here, your map focus is “Where was the original Atlanta, and how big was it?” This gives you scale when you later stand several miles east where heavy fighting occurred.

Step 3: Explore the East and Southeast Battle Area

Drive or bike through:

• Edgewood
• Kirkwood
• East Atlanta Village

Tips for mapping the battle:

• Use a mapping app and drop pins at each historical marker you find
• Note intersections like Moreland Ave & I‑20, Flat Shoals Ave & Glenwood Ave, and Bouldercrest Dr SE
• When possible, read marker text aloud—it helps you connect modern streets with regimental positions and attack routes

This section of your tour turns a vague “Atlanta battle map” into specific corners and landmarks you’ll actually recognize later.

Where to Find Physical & Printable Battle Maps in Atlanta

If you prefer paper maps or official diagrams, you have several local options.

Atlanta History Center

• Often provides brochures and maps showing the Battle of Atlanta and the wider campaign
• Staff and volunteers can point out recommended driving routes to related sites

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

• Offers official campaign maps that show troop movements from north Georgia into Atlanta
• Park rangers can help you interpret where the Battle of Atlanta fits in timeline and geography

Libraries and Archives in Atlanta

If you want more detailed or historical maps:

• Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System – Central Library
  1 Margaret Mitchell Sq
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Phone: (404) 730‑1700

  The central location often holds Atlanta history references, including Civil War atlases, local history books, and map collections.

• Georgia Archives (just outside Atlanta)
  5800 Jonesboro Rd
  Morrow, GA 30260
  Phone: (678) 364‑3710

  Useful if you are doing deeper research and want to look at archival-quality maps of the campaign and battle positions.

Practical Tips for Exploring Atlanta’s Battle Map Sites

A few local-minded suggestions to make your exploration smoother:

• Traffic awareness: Many key locations fall along busy corridors like Moreland Ave, Memorial Dr, and I‑20. Plan around rush hours when possible.
• Parking: Neighborhoods like East Atlanta Village, Kirkwood, and Cabbagetown/Reynoldstown have a mix of street parking and small lots. Watch for residential permit signs.
• Combine history with nearby stops:
  • Near Oakland Cemetery, you’re close to Memorial Drive restaurants and Grant Park.
  • Around East Atlanta Village, you’ll find cafés and shops where you can review your map between stops.
• Weather & walking: Atlanta summers are hot and humid. If you plan a walking tour of historical markers, bring water, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes.

Using Modern Maps to Visualize a 19th-Century Battle

To get the most out of any Atlanta battle map—digital or printed—keep these ideas in mind:

• Think in layers:
  • Top layer: Today’s streets, neighborhoods, and parks
  • Underlayer: Ridges, creeks, and rail lines that also existed in 1864
• Follow the rails and high ground: Railroads and ridgelines were crucial during the battle. When you drive along DeKalb Ave, CSX rail lines, or elevated spots near Moreland Ave, you’re moving along features that mattered in 1864 strategy.
• Use neighborhood names as shorthand: Instead of memorizing every regiment’s position, remember:
  • Downtown/Oakland – city core and defenses
  • Edgewood/Kirkwood – area of flanking movements and fighting
  • East Atlanta – scene of intense combat during the Battle of Atlanta

The more you connect historic features to modern names, the easier it is to mentally carry your “Atlanta battle map” with you as you move around the city.

By combining onsite markers, museum exhibits, and simple GPS navigation, you can turn the phrase “Atlanta Battle Map” into a real, walkable and drivable experience that makes the 1864 campaign visible in today’s Atlanta streetscapes.