Heart of Atlanta Motel: What It Was, Where It Was, and Why It Still Matters in Atlanta

If you live in Atlanta or you’re visiting and you’ve heard the term “Heart of Atlanta Motel,” you’re almost never talking about booking a room. You’re hearing the name of one of the most important civil rights and U.S. Supreme Court cases in American history — a case that started right here in Atlanta.

This guide explains:

• What the Heart of Atlanta Motel was
• Where it was located in Atlanta
• How it became central to the Civil Rights Movement
• Why the Supreme Court decision still affects life in Atlanta today
• How to explore related history around the city

What Was the Heart of Atlanta Motel?

The Heart of Atlanta Motel was a privately owned motel in Atlanta that openly refused to rent rooms to Black guests in the early 1960s. It was not unusual for that era, but it became famous because the owner decided to legally challenge a new federal law: the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The owner claimed that:

• The motel had the right to choose its customers
• The federal government had no authority to force the motel to integrate

The federal government said the opposite: if a business serves the public and affects interstate commerce (people traveling across state lines), it cannot discriminate based on race.

This clash led to the Supreme Court case Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States (1964).

Where Was the Heart of Atlanta Motel Located?

The original Heart of Atlanta Motel was located near what is now the downtown connector where I-75 and I-85 run through the city, close to the heart of downtown.

Over time:

• The original motel building was demolished
• The area around it changed significantly with highway construction and later development

If you’re in Atlanta today:

• You cannot stay at or visit the original Heart of Atlanta Motel building
• The site is part of the broader downtown/connector corridor and no longer functions as a motel

For people exploring civil rights history in Atlanta, the motel itself is more of a historical reference point than a physical landmark you can tour.

Why the Heart of Atlanta Motel Became So Important

The motel became nationally known because of the Supreme Court case arising from its refusal to serve Black travelers after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 took effect.

The Legal Question

The central question in Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States was:

The government argued that because:

• The motel advertised along interstate highways
• Served out-of-state travelers
• Was located near major roads connecting states

…it was involved in interstate commerce. Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress can regulate interstate commerce, so it could legally prohibit racial discrimination in such businesses.

The Supreme Court’s Decision

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the motel.

Key takeaways:

• Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was upheld
• Hotels, motels, restaurants, and other public accommodations that affect interstate commerce cannot refuse service based on race
• Private bias could not be translated into official business policy when serving the general public

This decision helped make the Civil Rights Act enforceable in everyday life, not just on paper, including right here in Atlanta.

How This Case Shaped Life and Business in Atlanta

If you live, work, or travel in Atlanta today, the impact of the Heart of Atlanta Motel case is all around you, especially in how businesses are expected to treat customers.

Public Accommodations in Atlanta

Because of this case and others like it, businesses in Atlanta that are open to the public generally cannot discriminate based on:

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• National origin

This applies to places like:

• Hotels and motels across metro Atlanta
• Restaurants and cafes in neighborhoods from Midtown to West End
• Theaters, arenas, and event venues such as those downtown and in Buckhead
• Transportation hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

The Heart of Atlanta Motel ruling helped cement the principle that if you serve the public, you serve the whole public.

Atlanta Civil Rights Landmarks Connected to This History

Even though the motel itself is gone, you can still explore related civil rights history throughout Atlanta.

Key Places to Visit

1. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park

• Area: Sweet Auburn
• What you’ll find: Dr. King’s birth home, Ebenezer Baptist Church, visitor center exhibits
• Why it matters: Puts the motel case in the broader context of the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta

2. National Center for Civil and Human Rights

• Location: Near Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta
• What you’ll find: Exhibits on U.S. civil rights history, global human rights, and segregation-era struggles
• Relevance: Helps explain the environment in which cases like Heart of Atlanta Motel arose

3. Auburn Avenue Historic District

• Also known as Sweet Auburn
• Historically a center of Black business, culture, and organizing
• Shows the economic side of civil rights and segregation that framed fights over who could travel, stay in hotels, and access services

Heart of Atlanta Motel vs. Modern Atlanta Hotels

If you’re searching the phrase “Heart of Atlanta Motel” because you want to stay somewhere “in the heart of Atlanta,” it’s useful to separate history from current options.

What the Phrase Means Today

• The original Heart of Atlanta Motel no longer operates
• Many modern hotels and motels in downtown, Midtown, and around the airport market themselves as being in the “heart of Atlanta”
• These are unrelated to the historic motel case, though they exist under the legal protections that the case helped reinforce

When choosing a place to stay now:

• Look for hotels in Downtown, Midtown, or around Centennial Olympic Park if you want to be centrally located
• Consider proximity to MARTA stations, the Peachtree corridor, and major attractions like State Farm Arena or Mercedes-Benz Stadium

The most important connection to the past is that all of these lodging options must operate without racial discrimination, in line with federal and state law.

Quick Reference: Heart of Atlanta Motel at a Glance

If You’re Studying or Teaching This Case in Atlanta

Many high school, college, and law students in Atlanta use Heart of Atlanta Motel as a key example when learning about:

• The Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964
• How federal law reaches local businesses

If you’re in Atlanta and want to go deeper:

• Local libraries such as the Fulton County Library System – Central Library downtown often have materials on the case and the civil rights era in Georgia
• Atlanta universities (like Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta) may have law or history resources that discuss the case in detail

What This Means for Everyday Life in Atlanta

The story of the Heart of Atlanta Motel is a reminder that:

• Civil rights are not abstract; they shape how people travel, eat, stay, and live in the city
• Laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 directly impact day-to-day experiences in places like hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues
• Atlanta’s identity as a major Southern city and civil rights hub is tied to legal battles like this one

Whether you’re a resident, a visitor, or a student of Atlanta’s history, understanding the Heart of Atlanta Motel helps explain why today’s Atlanta is more open, more accessible, and more regulated against discrimination than it was just a few generations ago.