Museums in Atlanta: Top Places to Explore Art, History, and Culture

Atlanta’s museums capture the city’s civil rights legacy, thriving film and music scene, and fast-changing skyline in one place. On this page, you’ll find all our articles related to museums in Atlanta, from major destinations like the High Museum of Art and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights to smaller, neighborhood spots you might otherwise miss. Each guide focuses on what to expect, when to go, and how to make the most of your visit, whether you’re planning a family outing, a solo afternoon, or showing the city to guests.

Because Atlanta is spread out and each area has its own character, choosing the right museum can shape your entire day. These articles help you compare locations, typical costs, parking and transit options, and nearby Atlanta landmarks so you can plan smarter and avoid surprises. Use this page as a starting point to decide which museums fit your interests and schedule, then take the next step with clear, local insights that make exploring Atlanta’s cultural side easier.

The APEX Museum (African American Panoramic Experience) is one of Atlanta’s most meaningful cultural stops, especially if you’re interested in Black history, the Civil Rights Movement, or the stories of the Sweet Auburn neighborhood. It’s smaller and more intimate than many of the city’s major museums, but it offers a powerful, locally grounded look at African American history from an Atlanta perspective.

Barnesville Old Jail Museum

If you’re in Atlanta and looking for a unique, easy day trip that mixes history, architecture, and small-town Georgia charm, the Barnesville Old Jail Museum is a solid choice. It’s not in the city limits of Atlanta, but it’s close enough to feel like a quick escape while still being very doable as a half-day or full-day outing.

Cartersville Booth Western Art Museum

If you live in Atlanta or are visiting the city and want an easy, rewarding day trip, the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville is one of the standout museum experiences within driving distance. It combines world-class Western art, presidential history, and kid-friendly exhibits in a setting that feels very different from Atlanta’s in-town museums.

Children's Museum Of Atlanta

The Children’s Museum of Atlanta is one of downtown Atlanta’s most popular spots for families with young kids. Located just off Centennial Olympic Park, it’s a hands-on, play-based museum designed especially for children from toddlers through elementary school.

Computer Museum Of America

If you’re in the Atlanta area and love technology, history, or just unique indoor activities, the Computer Museum of America (often called CMoA) in Roswell, Georgia is one of the most interesting museums you can visit. It’s a large, immersive space dedicated to the history of computing, from early mainframes to space technology and retro video games.

David J. Sencer CDC Museum

The David J. Sencer CDC Museum is one of Atlanta’s most unique museums, offering an inside look at public health, disease detection, and how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) works to protect people around the world. If you live in Atlanta or you’re visiting the city, this free museum can be a fascinating stop that’s very different from a traditional art or history museum.

DeKalb History Center Museum

If you’re interested in Atlanta’s history beyond downtown and midtown, the DeKalb History Center Museum is one of the best places to understand how the region around the city has grown and changed. Located in downtown Decatur, just east of Atlanta, this local history museum offers an approachable, in-depth look at the people, communities, and events that shaped DeKalb County and the metro area.

Fernbank Museum Of Natural History

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is one of Atlanta’s standout destinations for science, nature, and family-friendly fun. Whether you live in the city, are visiting for a weekend, or planning a school outing, Fernbank offers a mix of dinosaurs, immersive exhibits, forest trails, and giant-screen films that are very Atlanta-specific.

Fernbank Museum Of Natural History And Giant Screen Theater

If you’re looking for a family-friendly, science-filled day in Atlanta, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History and Giant Screen Theater in Druid Hills is one of the city’s standout attractions. It combines classic natural history exhibits, immersive outdoor trails, and a massive movie screen—all centered around Georgia’s landscapes, wildlife, and prehistoric past.

Fernbank Museum Of Natural History At Great Hall

If you’re looking for a big “wow” museum experience in Atlanta, the Great Hall at Fernbank Museum of Natural History is usually what people picture first. Those towering dinosaur skeletons under a huge glass ceiling are one of the city’s most iconic indoor sights.

Fernbank Museum Summer Camp

Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta, Georgia isn’t just a place for field trips and dinosaur skeletons—it’s also home to one of the city’s better-known science- and nature-focused summer camps. If you’re considering Fernbank Museum Summer Camp for your child, this guide breaks down what to expect, how it works, and how to decide if it’s a good fit for your family.

Georgia State Capitol Museum

The Georgia State Capitol Museum is one of downtown Atlanta’s most underrated things to do. Whether you live in the city, are visiting for a few days, or are helping kids learn about Georgia history, the Capitol Museum gives you a free, up-close look at state government, art, and natural history all under one (golden) dome.

Gone With The Wind Museum At Brumby Hall

If you’re interested in Atlanta history, classic cinema, or Southern architecture, the Gone With The Wind Museum at Brumby Hall in nearby Marietta is a popular side trip from the city. It combines film memorabilia, local connections to Margaret Mitchell’s novel, and a look at one of the area’s historic homes.

Hammonds House Museum

If you’re interested in Black art, Atlanta history, and neighborhood culture, the Hammonds House Museum in West End belongs on your list. It’s not a huge museum, but that’s part of its appeal—this is an intimate, art-filled Victorian home that feels rooted in the community.

Herndon Home Museum

The Herndon Home Museum is one of Atlanta’s most important historic houses, especially for anyone interested in African American history, Black entrepreneurship, and the city’s growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tucked just west of downtown, it offers a close-up look at the life and legacy of Alonzo Herndon, Atlanta’s first Black millionaire, and his family.

High Museum Of Art

The High Museum of Art is one of Atlanta’s best-known cultural landmarks and a top pick for anyone looking for meaningful things to do in the city. Whether you live in metro Atlanta or you’re planning a visit, the High is a place where you can spend an hour, a half-day, or keep coming back all year.

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library And Museum

The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum is one of Atlanta’s most meaningful cultural and historical attractions. Tucked just east of Downtown in the Poncey-Highland/Old Fourth Ward area, it offers a quiet, beautifully landscaped space to explore modern U.S. history, global humanitarian work, and the life of Georgia’s only U.S. president.

Krog Street Tunnel

Krog Street Tunnel is one of Atlanta’s most iconic pieces of public art—part passageway, part open-air gallery, and part neighborhood landmark. If you’re exploring things to do in Atlanta and love murals, graffiti, or photography, this tunnel is a must-see.

Marietta Cobb Museum Of Art

If you’re looking for things to do near Atlanta that combine art, history, and a relaxed pace, the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art is one of the most accessible and rewarding options. Located just off the historic Marietta Square, it’s an easy cultural day trip from Atlanta that feels close by but different enough to feel like a getaway.

Mercedes Benz Stadium Tours

Mercedes‑Benz Stadium is one of Atlanta’s most recognizable landmarks—home to the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United FC, major concerts, college football games, and big-name events. But you don’t have to score game-day tickets to see it up close. Mercedes‑Benz Stadium tours give you a behind-the-scenes look at how this massive venue works, from locker rooms and locker-room tunnels to premium clubs and the field level.

Michael C. Carlos Museum

The Michael C. Carlos Museum is one of Atlanta’s most respected museums, especially known for its ancient art collections. Located on the Emory University campus in the historic Druid Hills area, it’s a go-to destination if you’re interested in Egyptian mummies, Greek and Roman sculpture, ancient American art, or just a high-quality cultural experience without leaving the city.

Milledgeville Old Capitol Museum

If you’re in Atlanta and looking for a meaningful, history-rich day trip, the Old Capitol Museum in Milledgeville is one of the most interesting museum experiences within easy driving distance. It blends Georgia state history, Civil War-era politics, and architectural heritage in a compact, walkable setting that works well for families, history buffs, and anyone curious about how Georgia’s capital moved from Milledgeville to Atlanta.

Atlanta doesn’t just do museums and it doesn’t just do nightlife — it blends them. If you’re looking for a “museum bar” experience in Atlanta, you’re really asking: Where can I enjoy art, culture, or history and also have a great drink in the same outing?

Museum Of Contemporary Art Of Georgia (MOCA GA)

The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA) is one of Atlanta’s most focused spaces for discovering work by living artists who have ties to Georgia. If you’re interested in modern art, creative community, or just looking for a thoughtful thing to do in Atlanta, MOCA GA is worth knowing well.

Museum Of Design Atlanta (MODA)

The Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) is one of the city’s most unique cultural spots, focused entirely on how design shapes everyday life. If you live in Atlanta, are visiting Midtown, or just want to understand what MODA offers, this guide walks you through what to expect, how to visit, and how to make the most of your time there.

SCAD FASH Museum Of Fashion + Film

The SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film is one of Atlanta’s most distinctive cultural spots, blending high fashion, film, costume design, and contemporary art in a focused, boutique-style museum setting. If you live in Atlanta, are visiting the city, or are just trying to understand the local arts scene, this is a place where you can see how fashion and film intersect at a professional level.

Selfie museums have become some of the most photogenic “museums” in Atlanta—colorful, hands-on spaces designed for photos, videos, and social content. Instead of glass cases and “do not touch” signs, you’ll find themed rooms, props, and backdrops that invite you to step in and pose.

Southern Museum Of Civil War And Locomotive History

If you’re interested in Atlanta’s railroad roots, Civil War history, or you just need a smart day trip from the city, the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History in Kennesaw is one of the most focused, family-friendly museums in the metro area.

Spelman College Museum Of Fine Art

The Spelman College Museum of Fine Art is one of Atlanta’s most distinctive cultural spaces, dedicated exclusively to art by women of the African diaspora. Tucked inside the historic Spelman College campus in Southwest Atlanta, it’s a must-visit for locals and visitors who want a deeper, more focused look at Black women’s artistic voices.

Tellus Science Museum (Cartersville)

If you live in Atlanta or you’re visiting the city and looking for a day trip that combines science, history, and hands-on fun, the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville is one of the best options within easy driving distance. It’s close enough for a half-day outing from Atlanta, but large and varied enough to fill an entire day, especially with kids.

Trap Music Museum

The Trap Music Museum is one of Atlanta’s most distinctive cultural attractions, blending art, music history, and immersive exhibits focused on the evolution of trap music and Southern hip-hop. If you live in Atlanta or you’re planning a visit, this guide walks you through what it is, what to expect, when to go, and how to make the most of your time there.

Waffle House Museum

If you love Waffle House, roadside diners, or Atlanta history, the Waffle House Museum in Decatur is one of the more unique things to do in the metro area. It’s not a typical large museum; it’s a restored version of the very first Waffle House, turned into a small, appointment-only museum that celebrates the brand’s Atlanta roots and Southern diner culture.