Atlanta has a long history of constructing viaducts, buildings, plazas, parks and parking decks above rail lines, creating vast "underground" areas that are largely unknown to the general public. One of the most impressive examples of this concrete and steel "layer cake" is the area surrounding the Magnolia Street underpass, now hidden far below the plaza between Philips Arena, the Georgia World Congress Center and the Georgia Dome. Greg de Torony sent this terrific photo. The original 19th century railroad embankment (circa 1870s) is almost completely obscured although it is still one the busiest rail lines in the city. The green bridge just beyond that was constructed in the 1970s. The remaining structures have been built since the early 1990s.
Here's what it looked like 35 years earlier. This postcard view of the Atlanta skyline in 1976 is one of thousands of great images found on Greg Germani's wonderful Atlanta Time Machine. The Magnolia Street underpass can be seen between the World Congress Center and the Omni, just to the left of the factory in the foreground.
A closer view... This shows the newly constructed second underpass to the left of the original one.
A closer view... This shows the newly constructed second underpass to the left of the original one.
This 1967 view shows part of the extensive rail yards that filled the area before the closing of the nearby Union and Terminal passenger stations.
I'm loving this blog! Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteWow! I have some memories of riding in cars through that "layer cake" back in the 70s and early 80s. I even have a faint memory of walking through it as part of a walking field trip to Downtown from John F. Kennedy Middle School (where I attended from '79-'80) which is just west of that area. You mentioned it being hidden beneath the Phillips/GWCC plaza. I always assumed it was just destroyed as part of the expansion of GWCC and the construction of Phillips and the Dome. Is it still intact down there? And is there any kind of access to it? That would be truly fascinating to see now. Love the pic from '68 showing the area before the Omni complex and GWCC were built. That predates my memory so it's interesting to see what it looked like then. Anyway, I am totally loving this blog! I check it almost daily to see what other treasures you've got to share! Keep it up!! :^)
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get that '67 pic from??
ReplyDeleteThat was taken from an incredible aerial photo I purchased from the Atlanta History Center.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much. That is one of the strangest sights in Atlanta, beneath those circular "skylights" Jeff Morrison's Unseen Underground tour swings through here and gives you a sense of what was there.
ReplyDeletehow do you get to the magnolia street underpass now? does anyone know??
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