About Us
Our Story
In the early 1900's, the citizens of Atlanta raised $9,400 to build the Atlanta Public Library which was opened in 1908. Although often confused to be a Dale Carnegie Library, it is not. And it was within this architectural treasure that Lucille Pech and a few others decided to start the Atlanta Public Museum in 1973, aiming to make Atlanta the best documented small town in America.

Over the next 30 years, the citizens brought a treasure trove of artifacts, photographs, papers, public records, memorabilia and historical information to Lucille, that she meticulously hand-recorded in her spiral bound notebooks. When it became apparent that the current location could no longer hold all these wonderful treasures, the Library Board began to look for another location to either annex the overflow or to move the entire collection.
In 2006, the Downey Building, which was gifted to the Library years before by Judge Bevins, was the first location the Museum was annexed to; unfortunately, it wasn't large enough to house the entire collection, and after much discussion, the majority of the collection was placed in storage as the Library Board and the Museum Advisory Board worked to find a more permanent solution.
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In 2008, the Library was gifted with another building which formerly housed the Palm's Grill, a local eatery that was hugely popular in the 1940's - 1960's. However, the back half of the building was completely missing due to an explosion which left the first and second floors, literally, in the basement, or what was the basement but was now a crater 15 feet deeper. But the Library Board was undeterred and began the painful, and expensive, rebuild of the Palm's Grill and the building as a whole. When complete there was room for approximately 60% of the collection to be put on display. The permanent collections were the Atlanta Schools Collections, the Atlanta Fair Collection, the Atlanta Military Collection, the Abraham Lincoln Collection, the Atlanta Civic, Municipal, Religious, and Cultural Collection, and local business items dating back to the establishment of the town in 1853.
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The Palm's Grill, which was now part of the Museum, soon became a thriving restaurant again, pushing the actual Museum to the background and the collections were seemingly abandoned. From 2014 - 2019, the focus remained on the Palm's Grill and the upkeep to the Museum further deteriorated. With the 2020 pandemic and the closure of all eateries and businesses, the Palm's Grill and the Museum were closed down. Then, in 2021, a new 'curator' was hired. Unfortunately, with little to no training, the Museum was slowly torn apart - exhibits, artifacts, photographs and more were taken down and just thrown into the Archive Room, literally on the floors with no respect or care.
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It was during this time, the Library Board was in flux, with new members being elected along with the return of a former Board member from the early 2000's. In January 2024, the Museum Advisory Board was re-established and the painful effort to uncover what had happened, and how it could be undone, began. Within months, the Advisory Board had a handle on the situation and work was started on re-establishing the now three buildings (the Union Hall was donated in 2017 but never used as part of the Museum), as an actual Museum. The Advisory Board was able to completely redo the entire first floor of the three buildings and put in a small retail area to help generate money for the next phase of renovations on the second floor after the tourist season was complete.
The Atlanta Public Museum was re-opened to the Public on Saturday, May 25, 2024, the start of Memorial Day weekend. This was especially poignant as one of the new areas was a dedicated Memorial Hall to the residents of Atlanta who have served in the Armed Forces. Not only are the artifacts given to the Museum on display, but a Wall of Honor was established with every member's portrait displayed with their Branch, Rank, Honors, Years Served and Conflicts placed on plaques. Visitors can read some of the astounding stories these Hometown Heros endured to defend our freedoms.
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​​With the close of the 2024 Tourist Season, the Museum Staff and Volunteers are currently working to refreshen the remaining Collections, establish new areas and putting together a dynamic series of events and special exhibits for 2025.
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We look forward to seeing everyone in 2025 and hope you enjoy all the new and exciting changes to the Atlanta Public Musuem.
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