the histories of our streets

Georgia State University students map Atlanta's past

Author: Mady Pierce

Atlanta Area School for the Deaf and the History Behind Deaf Education in Atlanta

Deaf and hard of hearing children were never allowed the same level of access to education that hearing children received. Up until the early 1900s, Deaf education was overlooked in Atlanta. Deaf and hard of hearing children weren’t allowed to attend public schools and were forced to be homeschooled. Without the proper tools they needed to succeed, such as a form of communication and effective teaching methods, hearing impaired children were given the label of “Deaf and Dumb”.

Georgia School for the Deaf in 1888
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The Centennial Park Waterfalls

One of my favorite places in downtown Atlanta is the trail of waterfalls located on the east side of Centennial Park. The atmosphere of trickling waterfalls is quiet and soothing, even though it can be found in the heart of the city. When I was a little girl, I would visit Atlanta every summer to see my mom. We would go to many exciting tourist attractions and around lunch time we would always have a picnic in centennial park. The trail of waterfalls was specifically my favorite section of the park because it offered a scenic feel with city views.

Centennial Park was originally created for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. 1 “The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, Billy Payne, recommended that the city create a large gathering space in downtown that would serve as a central gathering space during the games and leave a lasting legacy for Atlantans to enjoy.” After tragedy struck at the 1996 Olympic Games, the park was turned into a memorial. There is artwork, statues, and structures that help keep the memory alive. When tourists visit Centennial Park, they are not only met with fun activities and museums, but also encouraged learn about the rich history of Atlanta.

  1. Kahn, M. (2015, July 30). Downtown’s nucleus, Centennial, wasn’t always a Park. Curbed Atlanta. Retrieved February 12, 2022, from https://atlanta.curbed.com/2015/7/30/9935930/centennial-olympic-park-atlanta-history-olympics
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