This covered walkway links the multi-level parking deck with Atlanta’s cultural heart — Pemberton Place. Along the way, signs point the direction: ticket counters to the left, the entrance to the Georgia Aquarium to the right. Digital boards display ticket prices and show schedules, so even the walk itself feels like the beginning of the experience.
Yet behind this practical design lies the city’s story. Atlanta was born in the 1830s as a rail junction called Terminus, named for the Western & Atlantic Railroad. Railroads made it the “Gateway to the South.” After being destroyed in the Civil War, the city rebuilt at astonishing speed, becoming an industrial hub and the face of the “New South.” In 1886, local pharmacist John Pemberton created the recipe for Coca-Cola here — a drink that would turn Atlanta into a global name.
Today, Pemberton Place brings together three icons that reflect Atlanta’s many identities. The Georgia Aquarium embodies both science and entertainment. The World of Coca-Cola showcases the ingenuity of a local invention that conquered the world. And the Center for Civil and Human Rights honors the city’s role as a cradle of the Civil Rights Movement and the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr.
So the path from the parking lot into Pemberton Place is more than just a walk to the ticket booths. It feels like a symbolic gateway into Atlanta itself — a city where transportation, industry, and the struggle for equality all converge in one cultural landscape.
Atlanta began as a modest railway stop — the end of the line that unexpectedly grew into the South’s busiest hub. The city was burned to the ground during the Civil War, yet out of the ashes rose a bold, industrious Atlanta. This is the birthplace of Coca-Cola, the cradle of the modern Civil Rights Movement, and home to the largest Black middle class in the United States. Few cities embody change and resilience the way Atlanta does.
At the heart of downtown lies Pemberton Place, a cultural crossroads where three icons stand side by side: the vast Georgia Aquarium, the playful World of Coca-Cola, and the moving Center for Civil and Human Rights. A short walk from the parking lot takes you past fountains and green lawns straight into this vibrant trio.
The Georgia Aquarium is breathtaking in scale — the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Its glass tunnel immerses you in the deep, as whale sharks and graceful manta rays glide overhead, surrounded by a dazzling cast of marine life. The highlight for many visitors is the dolphin presentation in the “Ocean Theater,” a show where science and spectacle merge to reveal the intelligence and energy of these remarkable animals.
The World of Coca-Cola tells another side of Atlanta’s story. From Dr. John Pemberton’s original pharmacy syrup to a brand recognized by billions, the museum traces the evolution of a cultural icon. Visitors marvel at the legendary vault said to guard the secret formula, and the experience ends in the famous tasting room — more than 100 flavors from 40 countries. From familiar Fanta and Sprite to exotic drinks that spark delight or surprise, every sip is part of a global journey that began right here in Atlanta.
