Atlanta History Center, home of Swan House, Tullie Smith House and the museum of Atlanta's history of the Civil War. (Photo credit: Phillip Spears) RELATED LINKS Return to Atlanta City Guide

Set aside the better part of a day to experience this engaging complex in the Buckhead district, where visitors can immerse themselves in local history, visit a demonstration farm, tour an elegant upper-class mansion and stroll through 32 acres of tranquil gardens and woodlands.

First stop is the Atlanta History Museum, which features well-constructed permanent exhibits focusing on Atlanta history, the Civil War, Southern folk arts, and the life of Georgia golfing legend Bobby Jones. At the Tullie Smith Farm, docents in period costumes guide visitors through an authentic 1840s farmhouse and adjacent outbuildings. The farm features demonstrations of open-hearth cooking, blacksmithing, weaving, quilting and other aspects of daily life in the antebellum South. Also on the property is the Swan House, a classically styled home built in 1928 and meticulously restored to its original appearance right down to the furniture, wallpaper and paint. Lunch is served Monday through Saturday at the Swan Coach House, a formal restaurant adjacent to the Swan House (11 am to 2:30 pm, no reservations except for parties of 10 or more). For more casual fare, visit the Coca-Cola Café, a re-created 1950s soda shop.

A single admission ticket covers all Atlanta History Center attractions at a cost of $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, $10 for ages 4 to 12, free for children 3 and under. The center is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5:30 pm, and Sundays from noon to 5:30 pm. Visit www.atlantahistorycenter.com or call 404-814-4000 for more information.