Atlanta: From Railroads to Renaissance – Spring 2026 Symposium

SPRING SYMPOSIUM April 22–26, 2026
 
OPTIONAL TOURS
Athens and Madison: Classicism in the Piedmont April 22–23
Roswell: Grand Houses Along the Chattahoochee April 26

Join us as we explore Atlanta’s remarkable transformation from railroad terminus to cultural capital. Rising from the ashes of the Civil War, Atlanta became a beacon of the so-called New South, where early-20th-century architects like Philip Trammell Shutze created stunning estates and visionaries assembled collections that rival the nation’s finest. From the splendor of Swan House to the intimate elegance of private estates, from the folk art traditions of Georgia’s countryside to the sophisticated European porcelain housed in Athens, this Symposium reveals the layered history of a city and region that have always looked forward while honoring their past. As we engage with scholars, curators, and collectors who steward Atlanta’s artistic legacy, we discover how ambition, resilience, and distinctive regional character shaped an impressive decorative arts tradition and created the cradle of the civil rights movement.