- Thread Starter
- #5,671
You've probably seen this parking deck at Peachtree and Decatur Streets in Downtown, just north of Underground Atlanta. What used to stand here (the second image) was the Kimball House hotel. Built in the 1880s, the hotel lasted until 1959 when it was demolished to build parking.
Hotels like this used to be oriented toward the long-gone passenger train terminals in South Downtown, to appeal to intercity travellers coming from the tracks. With intercity trains no longer serving Downtown, hotels today are largely oriented toward the interstate highways for people driving in.
Ironically, the Kimball House hosted some planning sessions for the design of Atlanta's early freeways, arguably playing a part in its own demise as car trips replaced train trips.
Note: the image of the Kimball House is showing a view from the opposite corner of the city block where it stood, compared to the parking deck pic.
Hotels like this used to be oriented toward the long-gone passenger train terminals in South Downtown, to appeal to intercity travellers coming from the tracks. With intercity trains no longer serving Downtown, hotels today are largely oriented toward the interstate highways for people driving in.
Ironically, the Kimball House hosted some planning sessions for the design of Atlanta's early freeways, arguably playing a part in its own demise as car trips replaced train trips.
Note: the image of the Kimball House is showing a view from the opposite corner of the city block where it stood, compared to the parking deck pic.
