This 11-story triangular building was designed by Bradford Gilbert and is the finest local example of the Chicago style of urban architecture. Built in 1897, this is the oldest steel-framed high rise in the city and is credited with influencing the design of many of the skyscrapers that sprang up in Atlanta over the following two decades. The building's name was derived from its distinctive narrow shape, the base of which is supported by half columns separated by vast windows.

Across from the Atlanta History Center, this restored house is home to an upscale restaurant as well as a fine arts gallery and gift shop. The restaurant serves creative regional dishes and light fare, presented in an elegant tearoom ambience. The same menu is also available in the more casual adjacent Pub Room. The Swan Coach House Gallery features works by Southern artists, 19th-century European and American paintings, and contemporary art reflecting Atlanta's artistic tradition. The gift shop offers decorative accessories, porcelains, silver, antiques and many small gift ideas.

Renowned local architect Neil Reid designed this Beaux-Arts classic in 1920 for the Hass-Howell Insurance Company. Although understated compared to the gaudy design often featured in this style, the ashlar stone building features an enormous, elaborately carved arched doorway that faces the more ornate U.S. Customs Building across the street. One of the oldest insurance companies in Atlanta, Haas-Howell still occupies eight floors of the building that bears its name.

Completed toward the end of Atlanta's first high-rise era, the Healey Building opened to the public in 1914. Rising 16 floors above downtown, the building was not completely finished, as a second tower had been put on hold because of the outbreak of World War I. When owner William Healey died shortly after the war, plans for the second tower were abandoned. Nonetheless, the single-towered stone and terracotta structure was a marvel of modern achievement and stood as a commanding landmark until the dawn of the skyscraper era.

This downtown high school is the alma mater of many of Atlanta's most famous citizens, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Built by architect Eugene C. Wachendorff, the building is a typical example of the elaborate revival styles popular in the 1920s. Standing three stories above the surrounding neighborhood, the structure's Byzantine elements lend a medieval cathedral flavor to the school. Five double-tiered terra cotta arches front the building, which was erected in 1922 using locally manufactured brick.

Commissioned in 1932 by Albert E. Thornton, this notable structure was built on land that had been in the family since the Thorntons helped settle the city several generations earlier. The progressive building was designed by Anthony Eyck Brown and is a rare local example of the Modernist style. The limestone exterior features fluted columns and elaborately adorned entablatures facing the street, while the marble and brass lobby is highlighted by an ornate elevator bay.

Developed in 1929 by two of Atlanta's most prominent citizens, this landmark structure stood for nearly a quarter century as the tallest building in Atlanta. Built by the Rhodes-Haverty Investment Company for a total cost of USD723,000, the building consists of 134,648 square feet (12,510 square meters) of office space. The three street facades are crowned by an arcade under a corbeled gable. In the 1960s, the original entrance canopies were removed and the ornate metal and plate-glass storefronts were covered by the existing granite veneer.

This home was constructed in 1883 by local architect Gottfried L. Norrman. Set against the somewhat incongruous backdrop of Midtown's glass and metal skyline, the High Victorian Queen Ann design is reminiscent of the shingle style popular on the eastern seaboard during the latter part of the 19th Century. Currently the Atlanta Preservation Center is working to protect the house which has come under pressure from developers. It is a major landmark in Atlanta and an important historical site.

When building this landmark in 1924, architect Joel Hurt was careful to keep frills to a minimum, preferring the simple base, shaft and capital design so prevalent in the office buildings of the 1890s. The resulting clarity of design still provides a handsome highlight to the Atlanta skyline, rising 17 stories above the downtown business district. As one of the city's earliest skyscrapers, the Hurt Building has enjoyed a storied history over the years. It is now used mainly for private office space. See website for photos and contact information.

Constructed in 1882 on the campus of Morris Brown College, this building is one of the oldest surviving structures on the original site of Atlanta University. Designed in the High Victorian style by architect G. L. Norrman, the three-story red brick hall has served various functions over the years, and now houses the university's administrative offices. The building is situated atop Diamond Hill, from which vantage point visitors are offered a nice view of the downtown area.