Top five Atlanta facts everybody should know

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As the heart of the American South, Atlanta is a city rich in history. Unfortunately, not everyone knows about the unique facts of this fascinating city that we are about to share. From being the birthplace of Coca-Cola to being the home of two Nobel Prize winners, here are our top five facts of Atlanta.

1. The Birthplace of Coca-Cola

On May 8, 1886, the first glass of the carbonated drink we all know and love was sold by Dr. John Pemberton at Jacobs' Pharmacy in downtown Atlanta. During its first year, only 9 glasses per day were sold. Sadly, Dr. Pemberton did not realize the fizzy drink's true potential and sold all of his remaining rights to the drink in 1888 shortly before his death.

2. World's Largest Drive-in Restaurant

Yes, the largest drive-in restaurant in the world is located in Atlanta. It's the one that greets you with "What’ll ya have… What’ll ya have?" — The Varsity.

Originally named "The Yellow Jackets" by its founder Frank Gordy in 1928, the establishment has since grown and expanded to other locations in Georgia. But their 5-acre downtown North Avenue location, where Gordy was first forced to move due to the growing business, is still the one with the iconic title.

3. A lot of 'Peachtrees'

We're not talking about the actual tree, though. In Atlanta, there are at least 71 streets with some form of 'Peachtree' in their names. There is a local running gag that wherever your turn right or left in the city, you'll always end up on Peachtree Street.

4. Was renamed twice

Established in 1837 as Terminus, the city's name was changed to Marthasville in 1843 after the daughter of Governor Wilson Lumpkin, Martha Atalanta Lumpkin. Two years later, the Chief Engineer of the Georgia Railroad, Edgar Thomson, proposed to rename the city again to "Atlantica-Pacifica", and its shortened version, "Atlanta" — which sounded similar to the governor's daughter's middle name — became the city's present name.

5. Two Nobel Peace Prize winners

Atlanta is one of the only two cities in the world to have housed two Nobel Peace Prize winners. They are none other than Martin Luther King Jr. and President Jimmy Carter.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent resistance against racism in the U.S. Meanwhile, President Jimmy Carter was awarded one for “his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”

Did you learn something new? When the time is right, come visit Atlanta and enjoy its city lights and tree canopies. Learn more amazing facts about Atlanta while you immerse yourself in the city's Southern hospitality.

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