GRANT PARK: Will the Cyclorama leave?

GRANT PARK: Will the Cyclorama leave?
August 25, 2011
Jeff Hullinger
11Alive

ATLANTA -- Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and other city leaders will hold a meeting in September to discuss the future of the Atlanta Cyclorama.

Since 1922, the massive 360-degree mural depicting The Battle of Atlanta has been housed in Grant Park.

The painting made its first Atlanta appearance in the 1890's with Civil War veterans sharing their experiences from the bloody conflict.

At one time, it was the largest oil painting in the world. Unrolled, it measures 42 feet high by 358 feet long. To take it all in, the audience is seated, then rotated slowly, affording a view of the entire painting.

The Cyclorama isn't drawing many tourists these days.

A move to Buckhead, the Atlanta History Center or Downtown Atlanta might change all that.

"'Over the last few years the Cyclorama has seen a drop in attendance and revenue," said Camille Russell Love, the City of Atlanta's Director of Cultural Affairs. She said the study will take a year. "Where the Cyclorama relocates to, should it relocate at all, will be the decision of the committee."

There are issues too.

The painting is deteriorating.

All this as the nation commerates the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

"There are a lot of stories to be told about the Battle of Atlanta that are yet to be told," Love said. "We don't really have the right facility to tell that story."

Late Wednesday afternoon, the crowd was small, but it included Maureen Milchers, who has been coming to the Cyclorama since she was a little girl.

She doesn't support the possible move.

"I don't like the idea," Milchers said. "I like the tradition it has here. I also remember going to the zoo and the Cyclorama afterwards as a child."

There are so many interesting stories about the Cyclorama.

For 10 years, in the 1890's, the mural traveled the country as property of a circus.

They would roll it up using telephone poles.

Then the circus went bankrupt.

"Mr. Coca Cola" Robert Woodruff's grandfather bought the circus at auction for $1,100.

The animals went to what became Zoo Atlanta and next door, the Cyclorama at Grant Park was born.

Clark Gable came to Grant Park to view the mural during "The Gone With The Wind" premier in 1939.

The actor is alleged to have quipped to Mayor Hartsfield, "The painting is great; the only thing that would make it better is if I were in it."

Gable was placed in the display that year and has been lying mortally wounded on his back since 1939.

For more history and fun facts, visit the Atlanta Cyclorama website.