Cyclorama of the Battle of Atlanta
Also known as: Cyclorama
Why it's listed
Housed in a marble and granite building in Grant Park, this cyclorama is a 360-degree painting of the July 22, 1864 Battle of Atlanta. The cotton duck canvas is 400 feet around, 50 feet high and weighs 18,000 pounds. Ten German artists painted it in Milwaukee for the American Cyclorama Company after studying the battlefield in 1885, and it was first shown in Detroit in 1887. After touring American cities, it reached Atlanta in 1892, was sold at a sheriff's auction in 1893, and was later given to the city. Between 1934 and 1936 a WPA project added a three-dimensional foreground of plaster figures, shells, stumps and Georgia clay. The nomination cites its status as one of the largest paintings in the world and one of three surviving cycloramas, and the only one with a diorama effect. It also notes areas of deterioration and a need for restoration study.
Significance in brief: The painting is a detailed pictorial narrative of the key battle of the Atlanta Campaign and one of the few reminders of that period in the city's history. It is one of the largest paintings in the world and one of three surviving cycloramas. Its 1936 three-dimensional foreground makes it the only one of the three with a diorama effect.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000274, listed December 9, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Cherokee Ave., Grant Park, Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | December 9, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000274 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Architect / builder | Painted by a group of ten German artists under August Lohr and R.M. Heine at the American Cyclorama Company, Milwaukee; 1934-1936 foreground added by a WPA project directed by Wilbur G. Kurtz, Victor Llorens and Weiss Snell. |
| Areas of significance | Art, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in comparatively good preservation, though several small areas are badly deteriorated and the canvas, hung in free suspension, risks tearing; conservators recommended a preservation study. The form marks the property as occupied and open to the public. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.72594, -84.37105 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000274.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4816059
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.