Atlanta home donated in 1926 became 300,000-sq-ft museum 100 years later
Atlanta's High Museum of Art is celebrating its centennial, marking 100 years since the donation of a private home that evolved into a major cultural institution. The museum is commemorating the milestone with community events and expanded programming to engage the public.
Why it matters
The museum's growth reflects the broader cultural development of Atlanta and the role of private philanthropy in establishing public arts infrastructure.
A century ago, a private home on Peachtree Street became the starting point for what would grow into one of the American South’s most significant cultural institutions. Today, the High Museum of Art stretches across more than 300,000 square feet, houses a collection of over 20,000 works and is nearing 50,000 members, reflecting a remarkable transformation that has unfolded alongside Atlanta itself.As the city celebrates the museum’s centennial, the High is marking the occasion not simply by revisiting its history, but by looking at how art can continue to shape the city’s cultural future.From a Peachtree Street home to a major museumAccording to the High Museum of Art, the institution was established in October 1926, when Mrs. Hattie High donated her stately Peachtree Street residence to Atlanta for use as a school and museum.
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