Liberty Plaza (Atlanta) facts for kids
Liberty Plaza is a public open space in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. It is right next to the Georgia State Capitol building. Finished in 2015, this 2.2-acre plaza is big enough for over 3,000 people. It has been a popular spot for many political gatherings and events in Atlanta.
Building Liberty Plaza
The idea for a public green space near the Georgia State Capitol is very old. People first talked about it way back in 1910! An architect named Haralson Bleckley suggested a wide, tree-lined path leading to the Capitol. This plan was part of a movement called "City Beautiful," which aimed to make cities more attractive with parks and grand buildings.
However, this first plan was turned down in 1916. Even though people tried to bring it back several times in the 1920s and 1930s, it never happened. Other ideas for a square plaza also didn't work out. Because there was no proper plaza, many important events and protests had to happen on the street near the Capitol. This often meant closing the road. A former state senator once said that Georgia's Capitol had "probably the smallest amount of green space of any Capitol I know of."
A Modern Plaza is Built
Finally, in 2008, the idea for Liberty Plaza came up again. This time, it was planned for the east side of the Capitol. In late 2013, the Georgia Building Authority approved the project. It cost $4.4 million, and the money came from selling old government buildings that were no longer needed.
Work on the plaza started on June 5, 2014. First, they tore down an old parking garage that had been there for 60 years. The plaza was finished in 2015. It is 2.2 acres big and includes a large grass lawn. It can hold more than 3,000 people for events.
Georgia's Governor, Nathan Deal, wanted to have his inauguration ceremony at the new plaza in January 2015. But bad weather made them move the event inside the Capitol. A few days later, on January 16, Governor Deal officially opened Liberty Plaza. He also promised that a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. would be placed there.
Special Statues and Symbols
Liberty Plaza is home to some important symbols. You can find models of the famous Liberty Bell and the Statue of Liberty here. These models used to be in other places on the Capitol grounds.
Around the Liberty Bell, there is a circle of 13 flags. These flags represent the original Thirteen Colonies that formed the United States. The U.S. flag and the Liberty Plaza flag are also displayed.
A large statue of Martin Luther King Jr. stands overlooking the plaza. It was officially shown to the public on August 28, 2017. This date was special because it was the 54th anniversary of King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
