AJC Flashback Photos: Atlanta’s Gulch and viaducts

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AJC Flashback Photos: Atlanta’s Gulch and viaducts

The landmarks are standing testaments to Atlanta’s historical status as, quite literally, the South’s most vibrant rising metropolis.

AJC Flashback Photos: Atlanta’s Gulch and viaducts

Dec. 14, 1982 - Atlanta, Ga.: The railroad gulch between the Marta Five Points Station and Pryor St., look toward Pryor. Currently site of Underground Atlanta.

Whitehall Street, circa 1875, looking north toward Five Points, marked by water tower. Railroad tracks, and the gulch in which they were laid, was later spanned by the Whitehall Street viaduct. At right is the Kimball House hotel; at left, the once-popular National hotel.

This picture, made in 1900, shows the construction of the Whitehall Street viaduct in progress. There was no available derrick strong enough to raise the heavy supporting beams, so the engineers rigged up a crane of poles, powered by a locomotive. In center, back, is the old Union Station, demolished in 1930

Atlanta, Ga: Peachtree St. viaduct. Buildings decked out with bunting welcoming a shriners convention.

Construction of the Spring Street viaduct sometime around 1920. Buildings on Madison Street (right) include the Hotel Park, Ridley Yates Co., the Palace Hotel and Cathcart Moves and Stores. The Walthour & Hood Co. was at the intersection of West Hunter Street and Madison Ave. The tall white building in the far right background is the Candler Building. (File)

1939 - Atlanta, Ga - Looking down the railroad tracks before the construction of a building above the tracks at the Whitehall Street Viaduct. From to back, the bridges are Broad, Whitehall, Pryor, Central Avenue and Washington viaducts. Area is currently the site of the Five Points MARTA Station and Underground Atlanta.

1939 The Wall Street, looking toward the Pryor Street viaduct. Whitehall (now Peachtree St.) is in the background. Kimball House is major building on the right.

1948 - Atlanta, Ga: More than 17,000 vehicles travel Spring St. daily. Here, heavy traffic pours over the viaduct into the heart of Atlanta. Note the heavy bus straddling the lane marker as it swings wide of the curb as it approaches Marietta St. Terminal Station in the background.

Atlanta, Ga.: Overview looking westward from downtown Atlanta with construction continuing on the Hunder St. (MLK Jr. Dr) viaduct. The city's massive railyards take up the right side of the photo; while Terminal Station is the landmark building in center left. (Ken Patterson/AJC staff) 1961

Aug. 28, 1976 - ATLANTA, GA - Buildings between Forsyth and Peachtree Streets were demolished for the construction of the Five Points MARTA station. This construction scene shows Broad Street in the foreground, the old F.W. Woolworth building on the right, the Forsyth Street viaduct is underconstruction in the center. The Omni Complex (now CNN Center) is in the background. (Charles Pugh/AJC staff) 1976

Exterior shot of the Omni. Photo taken July 17, 1988. (John Spink/AJC staff)

Spring Street Viaduct: completed in 1925, the 1,550 foot long bridge was built before the development of air entrainment, which introduces tiny bubbles that help concrete survive freezing. Now deteriorating, it will cost at least $10 million to replace. Photo taken August 13, 1987. (Louie Favorite/AJC staff)

April 18, 1988 - Atlanta, Ga. - Spring Street viaduct. The 1,550 foot bridge was built in 1924. Statue of Phoenix in center.

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AJC Flashback Photos: Atlanta’s Gulch and viaducts

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