Did you know that Atlanta is home to more than one stone memorial to the Confederacy? Or that the history of the Coca-Cola Neon Spectacular sign stretches back to the 1930s?
How about those quaint days when the Downtown Connector was less than six lanes wide?
Throughout 2015, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published many pieces that dove deep into the wide, sometimes wild or weird history of the metro Atlanta area. Here is a look at some of the best of those.
1. The grassy half-acre around the Lion of the Confederacy, in Oakland Cemetery, contains the remains of 3,000 unknonwn Confederate dead for whom the beast is their only marker. [Read more]
2. Take a look back at the early years and expansion of the Downtown Connector. [See the photos]
3. Businesses come and go, but neon signs become landmarks the moment they get switched on. Here are the stories behind 13 iconic Atlanta neon signs that got turned off, and what happened next. [Read more]
4. The old Sears building, now home to the bustling Ponce City Market, has been many things during its decades in existence: a retail outlet, a warehouse and a government building. [See the archival photos]
5. War in our backyards: 150 years ago, Atlanta became a decisive turning point in American history. [Here's why]
The AJC has rounded up its biggest, best and most impactful stories of 2015. Click here to see the complete list of "must-reads."
