That '70s City: Scenes from Atlanta

News

That '70s City: Scenes from Atlanta in the 1970s

Historic photo gallery from Atlanta in the 1970s, curated by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The main dance floor of Backstreet in the late 1970s.

"The Strip" at Peachtree and 10th Street in midtown Atlanta became home to many runaways in 1978.

Midtown -- near the corner of Peachtree and 10th streets -- was the hub of Atlanta's hippie community in 1971.

Atlantans Leigh Bunkins and Tom Duggins campaign for the environment in Hurt Park on April 23, 1970.

The Plaza Theatre in Briarcliff Plaza was an adult theatre in 1979.

Shoppers pour into Perimeter Mall on Aug. 11, 1971.

Central City Park in 1979.

Pigeons fly up from Central City Park in front of the Trust Company Bank building in 1979. It's now Woodruff Park.

These male students were ejected from Marietta High School for their long hair in 1971.

At the Avondale MARTA station in 1979, the first passengers came through the turnstiles -- or like the girl on the right, climbed over after some of the gates failed to work.

By 1979, Mary Mac's Tea Room was already an Atlanta landmark.

Peachtree Industrial Boulevard stretches into mud at I-285 in 1970.

Construction continues on the base of the Southern Bell headquarters building in Midtown in 1978.

The Sears building on Ponce de Leon in 1979.

The Tropical Grove Fruit Stand stood at 421 Ponce de Leon Avenue in 1979.

The Blackstone Inn was a restaurant in Underground Atlanta.

The first 1977 Cougar XR-7 rolls off the assembly line at the Ford plant in Hapeville in 1976.

Peachtree Road facing south, in Buckhead in 1978.

A man is carried off by Atlanta Police during a downtown street fight in 1971.

Club Centaur was a strip club on Peachtree Street in Midtown in 1970.

"The Strip," looking north on Peachtree Street from 10th Street in 1977.

Peachtree Street in Midtown in 1977.

Young street people gather near 10th Street in 1970.

These children were among hundreds served ice cream and other goodies at a party in 1972 celebrating the 125th birthday of the city of Atlanta.

In 1972, traffic on Peachtree Street was light in front of Peachtree Center.

1/25

The main dance floor of Backstreet in the late 1970s.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Jesse Jackson

PHOTOS: Civil rights icon Jesse Jackson found stage and home in Atlanta

Spring training Day 5 (Saturday)

PHOTOS: Day 5 of spring training for the Braves

Valentines for Veterans

Metro Atlanta students write valentines to veterans

GHSA Championship, Dance, Akins Ford Arena, Athens

PHOTOS: Georgia teams dance way to state championships

More Galleries

01202026 day of protests

PHOTOS: Metro Atlanta ICE protest join national effort

PHOTOS: Georgia's first snowfall of the year

PHOTOS: Georgia's first snowfall of the year

Macon High School Restaurant

PHOTOS: The Compass Rose Cafe serves up quality food with heaping side dishes of life skills

Juwad Maynard holds a banner during a protest in Atlanta on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, against the U.S. military action in Venezuela. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

PHOTOS: People gather in downtown Atlanta to protest U.S. military action in Venezuela