Druid Hills

Book excerpt: A collection of photographs that highlight historic Druid Hills in Atlanta, Georgia and the history behind the influential suburb. Three remarkable people were responsible for the beginnings of Atlanta's historic Druid Hills. The first was entrepreneur Joel Hurt, who having already experienced success with his rail-served development of Inman Park set his sights on a second community. With remarkable vision, Hurt hired renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. to plan his new subdivision. Druid Hills would be Olmsted's last design and also his only one in the Deep South. Hurt eventually sold the land for his subdivision to a group of wealthy and influential businessmen, headed by Coca-Cola owner Asa Griggs Candler. The men retained Olmsted as landscape architect and planner. The story of historic Druid Hills weaves the genius of America's father of landscape architecture with the acumen of the owners of the Druid Hills Corporation. With its central linear park, curvilinear streets, and an abundance of trees, Druid Hills succeeded in becoming an ideal suburb that eventually became home to the civic and business lions of Atlanta.