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Coordinates: 33°44′55″N 84°23′14″W / 33.7485°N 84.3871°W / 33.7485; -84.3871
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==Statues and reproductions==
==Statues and reproductions==
The plaza houses model reproductions of the [[Liberty Bell]] and the [[Statue of Liberty]] that were previously held elsewhere on the Capitol grounds.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gba.georgia.gov/liberty-plaza|title=Liberty Plaza|website=Georgia Building Authority|publisher=[[Government of Georgia (U.S. state)|Government of Georgia]]|language=en|url-status=live|access-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref> The plaza also hosts a statue of [[Thomas E. Watson]], which had previously been located at the Capitol steps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/tom-watson-statue-removed-from-georgia-capitol-steps/lXsGyKnHtKqWHvabgEzNVP/|title=Tom Watson statue removed from Georgia’s Capitol steps|last=Torres|first=Kristina|date=November 29, 2013|website=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|publisher=[[Cox Enterprises]]|language=english|url-status=live|access-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref> In 2017, a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. overlooking the plaza was unveiled.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/long-time-coming-mlk-statue-unveiled-georgia-capitol/8HzZicjTYH9fwZ18tOlwZK/|title=Long time coming: MLK statue unveiled at Georgia Capitol|last=Bluestein|first=Greg|date=August 28, 2017|website=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|publisher=[[Cox Enterprises]]|language=English|url-status=live|access-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/georgia-capitols-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-unveiled-54th-anniversary-dream/|title=Georgia Capitol's Martin Luther King Jr. statue unveiled on 54th anniversary of "I Have a Dream"|last=Wells|first=Myrydd|date=August 28, 2017|website=[[Atlanta (magazine)|Atlanta]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|access-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref>
The plaza houses model reproductions of the [[Liberty Bell]] and the [[Statue of Liberty]] that were previously held elsewhere on the Capitol grounds.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gba.georgia.gov/liberty-plaza|title=Liberty Plaza|website=Georgia Building Authority|publisher=[[Government of Georgia (U.S. state)|Government of Georgia]]|language=en|url-status=live|access-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref> Surrounding the Liberty Bell is a ring of 13 flags from the original [[Thirteen Colonies]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wanderlustatlanta.com/2020/01/atlantas-liberty-plaza.html|title=Atlanta's Liberty Plaza|last=Taylor|first=Travis Swann|date=January 16, 2020|website=wanderlust ATLANTA|language=en|url-status=live|access-date=February 1, 2020}}</ref> The plaza also hosts a statue of [[Thomas E. Watson]], which had previously been located at the Capitol steps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/tom-watson-statue-removed-from-georgia-capitol-steps/lXsGyKnHtKqWHvabgEzNVP/|title=Tom Watson statue removed from Georgia’s Capitol steps|last=Torres|first=Kristina|date=November 29, 2013|website=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|publisher=[[Cox Enterprises]]|language=english|url-status=live|access-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref> In 2017, a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. overlooking the plaza was unveiled.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/long-time-coming-mlk-statue-unveiled-georgia-capitol/8HzZicjTYH9fwZ18tOlwZK/|title=Long time coming: MLK statue unveiled at Georgia Capitol|last=Bluestein|first=Greg|date=August 28, 2017|website=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|publisher=[[Cox Enterprises]]|language=English|url-status=live|access-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/georgia-capitols-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-unveiled-54th-anniversary-dream/|title=Georgia Capitol's Martin Luther King Jr. statue unveiled on 54th anniversary of "I Have a Dream"|last=Wells|first=Myrydd|date=August 28, 2017|website=[[Atlanta (magazine)|Atlanta]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|access-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 07:27, 1 February 2020

33°44′55″N 84°23′14″W / 33.7485°N 84.3871°W / 33.7485; -84.3871

Liberty Plaza, with the Georgia State Capitol in the background. (2015)

Liberty Plaza is a public plaza in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, adjacent to the Georgia State Capitol. Completed in 2015, the 2.2-acre plaza is capable of holding over 3,000 people and has hosted numerous political demonstrations in Atlanta.

History

The idea of a public greenspace near the Georgia State Capitol dates back to 1910, when a tree-lined boulevard approaching the capitol was proposed.[1] This proposal, an example of the City Beautiful movement, was made by Atlanta-based architect Haralson Bleckley and would have seen the Gulch capped by a broad civic plaza extending from the Capitol to Terminal Station.[2] This proposal (referred to as the "Bleckley Plaza Plan") was rejected in 1916, and while it was revived in 1923, 1927, and 1930, all revivals were ultimately rejected.[3] Other proposals made in 1927, 1932, and 1944 called for a square plaza built between the Capitol and Atlanta City Hall, but like the previous proposals, these never came to fruition.[4] Because of the lack of a plaza near the Capitol, most political demonstrations and inaugurations on the Capitol grounds were held near the western entrance of the Capitol on Washington Street, which often caused the road to be closed.[5][6]

In 2008, Liberty Plaza was proposed as a public plaza located on the east side of the Capitol.[7] The plaza was approved in the Fall of 2013 by the Georgia Building Authority, with a cost of $4.4 million that was raised through the selling of unneeded government buildings.[1] With designs by architectural firm Stevens & Wilkinson, construction of the plaza began in 2014 on the site of a 60-year-old parking garage, which was demolished to make way for the plaza.[1][8] Completed in 2015, the 2.2-acre public plaza includes an 8,000-square-foot grass lawn and is capable of holding over 3,000 people.[1][9][10] The first major event held at the plaza occurred on January 12, 2015, when Governor Nathan Deal held his inauguration at the newly constructed plaza.[11][12] Several days later on January 16, Deal officially dedicated the plaza.[8][13] Deal also pledged that a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. would be constructed on the plaza.[8][14]

Notable demonstrations that have occurred at the plaza include the March for Our Lives in 2018, a climate strike in September 2019, and the 2020 Georgia March for Life.[15][16][17][18] In 2018, the ACLU of Georgia sent a latter to the Georgia Building Authority (which operates the plaza) urging them to amend their policies regarding permits for holding political rallies and protests at the location.[19]

Statues and reproductions

The plaza houses model reproductions of the Liberty Bell and the Statue of Liberty that were previously held elsewhere on the Capitol grounds.[13][20] Surrounding the Liberty Bell is a ring of 13 flags from the original Thirteen Colonies.[21] The plaza also hosts a statue of Thomas E. Watson, which had previously been located at the Capitol steps.[22] In 2017, a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. overlooking the plaza was unveiled.[23][24]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Salzer, James (April 26, 2014). "Remake of Capitol Hill includes new, 'Liberty Plaza'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ Morrison, Jeffrey (December 1, 2019). Atlanta Underground: History from Below. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-4930-4371-2 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Lands, LeeAnn (2009). The Culture of Property: Race, Class, and Housing Landscapes in Atlanta, 1880-1950. University of Georgia Press. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-8203-3392-2 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Plans for Liberty Plaza at the State Capitol". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved February 1, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Salzer, James (November 29, 2014). "Liberty Plaza taking shape for governor's inauguration". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved February 1, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Williams, Dave (January 9, 2015). "New plaza makes more space for 'liberty'". Atlanta Business Chronicle. American City Business Journals. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "Liberty Plaza: A hundred years in the making". Georgia Building Authority. Government of Georgia. August 15, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ a b c Kelley, Collin (January 16, 2015). "Liberty Plaza opens across from State Capitol". Atlanta INtown Paper. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ Blau, Max (March 28, 2016). "These 26 projects will radically transform Memorial Drive". Atlanta. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ Salzer, James (January 26, 2016). "State of Georgia gives Liberty Plaza lawn a $1,000 dye job". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ "Deal's inauguration set for Jan. 12 in Atlanta". The Covington News. December 1, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Salzer, James (July 27, 2015). "Six months after it opens, Liberty Plaza needs a $12,000 sod-lift". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ a b Bluestein, Greg (January 16, 2015). "State opens Liberty Plaza across from Capitol". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Henry County man to sculpt MLK statue for Ga. Capitol". WXIA-TV. June 30, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ Martinez, Courtney (March 24, 2018). "March for Our Lives Atlanta: How the march unfolded on social media". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Ikeda, Emilie (September 20, 2019). "Hundreds flood Georgia State Capitol steps in climate strike". WAGA-TV. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ "Annual Georgia March for Life Tomorrow". Christian News Wire. January 21, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Pronechen, Joseph (January 10, 2020). "Standing for the Unborn, State by State: Where to Witness to Life Around Nation". National Catholic Register. EWTN. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "The ACLU of Georgia Urges the State Building Authority to End Government Censorship of Liberty Plaza". American Civil Liberties Union. March 13, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "Liberty Plaza". Georgia Building Authority. Government of Georgia. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ Taylor, Travis Swann (January 16, 2020). "Atlanta's Liberty Plaza". wanderlust ATLANTA. Retrieved February 1, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ Torres, Kristina (November 29, 2013). "Tom Watson statue removed from Georgia's Capitol steps". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ Bluestein, Greg (August 28, 2017). "Long time coming: MLK statue unveiled at Georgia Capitol". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ Wells, Myrydd (August 28, 2017). "Georgia Capitol's Martin Luther King Jr. statue unveiled on 54th anniversary of "I Have a Dream"". Atlanta. Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Further reading

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