Review: Margaret Mitchell House

So what's the story here?
An extension of the Atlanta History Center, this preserved historic home includes the apartment where Margaret Mitchell, also known as Peggy Marsh (the married name she acquired by her second husband) wrote most of Gone With the Wind, several years before the great American novel became her claim to fame.

How has it been laid out as a museum?
Inside, you'll walk through Mitchell's private quarters adorned with period furniture and decorations matching Mitchell’s and learn more about the writer's life and work via historic photos and objects, like the same model of typewriter she used to pen her Pulitzer Prize-winning tome. Though the museum overall reads as steeped in history, the film Stars Fall on Atlanta: The Premiere of Gone With the Wind, adds extra color as it explores the star-studded 1939 movie premiere at the now-defunct Loew’s Grand.

Are there any special programs we should know about?
The House, managed by The Atlanta History Center, hosts 30 author programs each year in the adjoining Commercial Row space. The book signings, live readings and launch events are a nice complement to touring the home on your own.

Who are we likely to see here with us?
Lifelong Gone With the Wind fans do make pilgrimages here, though more often visitors are Atlanta tourists making the rounds on the history circuit.

On the practical tip, how were the facilities?
The museum is small enough to be manageable, but large enough—two stories of public spaces, plus the adjoining Commercial Row for rotating exhibits and events—to keep your interest. Unlike many preserved historic homes, it's been updated for handicap accessibility, with plenty of seating to take a quick rest.

Does the gift shop have any essentials?
The small but mighty has more than 600 items. It sells Gone With the Wind memorabilia—if you purchase a hardback book, you can have it marked with an embossed stamp—as well as original 3-D watercolors by local artist Patsy Gullett.

And if you're only a passing Gone With the Wind fan?
You can walk through the home as quickly or as leisurely as you want, and even if Mitchell isn’t a primary interest, the historic 1899-built home will appeal to fans of architecture, literature and Southern history.