| Piedmont Park is Atlanta's beloved green space. | | | | American race relations. This was the place that |
| Originally a gentlemen's club for riding horses, the 185 | | | | Booker T. Washington made his famous "Atlanta |
| acres is now a park located in the heart of the city. | | | | Compromise" speech. It had been 30 years since the |
| The grounds were transformed in 1895 when the | | | | Civil War had freed the country of slavery, and |
| Cotton States and International Exposition was held on | | | | America was floundering in establishing civil rights for |
| the site. For almost a year previous to the exposition, | | | | African Americans. The Atlanta Compromise Speech |
| workers leveled hills, built up low ground, enlarged a | | | | was given at the Opening Ceremonies of the Atlanta |
| pond to form a lake, and constructed massive buildings | | | | Exposition on September 18, 1895. Booker T. |
| to host the fair. Atlanta had hosted previous and | | | | Washington advocated racial harmony through social |
| smaller expositions, but the one in 1895 is the one | | | | segregation in exchange for black economic |
| commonly known as "The Atlanta Exposition" because | | | | opportunity and education. The speech was generally |
| of its magnitude - both literally and figuratively. It was | | | | accepted at the time as an acceptable way to |
| this exposition that formed the layout of the park as it | | | | incorporate the newly-freed African Americans, but it |
| exists today. | | | | was later criticized as not promoting true racial equality. |
| Almost a million people attended the Atlanta Exposition, | | | | It was a first step to providing equal civil rights to all |
| including U.S. President Grover Cleveland, U.S. President | | | | Americans, regardless of race. |
| William McKinley, Buffalo Bill, and numerous state | | | | Today, the grounds at Piedmont Park still closely |
| governors and Civil War officers. Over 6000 exhibits | | | | resemble the Atlanta Exposition fairgrounds. Stone |
| showcased the achievements of the day such as | | | | walls, staircases, planters, and balustrades remain in the |
| inventions involving electricity, agriculture, transportation, | | | | park unchanged from when they were built in 1895. |
| and manufacture. There were twelve main buildings - | | | | The citizens of Atlanta utilize the park for mass |
| each crammed with remarkable pieces showcasing | | | | gatherings such as the Dogwood Festival, Arts |
| the world's abilities. The Atlanta Exposition displayed | | | | Festival, and Pride Festival. Finish lines for the |
| fine art from America and Europe. The first motion | | | | Peachtree Road Race, Aids Walk Atlanta, and the |
| picture projector showed movies in the first movie | | | | Breast Cancer 3-Day are in the park. Local residents |
| theater at the exposition; the projector was later sold | | | | run, walk their dogs, and play sports at the park on a |
| to Thomas Edison who successfully marketed it as | | | | daily basis. A non-profit group, the Piedmont Park |
| the Vitascope. Education was emphasized at the | | | | Conservancy, has overseen the restoration and care |
| Atlanta Exposition, and schools from kindergarten to | | | | of ninety percent of the park for twenty years. Three |
| universities provided exhibits of their facilities and | | | | million people visit Piedmont Park each year, and many |
| accomplishments. | | | | of them never realize that this historic park was |
| One of the more interesting aspects of the Atlanta | | | | formed by the Atlanta Exposition. |
| Exposition was the effect the fair had upon African | | | | |