West End / Atlanta University Center

From the AUC to the Wren’s Nest

The Atlanta University Center is the hub of historically black colleges and universities in the nation, and it’s no surprise that it is located near the West End – a neighborhood closely tied to Atlanta’s history.

The historic community of West End – founded in the 1830s at the height of railway construction –features fully restored period homes and Victorian cottages. The neighborhood is located on the MARTA line and is just – you guessed it – west of Downtown Atlanta.

The Wren’s Nest is a perfect destination for parents wanting to introduce their children to the art of storytelling and will give your family memories to last a lifetime.

In West End, you’ll find the Wren’s Nest, former home of Joel Chandler Harris – author of “Brer Rabbit”– and the Hammond’s House Museum which is filled with African-American art. The Wren’s Nest is a perfect destination for parents wanting to introduce their children to the art of storytelling and will give your family memories to last a lifetime, and may even help the little ones start a writing career of their own.

The Atlanta University Center, composed of Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse School of Medicine, is also located near the West End. Take a tour to explore the concentration of historically black colleges and universities and understand the role of the colleges in the fabric of Atlanta’s culture.

Take some time during your visit to stop by the art galleries, too. Clark Atlanta University Art Museum offers programs and exhibits focusing on African and African diaspora art. Spelman College Museum of Fine Art is the only museum in the nation emphasizing art by women of the African Diaspora. Both art galleries are open to the public with special lectures and performances year round.

Want to go?

• Location: West End/AUC is located 2.5 miles southeast of Peachtree Street in Downtown Atlanta.
• Getting there: Take the MARTA red or gold lines to the West End station.

Did you know…

• Southwest Atlanta is home to Alfred “Tup” Holmes Memorial Clubhouse, which was renamed in honor of the golfer whose actions led to the desegregation of all public golf courses in America.
• West End was the initial test pilot for the Atlanta BeltLine and a model mile was completed in 2008.
• The Wren’s Nest got its name from the Harris children who discovered a wren had built a home in the family mailbox. Instead of removing the nest, they built a new mailbox.
• Cascade Heights, also located in Southwest Atlanta, is notably the residential epicenter of Atlanta’s black elite and powerful. Notable residents include: former Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin, baseball legend Hank Aaron, former UN Ambassador and Atlanta mayor Andrew Young; civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis, and Benjamin Mays, Ph.D. (1894-1984).