Atlanta’s Cyclorama is getting a new home.

The 128- year- old oil painting of the Civil War’s Battle of Atlanta is moving from Grant Park to the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead.

Sheffield Hale, president and CEO of the History Center, says they will be able to restore the painting and add 3,268 square feet.

“Ten feet of the sky was taken out and eight feet of the vertical. The Decatur Road was completely eliminated from it when it was put in the building in 1921,” said Hale. “The current building was too small then. And now we’ll be able to hang it back in its restored shape and restore all of the missing elements.”

The center has raised $32 million dollars in private funds to build a 23,000 square foot annex to house the restored Cyclorama. Construction is expected to summer 2015.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced the painting’s move Wednesday.

“The relocation of Atlanta Cyclorama to the History Center represents a unique opportunity to renew one of the city’s most important cultural and historical landmarks,” said Reed.

Hale says the painting’s new home will open up to an even wider audience.

“It’s great for the painting. The painting is in need of restoration. It’s in need of restoration, it’s in need of being preserved. We’ve got the ability to do that financially. And it’s going to have a new era, and new audiences.”

The move must still be approved by the Atlanta City Council.

After the relocation is complete, the Cyclorama building will be transferred to Zoo Atlanta.

Tags: Civil War, Cyclorama