"The Peach State"

Welcome to Georgia

Georgia/Florida border on I-75
July 17, 2010

It's easy to forget that Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River or it is one of the original 13 colonies (I was surprised it was the fourth state to join the Union), as I tend to think of it by its nickname of "Empire of the South," rather than historic colony. Georgia may be known as the Peach State, but the number of billboards along I-75 selling pecans outnumbered the ones for peaches at least three-to-one. One thing people do not forget about Georgia is the oppressive heat and humidity, and visiting in July was particularly poor planning on my part. Despite the weather, the local vegetation seemed well-adjusted, as the scenery was quite enjoyable.

It's hard to find fault with identifying yourself with Ray Charles, and the reference to his song seems like a great way to welcome people to Georgia. The personification of the sign and the use of "we" seems a little odd; however, it does make it unique among other welcome signs. I like what the designers were trying to do here, but it seems like they missed in execution. The reference to the Olympics seems overblown, and the use of all capital letters is especially galling. Overall it is a little too busy for a welcome sign, as the reference to "Georgia on your mind" would have been sufficient. And no, the governor is not related to the Perdue chicken company.

Welcome to Atlanta

July 15, 2010

The de facto capital of the south, Atlanta is a massive metropolis with traffic that is comparable to Los Angeles. It also boasts the busiest airport in the world, an impressive feat for an area that didn't have a million residents 50 years ago. The sprawling downtown appears endless, and the numerous streets named "Peachtree" make it impossible to navigate. The city still has several prominent features that are carry-overs from the 1996 Summer Olympics, such as Olympic Park and Turner Field, but I never got the sense there was actual athletic competition held anywhere. This may be due to the fact that Olympic cities tend to be smaller and more intimate, two adjectives that wouldn't apply to Atlanta. As the home to the Cola-Cola headquarters, it was entertaining trying to track down a Pepsi machine.

My picture of the Georgia State Capitol may appear mundane, but the story behind it is anything but. I always try to take a picture of the capitol from the front, unless there is something that would prevent a good shot. The building is located on a small block in the heart of downtown, surrounded by smaller buildings on all sides. Across the street is a Presbyterian church with a courtyard. This seemed ideal, until I realized the building blocked half of the capitol. So I tried to take my picture from the rear, and there was a parking structure that seemed perfect. However, there happened to be a helipad on the top of the structure that would provide an unobstructed view, given its height. There were no signs saying "Keep Out" or "No Trespassing," so I went up and snapped my picture. Apparently it was a good idea, as a cameraman and his reporter relocated up there once I was done. As for the grounds, there were pretty boring, aside from a statue of Jimmy Carter.

Miscellaneous Georgia Symbols

State Route Sign

License Plate

Seal

Quarter