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Moments in Atlanta history: 20 famous Constitution front pages

The Atlanta Constitution was founded in 1868, when Civil War veteran Carey W. Styles bought the Atlanta Daily Opinion and renamed it. The “Constitution” name refers to the Georgia state constitution, which had been superseded by martial law in the years right after the war. (AJC archive)
The Atlanta Constitution was founded in 1868, when Civil War veteran Carey W. Styles bought the Atlanta Daily Opinion and renamed it. The “Constitution” name refers to the Georgia state constitution, which had been superseded by martial law in the years right after the war. (AJC archive)
By Shane Harrison
June 1, 2018

On June 16, we celebrate 150 years of The Atlanta Constitution.

This historic anniversary celebration will continue for the next year. Starting June 21 through June 13, 2019, the AJC will feature a weekly historic front page in the print edition and AJCePaper. The memorable pages will tell the paper's story chronologically, beginning in 1868.

Also, we have created a special multimedia presentation covering the 150-year history of The Atlanta Constitution. See the city's history come alive through the pages of our newspaper.

Below are links to the larger-size and more easily readable PDFs of all of the front pages that you will find in our multimedia presentation. They can be enlarged to better see details, though some are clearer than others.

ExploreTHURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1868: A NEWSPAPER IS BORN 
ExploreTHURSDAY, SEPT. 19, 1895: THE COTTON STATES AND INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION OPENS 
ExploreTUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1912: THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC 
ExploreWEDNESDAY, AUG. 18, 1915: THE LYNCHING OF LEO FRANK
ExploreTUESDAY, MAY 22, 1917: THE GREAT FIRE OF ATLANTA 
ExploreSATURDAY, DEC. 16, 1939: GONE WITH THE WIND PREMIERES HERE 
ExploreFRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1945: PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT DIES IN WARM SPRINGS
ExploreSUNDAY, DEC. 8, 1946: THE NATION’S DEADLIEST HOTEL FIRE
ExploreTHURSDAY, JULY 1, 1965: ATLANTA GETS AN NFL TEAM 
ExploreFRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1968: MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S ASSASSINATION 
ExploreWEDNESDAY, OCT. 17, 1973: ATLANTA ELECTS ITS FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR 
ExploreTUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1974: THE HAMMER PASSES THE BABE 
ExploreWEDNESDAY, NOV. 3, 1976: A GEORGIAN WINS THE WHITE HOUSE
ExploreMONDAY, NOV. 7, 1977: TOCCOA FALLS DAM BREAKS
ExploreSUNDAY, FEB. 28, 1982: WAYNE WILLIAMS CONVICTED OF MURDER
ExploreWEDNESDAY, SEPT. 19, 1990: ATLANTA GETS THE OLYMPICS
ExploreSUNDAY, OCT. 29, 1995: THE BRAVES WIN THE WORLD SERIES
ExploreSATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2005: BRIAN NICHOLS ON THE LOOSE
ExploreWEDNESDAY, JAN. 29, 2014: SNOWBOUND IN ATLANTA
ExploreTHURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015: ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHEATING SCANDAL

About the Author

Shane Harrison is the Arts & Entertainment editor for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and ajc.com. He has been with the AJC since 1990.

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