Atlanta

Atlanta's Cyclorama begins to move to new home

By Craig Lucie
By Craig Lucie

ATLANTA — An Atlanta historian said it was the coolest and scariest thing he has ever seen as cranes hoisted the Atlanta Cyclorama out of its current home and as they prepare to move it to its new home.

Channel 2’s Craig Lucie was on site as crews began the process to move the work of art painted in 1886 to its new home at the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead.

The long, complex process to move the piece of art has been in the works for more than two years.

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“This is the coolest and scariest thing I have ever done in my professional career,” said Gordon Jones, senior military historian for the Atlanta History Center.

The Cyclorama is one of the nation’s largest paintings. Two cranes have been positioned at its current home near Zoo Atlanta to remove the painting.

Atlanta's Cyclorama moving to a new home.

“The problem has always been that this building was slightly too small. In fact, in 1921 they had to cut out six feet of the painting in order to put it in the building that didn't measure correctly,” Jones said.

But now, the Atlanta Cyclorama, which depicts the battle of Atlanta during the Civil War has a brand new home at the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead.

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“This is going to be the best home this thing has ever had. It's extremely exciting,” Jones said.

Removing the 1886 painting that covers more than 15,000 square feet hasn't been done since 1921 when it was installed near Atlanta’s zoo.

“The large crane will take out one scroll at time. There are two scrolls containing painting. It will lift vertically out two holes in the top of the building. It will be lowered and a second crane will attach to the bottom scroll and lay horizontally,” Jones said.

As for when the Cyclorama will officially be moved, officials wouldn't say for security reasons.

They told Lucie the cost to move the painting was about $34 million.

Cox Media Group

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