In the late nineteenth century, fairs and expositions were an important way for cities to attractvisitors and investors who, in an era before radio and television, were eager to see new technological marvels on display. These events provided civic leaders with a showcase to lure visitors, who were urged to come and do business in the host location. In the years following the Civil War (1861-65), Atlanta’s leaders hosted a series of three “cotton expositions” that were important to the city’s recovery and economic development.

The Cumming Country Fair and Festival, held each October in Cumming, offers a variety of rides and games along the midway, as well as concerts, a petting zoo, and Heritage Village, which features historical exhibits. Photograph by Nancy Horton The New Georgia Encyclopedia does not hold the copyright for this media resource and can neither grant nor deny permission to republish or reproduce the image online or in print. All requests for permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to the rights holder.

A row of storefronts in downtown Macon. The end of the twentieth century saw Macon's economic focus shift from agriculture and industry to retail and service. The New Georgia Encyclopedia does not hold the copyright for this media resource and can neither grant nor deny permission to republish or reproduce the image online or in print. Requests for permission to publish or reproduce the resource may need to be submitted to Explore Georgia.

Long before Ted Turner and the Atlanta Braves, Earl Mann was known as “Mr. Atlanta Baseball” and the “Baseball Genius in Dixie.” Mann rose from humble beginnings as a Georgia farm boy to build a baseball dynasty. Born Otis Earl Mann on October 2, 1904, in Riverdale (Clayton County), Mann was selling peanuts, cushions, and soft drinks at Spiller Field (later known as Ponce de Leon Ballpark) by the time he was twelve.

Although the partnership of Calvin Fay and Alfred S. Eichberg was fairly brief (1881-88), their combined careers as major Georgia architects spanned virtually the entire Victorian era, from 1851 to 1899. The work of these two men shows the great variety of architectural trends during these years and illustrates how Victorian architectural ideas were executed in Georgia. Born in upstate New York in 1819, Calvin Fay began his southern career in Savannah, as the supervising architect for St.