The Margaret Mitchell House

Margaret Mitchell House

Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone With the Wind after breaking her`` ankle. She didn't think her novel very good, but her fans — and the 1937 Pultizer Prize — proved her wrong. This museum centers around the apartment — she called it the Dump — where she wrote the book that eventually sold 30 million copies.

This place must be cursed by Sherman’s ghost or a greedy developer, because it’s burned down several times. But, as God is Our Witness, fans of the classic novel have contributed money to rebuild the building. Little remains of the original, but — fiddle dee dee — there's still plenty to see. And Lord's sakes, even if you know nothing about birthing a novel, you’ll enjoy this trip into the genesis of the second best-selling book of all time, eclipsed only by the Bible.

The house, maintained by the Atlanta History Center, was originally a two-story, single-family home, built in 1899, but was converted into an apartment building in 1919. From 1925 until 1932, Mitchell lived in Apartment No. 1 in the Crescent Apartments with her husband, John Marsh, her typewriter and the beginnings of her writing career. Mitchell’s family was so steeped in Civil War stories and history, she once quipped that she was 10 years old before she realized that the South hadn’t won. 

Visitors can trace Mitchell's writing career before she penned the romantic tale of Scarlett O'Hara and the Civil War and its aftermath. They can view a family portrait of Mitchell’s relative, Mattie Holliday, who served as the basis for the character Melanie Hamilton Wilkes; Mattie became a nun — known thenceforth as Sister Mary Melanie — after having been a flame of her cousin's, gambler and gunslinger John "Doc" Holliday. Letters from Mitchell and her family members are on display.

A broken ankle put Mitchell's journalism career on hold, so she started writing Gone With the Wind to pass the time. The museum features period furnishings, pictures of Mitchell and her family members and a changing display of historical photos of that time period.

Movie fans will adore the small Gone With the Wind Movie Museum, which opened on the 60th anniversary of the movie premiere in Atlanta. Near the house, the museum displays artifacts from the movie set, including the front door of the legendary Tara plantation and Scarlett’s portrait from the Butler house. Check out the GWTW posters in other languages.

Avid readers will want to check out the line-up at the Margaret Mitchell Literary Center, which hosts talks by well-known authors and writing classes for adults and youth. Authors who appear at The Literary Center always discuss what inspired them to write a particular book and take questions from the audience. Best-selling authors who have appeared at the center include Alice Walker, Pat Conroy, Tom Wolfe, Frank McCourt and Marilynne Robinson.  

The museum also has a gift shop selling Gone with the Wind memorabilia and books about Mitchell.

- by Diane Loupe, Atlanta Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)