Boosterism and Civic Pride in Atlanta: Union Station and the Dixie Terminal, 1925-1930.

The article focuses on the history and development of Atlanta's Union Station and the related Dixie Terminal Building project during the early 20th century, highlighting their significance in the city's civic pride and urban planning. It details the replacement of the aging 1871 Union Station with a new facility in 1930, driven by booster groups and civic organizations seeking to modernize Atlanta's railroad infrastructure and enhance its image as the "Gate City" of the New South. The article also examines the ambitious but ultimately unrealized Dixie Terminal Building, a large warehouse and office complex planned for the old station site, reflecting Atlanta's aspirations to attract northern investment and support regional agriculture. Throughout, the narrative underscores ongoing tensions between economic considerations, racial segregation, urban design philosophies like the City Beautiful Movement, and the evolving role of railroads amid rising automobile use. The legacy of these projects continues to influence Atlanta's downtown development and preservation debates into the 21st century.