Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Atlanta, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta is the regional branch of the United States central bank that serves the Southeast, based at 1000 Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta. Its calm, formal building, completed in 2001, hides a working cash-processing operation and sits just off the busy Peachtree corridor.

The story behind it

The Federal Reserve System was created in the early twentieth century, and Atlanta was chosen as one of its regional bank cities. The Atlanta bank was established in 1914 and began business the same year, starting out in rented rooms in the Hurt Building downtown rather than in a grand headquarters of its own.

The bank later moved north to Midtown, where its current home was completed in 2001 to a design by the architect Robert A. M. Stern. Inside, the building handles the practical side of money: banknotes are counted, sorted and checked in large quantities, supported by an automated vault. It also has a monetary museum that tells the story of money and the Fed's role in the economy.

What to look for

• The quiet, composed facade seen from 11th Street, which looks more like a dignified office building than a place that moves huge amounts of cash.
• The open lawn in front of the building, which gives the bank a generous setting that is unusual for a busy Midtown block.
• The 1000 Peachtree Street address, a reminder that you are on Atlanta's main spine, with its mix of offices, culture and street life.
• The contrast between the calm exterior and what happens inside, where money most of us never see is counted and checked.

Tips for your visit

• Allow ten to fifteen minutes to take in the building and lawn from the street, longer if you plan to visit the museum.
• The bank is a working institution with security, so do not expect to wander in freely. Check current opening hours and visitor access before you go.
• Morning or late afternoon light is pleasant on the facade, and the lawn is easiest to appreciate when the streets are quieter.
• Midtown's cultural landmarks along Peachtree Street, including the Fox Theatre and the High Museum of Art, are within walking distance, so it pairs well with a longer stroll.

See it on a quest

The bank is one stop on Ghost Hunt in Atlanta, a self-guided walk with a spooky theme. You reach the building on foot as part of a longer route through the area, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle right in front of it. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever suits you, with no guide and no set departure time.