Seven Museums for Specialized Tastes

By Joe Earle

When you think of the word “museum,” does a big, dusty building come to mind? Think it must house endless rooms packed with inscrutable paintings, antique furniture or glass cases filled with exotic animals?

Well, think again. Metro Atlanta has its share of big museums, but there are plenty of smaller, specialized ones filled with surprising collections.

We’ve picked seven. They cover topics as varied as the history of money and the development of aviation. Looking for a change to see something amazing or simply to learn something new? Check out these little museums.

Atlanta Monetary Museum

Ever wonder just what a million bucks looks like? Or a bar of gold? You can find out in

Midtown, where Atlanta’s Federal Reserve Bank houses a museum of everything to do with money. Museum displays recount the history of money from barter to bills and the history of banking in America. The history also showcases rare coins and currency and provides a look inside the Fed’s cash-processing operations, where millions of dollars are counted, sorted or shredded daily.

Location: 1000 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta 30309

Hours: Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Group tours are offered by appointment Monday through

Friday at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets: Free. Guided tours, offered for groups of 10 to 30 people, must be booked in advance.

For more information: frbatlanta.org; click on “About the Fed,” then “Tours,” then “Atlanta Monetary Museum.”

Center for Puppetry Arts Puppet Museum

Mingle with Muppets and learn about puppets from around the world. The center for Puppetry Art’s museum provides a home to Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and other Jim Henson creations as well as displays highlighting the international history of puppetry. The center also offers regular puppet shows.

Location: 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta 30309

Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday: noon-5 p.m. Closed Mondays and major holidays.

Tickets: $12.50 for museum admission. $16.50 for museum admission and guided tours of the World of Puppetry collection. More information: 404-873-3391, puppet.org

Michael C. Carlos Museum

The Carlos Museum, located on Emory University’s campus, turns 100 next year, but its century barely compares to the antiquity of many of the items it houses. This museum provides a place to view