Jimmy Carter’s Legacy and Impact on Atlanta

By Carol Carter

Published December 29, 2024

President Jimmy Carter died on Dec. 29. The earlier news of his decline prompted countless memories of how President Carter shaped not only the world but also the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia. The Carter Presidential Center is in Atlanta, and after leaving the White House the Carters returned to their hometown of Plains, Ga., home of the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park.

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum

Thanks to President Jimmy and First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s decision to put the Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta, the city is one of only 14 others in the United States to have a presidential library. Visit and you can learn about the president’s term in the White House, his and Rosalynn Carter’s worldwide achievements and the president’s early life. You can walk into a replica of the Oval Office, and, you may do research. The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library houses 40 million pages, 1 million photographs, 2.2 million feet of film and 2,500 hours of video.

The Carter Center

The Carter Center, which sits next door to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, was founded in 1982 by President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health across the world. The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in more than 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. 

Nobel Peace Prize

Atlanta is home to two Nobel Peace Prizes. On Dec. 10, 2002, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2002 to Jimmy Carter “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” You can see President Carter’s Nobel Peace Prize at the Carter Presidential Library. The city’s other Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Gardens of the Carter Presidential Center

The Carter Presidential Center’s grounds include formal gardens, sculptures and waterfalls tucked between two small lakes. You can stroll through the Rose Garden, which is home to 40 varieties — including the coral Rosalynn Carter rose — or view the serene Japanese garden, designed by master gardener Kinsaku Nakan.

Peace Bell

In 2022, a dedication ceremony was held at the Carter Center for a new Japanese bell tower to house the Peace Bell, which was given to President Jimmy Carter in 1985 by the Japanese community to celebrate Japanese-American friendship and President Carter’s efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries. The Japanese Peace Bell was created in 1820 and weighs more than 500 pounds. It hung in a temple in Konu, Hiroshima, Japan, until World War II, when the Japanese government removed most of the nation’s temple bells, including this one, to melt down for use in weapons. The bell managed to escape that fate and now serves as a symbol of peace at the Carter Center. The tower was constructed under the supervision of Japanese carpenters from the town of Konu. It is an exact replica of the bell tower in Konu, where there is now a replica of the Center’s Peace Bell. President Carter visited Konu to see its new bell in 1990.

Georgia Film Office

In 1973, Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter established the Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office. Today the Georgia film industry is a $4 billion economic powerhouse creating countless jobs across the state.

A Place to Gather

Both the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum and The Carter Center are community, national and international gathering places. Often, there are special exhibits and book signings at the library. Global conferences often occur at The Carter Center.

The lobby of the museum is often used for receptions, award ceremonies and special events. Organizations rent various rooms within the Carter Center for refreshments, receptions, meetings and breakout sessions. There are spaces for seated meals, receptions and seminars.

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park

In 1980, President Carter signed Public Law 96-428, which established the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Site, which became the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park following passage of a bill sponsored by Congressman John Lewis that redesignated the site as a park. It became the MLK, Jr. National Historical Park in 2018.

Civil Rights

From the time he was in the governor’s mansion Jimmy Carter worked to diversify the political landscape. As governor of Georgia, he increased the number of African American state employees by 25% and appointed more people of color and women to state boards and agencies than any previous governor. He did the same as president.

Georgia World Congress Center

Jimmy Carter served as governor of Georgia from Jan. 12, 1971, until Jan. 14, 1975. Among legislation that passed during his term was a bill to construct Building A of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. The Georgia World Congress Center was the largest convention center in the country when it opened in 1976, according to the Atlanta History Center, which further notes, “The state authority that planned this center still operates it today, along with Centennial Olympic Park and other surrounding convention and venue resources. Its construction enabled Atlanta to attract more prominent conferences, trade shows and entertainment acts. Within a few years, Atlanta’s convention industry ranked third largest in the U.S., behind New York City and Chicago.” 

The Presidential Library and the Carter Center are located right on the Atlanta Beltline, where you can take a stroll before or after visiting.

Journalist Carol Carter writes and edits for Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.