History Just for Kids: September 2012

Piedmont Park 1895

Piedmont Park 2012

As I was taking my Sunday morning walk in the park, I was blown away by the huge "community" that was put up just for the two days of Music Midtown at Piedmont Park. Tents, porta potties, two stages, food trucks, portable sidewalks, fences, and full trash cans all still festooned the park this morning, although lots of enterprise was under way to ensure that it would all be gone within just a few hours.

It brought to mind the Cotton States and International Exposition of 1895 that was also held in Piedmont Park. Although not as portable as what we now have for a two-day festival, most of what was built for the exposition, which lasted for three months, was also meant to be temporary.

Some day, some 100 years in the future, people will pour over vintage photos of when Piedmont Park hosted Music Midtown each year, and, like we do now, they will marvel at how old fashioned it all looks.

For additional photos of the Cotton States and International Exposition of 1895, see:

Fred L Howe Collection

For additional photos of Music Midtown 2012, see:

Music Midtown Day 1

Music Midtown Day 2