Sitting at 87 15th Street NE, The Castle, as it is called, is an odd sight. It sits amid a copse of glass office towers in the heart of Midtown Atlanta. Built in 1909 by agricultural magnate Ferdinand McMillan (1844–1920), it has stood its ground all these years. Across 15th Street from the Castle, one finds the High Museum of Art, and Mr. McMillian’s former abode has been linked to the Atlanta arts community for most of the years since his death. Today, it houses a restaurant and an event space.
When I arrived in Atlanta years ago, daily walks took me past this building, and I always wondered when it would be torn down to make way for another glass tower, as it was well past its prime. After taking this picture, I finally decided to find out why it was still there and discovered that it had been designated a historic landmark in 2014. Considering that this part of 15th Street sits on a San Francisco-esque hill, the view in 1909 must have offered a complete panoramic view of the city. I almost wish someone still lived there.
