Tour CNN Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia
by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels
One of the most interesting things to do in the greater Atlanta area is to tour CNN Center Headquarters. The 55-minute walking tour begins in the building’s atrium, where guests step aboard an eight-story high escalator listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest escalator in the world. The two-minute ride carries visitors to a giant globe, where they can browse through 25 years of CNN footage at interactive kiosks.
CNN Center Global Headquarters in Atlanta Georgia. Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/ucumari/
Next stop is at a replica of the CNN Control Room to learn about the jobs of the producers and directors and view what is happening that very moment via a series of TV screens directly linked to the actual Control Room. Further along, guests have an opportunity to view the fast-paced environment of the real Control Room from an upper level observation deck.
Escalator in CNN Atrium. Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/maduarte/
At a model studio, guides explain how teleprompters work and how weather anchors do the weather. Special effects are demonstrated, including the weather map and the green wall that makes the background behind the weatherman invisible. A few lucky guests even have an opportunity to take the hot seat at the news anchor desk to try their hand at delivering the news to the camera.
Throughout the tour route, artifacts and displays offer insight into some of the most important stories ever covered by CNN. The final stop features CNN correspondents, who have collaborated to produce a wide-screen multi-media presentation in which they discuss how these major stories have impacted their lives and what their jobs are really like.
CNN Control Room. Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/lrargerich/
With the exception of Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, the Inside CNN Tour is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with tours departing approximately every 10 minutes. Admission is $13 for adults, $10 for youths aged 4-18, and $12 for seniors (65+). Reservations are highly recommended and can be made Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. by calling 404-827-2300 or toll free at 877-4-CNNTOUR.
