Atlanta celebrates Independence Day by opening the Millenium Gate

Although it is somewhat cliché to celebrate Independence Day by opening yet another national monument, there is something that sets the opening of Atlanta Millenium Gate apart. The eighteen-million-dollar Millenium Gate has been constructed in the same grand style as the Parisian Arc de Triomphe and the Stanford White’s Arch in Washington Square, New York. However, in contrast to the Arches in Paris and New York situated in the historical parts of the cities, the Millenium Gate in Atlanta is squished in-between residential buildings and skyscrapers at the former site of the Atlantic Steel Mill.

Local residents argue that the Gate is “”out of place and has no relation to the surrounding neighborhood filled with contemporary housing.” However, the American Urban Design Foundation responsible for the Gate’s construction claims, "The arch will renew the prospects of the old steel mills area around the site, and demonstrate how classical architecture can help to reclaim neglected urban areas.” The monument designer Rodney Cook Jr. is believed to have intended to mark the passage from one millennium to another, hence the name of the monument. Despite mixed reviews, Atlanta is celebrating its newest city attraction with a parade and fireworks today. The monument will open  for free public display later in the afternoon.