Immaculate Conception Church

Immaculate Conception Church is a Georgia historical marker in Fulton County, dedicated 1981.

At 48 MLK Jr. Drive in Atlanta.

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First Catholic Church in the Atlanta area and the oldest complete building standing in downtown Atlanta. The church was established in 1848. The first building, a frame structure, was erected here in 1851. Father Thomas O'Reilly, its pastor, successfully appealed to Union General H.W. Slocum in 1864 to spare his church and the neighborhood. Thus, the church, four other churches, and the City Hall-Court House were saved from destruction when Atlanta was burned. Cornerstone of this structure laid in 1869. Completed and dedicated in 1873. Designated a Shrine in 1954.

TodayHistorical map

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1842 · Georgia. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1845 · Georgia (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1856 · Georgia. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1874 · Military Operations of the Atlanta Campaign. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Historical map (Stanford Libraries)

Georgia, 1845, covering the location of Immaculate Conception Church, with a pin at the marker's coordinates — Georgia, 1845, covering this location. David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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This historical marker is part of the Georgia Historical Marker Program and was erected by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Marker texts and locations come from the Society's own marker database.

More markers nearby

Fulton Countyunder 1 mi
The Burning and Destruction of Atlantaunder 1 mi
Historic Groundunder 1 mi
Zero Mile Postunder 1 mi

On the National Register nearby

Shrine of the Immaculate Conception170 ft
Fulton County Courthouse300 ft

Places within about 300 feet of this marker that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A nearby listing is not always the marker's own subject.