Cabbagetown Street Art: Unique, Free Fun in Atlanta
Visit the Cabbagetown District to experience some of Atlanta’s coolest street art. This special experience is one of the best free things to do in Atlanta!
Atlanta is pretty amazing. I know I’m biased, since I’m a Georgia girl, but really – the City in the Forest has so much to offer. And if you want to go off the beaten path and experience the true spirit of Atlanta, there is no better way to do it than to explore the street art.
The Cabbagetown District is an excellent place to start. It’s perfectly safe and you can see some of Atlanta’s very best street art in a single half-mile stretch. Read on to find out what to see, where to park, and where to get amazing donuts!
What is Cabbagetown?
Cabbagetown is a historic neighborhood in east Atlanta. It began as a mill town in the 1880s, as Atlanta struggled to recover from its destruction during the Civil War. After the mill eventually closed in the 1970s, artists started to move into the area. Today the neighborhood still has quite an artsy vibe!
No one is positive where the name came from, but the Cabbagetown website offers several possible explanations. One tradition says that the poor mill workers grew cabbage in their front yards and used it in most meals. The neighborhood always smelled like cabbage, and so Cabbagetown was born.
Cabbagetown Street Art
And now let’s get to the Cabbagetown street art itself. There are three main attractions: the Krog Street Tunnel, Atlanta’s first Tiny Door, and the Forward Warrior murals.
Krog Street Tunnel
The Krog Street Tunnel links DeKalb Avenue in Inman Park with Wylie Street in Cabbagetown. The tunnel (more of an underpass, really) runs under the Halsey Yard, a railyard operated by the CSX railroad. The tunnel was built in 1912, but it was in the 1960s that it began to attract artistic attention.
Today the Krog Street Tunnel is bursting with bright colors and hardly a square inch is free of paint. Street artists from all over Atlanta come to leave their mark, and their graffiti range from simple tags to more intricate pieces. Furthermore, the tunnel is constantly changing as new art appears every day.
You can walk through the tunnel and inspect the eclectic mixture of styles. It’s fun to imagine all the different people who have expressed themselves here. You will also notice announcements for festivals and other events – the community treats the Krog Street Tunnel as a giant message board.
Tiny Doors ATL
Don’t miss the Tiny Door outside the Krog Street Tunnel! Tiny Doors ATL is the brainchild of artist Karen Anderson Singer, who has installed 21 miniature doors throughout Atlanta. Each 7-inch door is unique and tailored to the surrounding community.
The Krog Street Tunnel door is the oldest – Tiny Door #1, installed in 2014. Singer chose the location because of the active Cabbagetown street art scene. She wanted local artists to interact with the door, and her wish was granted. To this day the murals around Tiny Door #1 constantly change.
TIP: The Tiny Door is on the right side when you approach the tunnel from Wylie Street. On the day I visited, the decoration was rather drab – but maybe it will be more colorful when you are there!
Forward Warrior Murals
My favorite street art in Cabbagetown is definitely the series of murals along Wylie Street and Tennelle Street. The half-mile stretch of wall runs from a) the intersection of Wylie Street and Pearl Street to b) where Tennelle Street dead-ends into Carroll Street. There is a convenient sidewalk next to the wall, so you can stroll by and admire the paintings.
These murals are part of Forward Warrior, an annual mural-painting event founded by artist Peter Ferrari. Each fall street artists are invited to paint pieces on the wall, and plenty of spectators show up to watch and enjoy the fun. Then, throughout the rest of the year, visitors can admire the completed art.
The Forward Warrior murals are the perfect venue for experiencing Atlanta street art. After all, you can see so many different styles and perspectives in an easily walkable area! It’s like an outdoor museum – but, as my sister pointed out, better than a traditional museum because of the diversity.
Forward Warrior participants come from all different backgrounds and walks of life. So the wall in Cabbagetown truly reflects the spirit and vibrant creativity of the people of Atlanta. You can learn what is important to them – from politics to family to fantasy. And you will marvel at their skill!
TIP: Forward Warrior is listed on Google Maps as “Cabbagetown street ART MURALS”.
Tips for Viewing Cabbagetown Street Art
The Krog Street Tunnel opens up onto Wylie Street, so all three attractions are right next to each other. You can visit them in any order, based on where you park.
While the Krog Street Tunnel and the Tiny Door are cool, they don’t require a whole lot of time – and they aren’t to everyone’s taste. The tunnel can be underwhelming for some tourists, who point out that it is just a tunnel full of graffiti. I personally had fun, but hands down the main reason to visit Cabbagetown is to see the Forward Warrior murals.
Where to Park
Free street parking is available in several locations. You can park on Wylie Street itself, across from the Forward Warrior murals – there are plenty of spaces. If you do this, explore the murals and then visit the Krog Street Tunnel.
Another great option is to park a few streets away on Edgewood Avenue in Inman Park. This is what we did, and it was extremely convenient. It was only a 5-minute walk down Krog Street to the tunnel. The advantage of parking on Edgewood is that you can see more beautiful street art on Krog Street before the tunnel. (Plus there is an awesome donut place – more about that below.)
Parking in Atlanta is notoriously difficult (as in any big city), but we did not have any trouble. Granted we visited during the week, and the weekend is probably busier. Still, there were so many parking spots everywhere that you should be able to find something.
Are Cabbagetown and the Krog Street Tunnel safe?
Yes, absolutely! My mother, sister, and I felt perfectly at ease when we visited in the late morning to mid-afternoon. There were numerous people walking, jogging, and cycling, often with small children in tow. Even at the center of the tunnel, where it is a bit dark, safety was not a concern.
I wouldn’t visit at night, but then I wouldn’t visit most places during the dark. (And why would you want to visit street art when you can’t see it properly, anyway?) In the daytime you have nothing to worry about.
Where to Get a Snack
As I mentioned above, we parked on Edgewood Street. And I am so glad we did, because we passed Revolution Doughnuts & Coffee on our way to the Krog Street Tunnel. We stopped for a snack, and wow – those donuts are amazing.
I had their delicious seasonal Peach Slider, which has fresh peaches and cream on the inside. Yum! And very appropriate for Georgia, the Peach State. I can’t wait to go back and try other flavors.
Revolution Doughnuts has lots of vegan and gluten-free options, and all their donuts are handmade and use organic ingredients. Plus you can buy cute donut earrings made by a local artist.
Plan Your Trip to Cabbagetown
I hope I have convinced you to check out the street art scene in Atlanta. Cabbagetown is definitely worth a visit. And, after all, it is completely free, so no excuses!
Follow @forwardwarrior on Instagram to get updates on new art installations. And don’t miss my post on the best free things to do in Atlanta! Exploring the city does not have to be expensive. Some of my favorite Atlanta experiences are completely free of charge.
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Love these photos! I had no idea this existed. I will definitely check it out next time I’m in the area.
Hi Adriane, yes, you should definitely stop by! It’s such a great experience!