# Atlanta Zero Mile Post

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Historical railroad marker in Atlanta, United States

United States historic place

Western and Atlantic Railroad Zero Milepost Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places Atlanta Zero Mile Post Location Central Ave. between Wall St. and Railroad Ave., Atlanta, Georgia Area less than one acre Built 1842 (1842) NRHP reference No. 77000435[1] Significant dates Added to NRHP September 19, 1977 Removed from NRHP April 26, 2019

The **Atlanta Zero Mile Post** is a stone marker which marked the terminus of the [Western and Atlantic Railroad](/source/Western_and_Atlantic_Railroad) in Atlanta, US. It was located in a disused building in [Downtown Atlanta](/source/Downtown_Atlanta), within the [Underground Atlanta](/source/Underground_Atlanta) Historic District, under the Central Ave. viaduct, between Alabama and Wall streets.[2][3] The Zero Mile Post was recognized with a historical marker by the [Georgia Historical Commission](/source/Georgia_Historical_Commission) in 1958[4] and entered into the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places) in 1977.[5] The Historic Preservation Division of the [Georgia Department of Natural Resources](/source/Georgia_Department_of_Natural_Resources) requested its delisting in February 2019.[6]

In the 1980s, the Zero Mile Post was moved indoors when a passenger depot was built around it for the New Georgia Railroad tourist operation. After the railroad ceased operations in 1994, the depot was secured behind a locked fence, with access only available by appointment through the Georgia Building Authority.[7]

The Zero Mile Post on display in the [Atlanta History Center](/source/Atlanta_History_Center) (December 8, 2018)

In October 2018, the Zero Mile Post was moved from the Georgia Building Authority's depot building to the [Atlanta History Center](/source/Atlanta_History_Center),[8][9] and the building was demolished to accommodate the reconstruction of the Central Avenue and Courtland Street bridges above. A replica post was placed at the exact location of the original, and paired with an interpretive marker provided by The Georgia Historical Society after the bridge work concluded.

The Zero Mile Post's relocation generated controversy, with some arguing that it lost much of its significance by being removed from its original location,[10] while those at the History Center say that it is well preserved, and that the replica is better suited for outdoor exhibition.[11] The Zero Mile Post is currently displayed and interpreted in an exhibition, *Locomotion: Railroads and the Making of Atlanta*, with the recently restored *Texas* locomotive, one of the two remaining Western & Atlantic locomotives that would have passed by the mile post many times during its service.[12][13][14]

Usually placed along rail lines at each mile, markers informed train crews where they were along a specific route. The above-ground portion of the rectangular marker is approximately 1 foot wide on each side and 42 inches tall.[7] The crown is pyramidal, and one side of the marker is engraved with "W&A RR 0.0" – the W&A indicating the Western & Atlantic Railroad[11] and the double-zero designating the beginning of the rail line. The other side of the marker is engraved “W&A RR 138”. When entirely exposed, the marker is 7 feet 5 inches tall and weighs approximately 800 pounds.[7][14]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nris_1-0)** ["National Register Information System"](https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP). *[National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places)*. [National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service). November 2, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Western & Atlanta Railroad Zero Milepost", Atlanta: a National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary, National Park Service](https://web.archive.org/web/20070828214856/http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/wes.htm)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["ACTUAL FACTUAL GEORGIA: Zero Mile Post marks city's start"](http://web.archive.org/web/20160821190606/http://www.ajc.com/news/news/actual-factual-georgia-zero-mile-post-marks-citys-/nrfDs/). June 13, 2016. Archived from [the original](http://www.ajc.com/news/news/actual-factual-georgia-zero-mile-post-marks-citys-/nrfDs/) on August 21, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Zero Mile Post"](https://georgiahistory.com/ghmi_marker_updated/zero-mile-post/). *[Georgia Historical Society](/source/Georgia_Historical_Society)*. November 18, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Western and Atlantic Railroad Zero Milepost"](https://npgallery.nps.gov/nrhp/AssetDetail?assetID=a7be3c66-04ed-4049-85a2-da23e5c4bb6a). *National Register Digital Assets*. National Park Service. Retrieved April 24, 2018.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: url-status ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_url-status))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Dr. David Crass. [Letter to National Parks Service](https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail/fbf377f7-fc39-4ee1-a7b6-294a3d68c294) February 27, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_7-2) Kelley, Collin (October 29, 2018). ["Historic Zero Mile Post moved from Downtown to Atlanta History Center"](https://roughdraftatlanta.com/2018/10/29/historic-zero-mile-post-moved-from-downtown-to-atlanta-history-center/). *Rough Draft Atlanta*. Retrieved May 26, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Rhone, Nedra (October 30, 2018). ["Historic landmark, Zero Mile Post, relocated to Atlanta History Center"](https://www.ajc.com/news/historic-landmark-zero-mile-post-relocated-atlanta-history-center/ERBYWVCyh34iRzd0kAuIcL/). *ajc*. Retrieved May 22, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Johnston, Andy (November 17, 2018). ["Before Atlanta was a city, the Zero Mile Post marks city's start as a rail stop called Terminus"](https://www.ajc.com/news/actual-factual-georgia-zero-mile-post-marks-city-start/ibTw4U3AnT86ufvrNXq0tI/). *ajc*. Retrieved May 22, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Saporta, Maria (November 5, 2018). ["Atlanta's zero milepost belongs at Atlanta's zero mile mark"](https://saportareport.com/atlantas-zero-milepost-belongs-at-atlantas-zero-mile-mark/). *SaportaReport* (Column).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_11-1) ["Atlanta's Zero Milepost Could Move"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181018181841/http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/04/27-atlantas-zero-milepost-could-move). *Trains Magazine*. April 27, 2018. Archived from [the original](http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/04/27-atlantas-zero-milepost-could-move) on October 18, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Martin, Jeff (November 22, 2018). ["Railroad artifacts tell story of how trains built Atlanta"](https://apnews.com/article/1b9787b1f5654adb8760cdf94245c977). *AP News*. Retrieved May 22, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Johns, Myke (November 28, 2018). ["Texas Locomotive Gets Room With A View At Atlanta History Center"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181130122909/https://www.wabe.org/texas-locomotive-gets-room-with-a-view-at-atlanta-history-center/). *90.1 FM WABE*. Archived from [the original](https://www.wabe.org/texas-locomotive-gets-room-with-a-view-at-atlanta-history-center/) on November 30, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_14-1) Emerson, Bo (November 6, 2018). ["Spiffed up Texas locomotive debuts at Atlanta History Center"](https://www.ajc.com/entertainment/spiffed-texas-locomotive-debuts-atlanta-history-center/A8ST27LF48VUWEzTmqap8N/). *ajc*. Retrieved May 22, 2026.

## External links

- Goldstein, Jackie (October 17, 2012). ["In search of Atlanta's Zero Mile Post"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160820154033/http://atlanta.curbed.com/2012/10/17/10316708/in-search-of-atlantas-zero-mile-post). *Curbed Atlanta*. Archived from [the original](https://atlanta.curbed.com/2012/10/17/10316708/in-search-of-atlantas-zero-mile-post) on August 20, 2016.

- [Historical marker](https://web.archive.org/web/20140320065802/http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/historical_markers/county/fulton/zero-mile-post)

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[33°45′08″N 84°23′19″W / 33.752335°N 84.388584°W / 33.752335; -84.388584](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Atlanta_Zero_Mile_Post&params=33.752335_N_84.388584_W_type:landmark_region:US-GA)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Atlanta Zero Mile Post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Zero_Mile_Post) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Zero_Mile_Post?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.