Today the National Council on Social Studies 89th convention began. Well, actually a few events happened yesterday, but for me - this was the first day.

After I ate breakfast I walked the six blocks to the convention center and the adjacent Omni Hotel. I picked up my registration materials and the all important program. The next 45 minutes was filled by perusing the offerings in the program and scheduling them into my electronic calendar while drinking some coffee. I decided my first event would be the annual meeting of the elementary curriculum subcommittee for the NCSS.

The meeting was mostly attended by board and committee members, most of whom were university professors - teachers of teachers. Yup, as some of you would probably predict I would walk out of such a meeting having committed to take on some sort of formal role. And that's exactly what happened. I am now the board secretary which, in essence, has committed me to attending next year's convention in Denver. This position fulfills my personal commitment to become more involved with national professional teaching organizations centered on curriculum.

After the subcommittee meeting, I went to a presentation on geography for primary grades. I took away some good information on the use of 'mind maps' as well as some Internet resources. That was followed by a session on using literature to teach history. Several of my new colleagues on the elementary subcommittee gave presentations, and I won a beautiful book about ecology as a door prize. Around lunchtime I went to the keynote speaker presentation at the Omni Hotel ballroom. That address was given by a Columbia history professor and focused on the evolution of Abraham Lincoln's thinking on slavery. Finally, I attended a panel discussion about national and state policy initiatives and how they can drive social studies standards and instruction. I returned to the hotel at 4pm.

This is the first full day of my visit to Atlanta, and marks the only day dedicated to visiting sites of interest to tourists. In keeping with the goal of my trip, I have dedicated my time to three sites which represent the history of Atlanta and the American South.

I picked up a rental car from a Budget office just two blocks from my hotel. I drove north into the Buckhead area, easily the equal of Beverly Hills or Bel Air when comparing sprawling estates and mansions. My first stop was the Atlanta History Center.

It's a beautiful museum and well laid out. I spent about three hours touring the extensive exhibits and two historic homes located on the property.

The most fascinating part was focused specifically on the city of Atlanta and its development over the last 150 years. Until the Civil War, Atlanta was a small city of three thousand that existed as a railroad crossing. The war increased the population to almost 40,000 in just three years.

The destruction of Atlanta was not as complete as Gone With the Wind would have us believe. The city quickly rebuilt and dedicated itself once again to commerce, expansion and a model for 'The New South.' Thus the symbol of Atlanta today is the Phoenix.

Also in the museum was a huge exhibit about the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, as well as a giant hall dedicated to the American Civil War. Smaller exhibits covered traditional southern crafts and Native American history in Georgia.

Outside the main museum building was a garden built in an old quarry, as well as the historic Swan House - an early 20th century mansion, and an southern old farm house with out buildings.

After three hours, I drove southeast to the Carter Center with includes the Presidential Library and Museum for the 39th President of the Untied States. The Carter Center is the fourth presidential library I have visited in my life - the others being Johnson, Kennedy, and Nixon.

I enjoyed the Carter Center a great deal. It had recently gone through a total remodel, re-opening just two weeks prior to my visit. Learning about President Carter's life was fascinating enough, but then to learn more about the humanitarian work of the Carter Center was even more impressive.

By three o'clock in the afternoon I was bound for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center and Historic Site. I toured the National Park Building, the King Center (run by a family foundation) as well as walking past Dr. King's home and Ebenezer Baptist Church in both its old and new incarnations.

By 5pm left the King Center and drove a circuitous route through East Atlanta, Piedmont Park, then back through Midtown, and into Downtown. I stopped at a grocery store on my way back to the hotel and returned the rental car by 6pm.

It was a productive and enjoyable day, which touched on the following subjects, appropriate for a teacher's business trip: urban development, farming, sports history, the Civil War, architecture, the Civil Rights Movement, presidential politics, and philanthropy.

Atlanta is the biggest city in the old South. It's well known as the hometown for Coca Cola, CNN, Georgia Pacific, UPS and Home Depot. I'm here for a teacher convention focused on social studies (history, economics, geography, sociology, civics). The convention will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center (aka Atlanta convention center).

My flights to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport were on time and relatively comfortable. I flew through Chicago. After I landed, I rode MARTA from the airport into downtown Atlanta, getting off at the Peachtree Center station. MARTA trains impressed me as fast, clean, comfortable, and safe. Then I walked two short blocks south and I was at the hotel - Marriott Residence Inn.

I walked into the lobby at 8pm EST. It was dark, rainy, and dreary. I'm in the heart of the business district (which is surprisingly small). My room is a one bedroom suite with kitchen. From the living room, I have a view over Woodruff Park toward the state capitol dome. From the bedroom I look over a parking garage at the CNN Center.

Once I unpacked in my hotel room, I heated up some chicken soup with cheese and crackers I grabbed during my layover in the United Airlines Red Carpet Club at Chicago O'Hare Airport.

Tomorrow I'm picking up a rental car. My plan is to drive around town just to get the lay of the land. I also plan on a visit the Georgia History Center, the Carter Center and Presidential Library, as well as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center. Some time during the convention, I also hope to visit the Georgia Aquarium.

The convention starts at 7:30 on Friday with a newcomer's breakfast.

This is a very cool video. Aren't humans adaptable? Nothing stops free enterprise.