The Atlanta Preservation Center, a private, nonprofit organization headquartered at 537 Peachtree St. (tel. 404/876-2041), offers a variety of 1- to 2-hour guided walking tours in the city. Cost of each tour is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, students, and children, and free for children under age 5. Tours of the Fox Theatre District are given year-round; the remaining tours are offered as noted. Call or visit www.preserveatlanta.com for days, hours, and tour departure points.

During the Fox Theatre District Tour, you'll explore in depth this restored 1920s Moorish movie palace, a theater whose auditorium resembles the courtyard of a Cairo mosque and whose architecture and interior were influenced by the discoveries at King Tut's tomb. This tour is subject to change due to special events or matinee performances.

Just added to the offerings in 2002, the Grant Park Tour takes you through Atlanta's history from the antebellum Grant Mansion and Confederate fortifications to the Victorian era and present day in Grant Park. The park, the centerpiece of this revitalized neighborhood, became a favorite spot because of its beautiful lake, numerous springs, and amusement area. It's now home to the Atlanta Cyclorama and Zoo Atlanta.

The Historic Downtown Tour (Mar-Nov) is an architectural survey of Atlanta's downtown, from Victorian buildings to modern high-rises. You'll learn about the architects, the businesspeople, and the prominent families who created the city's early commercial center. The tour includes peeks at historic interiors.

The Inman Park Tour (Mar-Nov) visits Atlanta's first trolley suburb, where you'll see preserved and restored Victorian mansions (exterior views only). Highlights include the homes of Coca-Cola magnates Asa Candler and Ernest Woodruff.

The Sweet Auburn/MLK District Tour (Mar-Nov) focuses on the area that 20th-century African-American entrepreneurs developed into a prosperous commercial hub. You'll also visit the church where Martin Luther King, Jr. preached and discover landmarks of the Civil Rights Movement.

Walking Miss Daisy's Druid Hills (Mar-Oct) explores the neighborhood that was the setting for the play and film Driving Miss Daisy. The gracious parklike area was laid out by noted landscapist Frederick Law Olmsted and contains many architecturally important homes.

The Ansley Park Tour (Mar-Nov) explores one of Atlanta's first garden suburbs (today a charming Midtown neighborhood), partly designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Its broad lawns, majestic trees, parks, and beautiful houses make for a lovely tour. It's easy to get lost in Ansley Park, so if you want to explore the area, this tour is a good idea.

The following tours are not regularly scheduled, but special tours may be arranged:

The Birth of Atlanta/Historic Underground Tour (Mar-Nov) explores the historic Underground complex, the state Capitol, City Hall, the Fulton County Courthouse, and three inner-city churches with pre-Civil War roots.

The Historic Midtown Tour (Mar-Oct) explores the many faces of the booming Midtown area, from its bungalows and skyscrapers to its restaurants and churches.