John Wesley Dobbs interactive sculpture looking down Sweet Auburn.
(ABOVE) John W. Dobbs Book Depository
APEX Museum Northwest view
(ABOVE) Present Day
John Wesley Dobbs Building /APEX Museum
141 Auburn Avenue
Sweet Auburn Historic District
Atlanta, Georgia
Built: 1940’s(?)
Architectural Style: Renaissance Revival
Original Use: Functioned as a schoolbook depository; first air-conditioned building on Auburn Avenue.
Readaptive Use: APEX museum and quarters for the Southern Education Foundation..
Recorded dates
1940’s– built? First air conditioned building on Auburn Avenue to protect the school books. Named after John Wesley Dobbs because of his strong belief in “bucks, ballots and books” as a means to change the social conditions of his era.
1970’s– Served as a tire warehouse.
1978– Dan Moore, Sr. was inspired to create an African American
museum that would celebrate the achievements of unsung heroes such
as Dr. Benjamin E. Mays and others. The APEX museum was organized, an acronym for African American Panoramic Experience. This title
embodies the mission of the APEX – to interpret and present history from an African American perspective and to provide its visitors
with a complete view in every direction of African American history
1985 to present– Restoration and re-adaptive use of the building as a neighborhood museum. Serves the APEX and Southern Education Foundation.
Partial content of above is from: http://www.apexmuseum.org/history.htm