The Tabernacle is a mid-sized concert hall in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, built inside a former Baptist church that has stood in the Centennial Olympic Park district since 1911. The red-brick, neoclassical building was designed by architect Reuben Harrison Hunt and originally served as the Baptist Tabernacle before its second life as one of the city’s most distinctive live music rooms.
The building was converted into a concert venue in 1996, first operating as a House of Blues location before being renamed The Tabernacle in 1998. Now owned and operated by Live Nation Entertainment, it holds roughly 2,600 people and has hosted acts across nearly every genre, all while retaining original touches like stained glass windows and the church’s old staircases.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 152 Luckie St NW, Atlanta, Georgia
- Type: Converted church concert hall
- Opened (as church): September 3, 1911
- Opened (as venue): 1996 (as House of Blues; renamed The Tabernacle in 1998)
- Capacity: About 2,600
- Operator: Live Nation Entertainment
- Famous for: Housing a converted 1911 Baptist church with original stained glass
From Baptist Church to Concert Hall
The Baptist Tabernacle opened in September 1911 after roughly $125,000 in construction costs, drawing crowds of up to 8,000 during its dedication week. The neoclassical building, measuring about 147 by 130 feet with Ionic columns and a red-brick and granite exterior, originally sat around 4,000 worshippers including its galleries and featured a $15,000 pipe organ.
In 1996 the space was converted into a concert venue, first opening under the House of Blues name before being rebranded The Tabernacle in 1998. The venue survived severe damage from a 2008 tornado that struck downtown Atlanta, with repairs completed in under two months so shows could resume.
Notable Moments on Luckie Street
The Tabernacle has hosted a wide range of high-profile bookings over the years, including a 2013 run of Conan O’Brien’s late-night talk show taped on location in Atlanta. In February 2014, a Panic! At The Disco concert was cut short after just two songs when the fire marshal ordered an evacuation over concerns about the floor’s stability near the stage; no one was injured, and the venue reopened after inspection and repairs.
Today the venue remains a fixture of Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park district, valued for its blend of historic architecture and general-admission energy, drawing touring acts across rock, hip-hop, electronic, and comedy.
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The Tabernacle FAQs
What was The Tabernacle before it was a concert venue?
It was the Baptist Tabernacle, a church built in 1911 and designed by architect Reuben Harrison Hunt, before being converted into a music venue in 1996.
What is the capacity of The Tabernacle in Atlanta?
The Tabernacle holds about 2,600 people, making it one of Atlanta’s key mid-sized concert venues.
Who operates The Tabernacle today?
The Tabernacle is owned and managed by Live Nation Entertainment.
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Photo: Tim Farley / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.