The name of the historic district comes from a previous name for Peachtree Street, one of the main roads in Atlanta.

[2] Since early in the city's history, this corridor of Whitehall Street was considered a major retail center,[3] with the Atlanta Preservation Center calling it "Atlanta's commercial and retail core.

[2] The district is also notable for the sit-ins that occurred there during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

[2] According to the Atlanta Preservation Center, the district showcases architectural styles including Art Deco, Art Moderne, Italian Renaissance Revival, and Neoclassical Revival, with notable architects A.

Ten Eyck Brown and Willis F. Denny contributing to the district.