Children’s Museum of Atlanta retiring iconic ball machine

Summary by The Atlanta Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Berndt Petersen, WSB-TV (ABC) - News · July 23, 2026 · 2 min read

An iconic exhibit that has become synonymous with the Children’s Museum of Atlanta is about to be retired. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks ] The museum’s popular Ball Machine is preparing for its final spins, and on Thursday, children had one last chance to enjoy the bel...

Why this matters in The Atlanta

The retirement of the Ball Machine at the Children's Museum of Atlanta marks the end of an era for many local families who have grown up with the iconic exhibit. For 23 years, it has been a staple of the museum, providing a unique and interactive experience for children. Its removal will undoubtedly be felt by the community, particularly by parents like Robert and Gabrielle Harris, who have seen their children grow and develop through play at the museum. The fact that some of its features will be incorporated into the new exhibit offers some consolation, but it will be interesting to see how the new attraction is received by the public. The "Have a Ball Weekend" event on August 1 and 2 will give families one last chance to experience the Ball Machine and take home a piece of history. As the museum looks to the future, it will be important to see how the new exhibit engages local children and families, and whether it can fill the void left by the beloved Ball Machine.

About this story

Original reporting by WSB-TV (ABC) - News. The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit WSB-TV (ABC) - News. Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: safety · Published: July 23, 2026 · Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News · Reading time: 2 min

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This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.

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This story was reported by Berndt Petersen at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards.

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Summary created by	The Atlanta Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Berndt Petersen, WSB-TV (ABC) - News
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 23, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 23, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Children’s Museum of Atlanta retiring iconic ball machine

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