SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                  ------------

                                   FORM 8-K/A
                                 AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report  (Date of earliest event reported)             May 8, 2002
                                                     -------------------------


                    Wells Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.
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               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


            GEORGIA                  0-25739                   58-2328421
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(State or Other Jurisdiction      (Commission                 (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)             File Number)             Identification No.)


6200 The Corners Parkway, Suite 250, Norcross, Georgia           30092
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                      (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (770) 449-7800
                                                   ----------------------------


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          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)




         The Registrant hereby amends its Current Report on Form 8-K dated May
8, 2002 to include a revised Exhibit 16.1.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)   Exhibits.  The following exhibits are filed with this document:

      Number     Description
      ------     -----------
      16.1       Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and Exchange
                 Commission dated May 8, 2002, regarding change in certifying
                 accountant.



                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to Current Report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                           WELLS REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
                                           TRUST, INC. (Registrant)

                                           By:  /s/ Leo F. Wells, III
                                              --------------------------------
                                                    Leo F. Wells, III,
                                                    President
Date: May 15, 2002

                                                                 EXHIBIT 16.1

                        [ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP LETTERHEAD]





Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549

May 8, 2002

Dear Sir/Madam:

We have read the four paragraphs of section (a) contained in Item 4 included in
the Form 8-K dated May 8, 2002 of Wells Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are in agreement with the
statements contained therein.

Very truly yours,


/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

cc:  Mr. Doug Williams, Senior Vice President Finance & Accounting
     Wells Real Estate Funds