Athens Historical Society

10/19/2026

The Athens Historical Society is excited to return to Oconee Hill Cemetery this October for another turn through its storied grounds. Building on the success of last year’s event, we’re partnering with cemetery staff and volunteers to improve the experience for guests, including smaller tour group sizes and more family-friendly activities. We look forward to another memorable and engaging sharing of Athens’ rich history.

Oconee Hill Cemetery is located in Athens, Georgia adjacent to the University of Georgia campus. The cemetery was established in 1856 during the rural cemetery movement and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The grounds feature impressive landscape architecture, decorative funerary markers, distinctive cast-iron fencing, a rare through-truss bridge, and a Sexton’s House of architectural significance. True to cemeteries of the mid-nineteenth century, it is also known for its scenic beauty, including grassy and wooded rolling terrain, flowing water, and scenic vistas. It is an early bi-racial burying ground, the final resting place of paupers, African Americans, and many a notable Georgian, including governors, University presidents, veterans, and politicians alike.

Please use the main entrance, park in the area north of the sextons house, and the event will start promptly at 6:00pm. We will meet near the Sexton House. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

October 25th at 6:00pm

Free, $5 Suggested Donation

10/01/2026

the "pink building" at Athens Memorial Park used to be a tuberculosis hospital?

Earlier this year, the Fairhaven Tuberculosis Sanitarium – which today serves as Memorial Park’s office headquarters and Recreation Hall – was designated a local historic landmark by the Historic Preservation Commission and Mayor and Commission. The building opened in 1926 during the tuberculosis epidemic and was later acquired by the city of Athens in 1950.

09/29/2026

Advocacy Opportunity:
Athens’ Historic Moon Tree

Athens’ Moon Tree has a history that stretches nearly half a million miles.

When Apollo 14 launched on January 31, 1971, Command Module Pilot Stuart Roosa carried more than 400 tree seeds in his personal kit as part of an experiment conducted in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. Over the course of the nine-day mission, the seeds traveled from Earth to the Moon and back. Following the mission, the seeds were studied by Forest Service stations to determine what effects, if any, spaceflight had on them. Surviving saplings were later distributed nationally and internationally through NASA’s Moon Tree program.

In 1976, the Athens Sertoma Club successfully advocated for Athens to receive one of these remarkable trees. That May, a loblolly pine grown from one of the Apollo 14 seeds was planted at the former Athens-Clarke County Library, now home to the Athens-Clarke County Planning Department. In 2021, Athens-Clarke County Landscape Management and the Athens Historical Society partnered to recognize the Moon Tree on National Space Day, celebrating it as a unique intersection of Athens history, environmental science, and space exploration.

What do you think should happen to this storied tree?

Athens-Clarke County is considering plans for the new Judicial Center that would require the removal of the Moon Tree. Because of the tree’s size, ACCGov has stated that relocating it is not feasible, although seeds are being collected and cultivated for future planting. Community members who would like to share their thoughts on the future of the Moon Tree are encouraged to share their views with the Mayor & Commission.

We encourage our members to learn more about the proposed Judicial Center plans, consider the history and significance of the Moon Tree, and make their voices heard as Athens considers the future of this one-of-a-kind historic resource.

How to participate:

Submit a written comment to the Mayor & Commission through ACC Government's Agenda Item Comment Form. When submitting your comment, reference Item #17 – SPLOST 2020 Project 01, Facilities Space Modernization Project, SP #1 Judicial Center Schematic Design Approval on this link- Agenda Setting Sessions.

Attend the Mayor & Commission voting meeting on Tuesday, October 6 at City Hall and provide public input in person.

Those interested in learning more before submitting comments can review the Judicial Center project information, September 8 Work Session materials, and Agenda Setting Session materials for Item #17.

This is an opportunity for community members to share their perspectives on the future of a unique piece of Athens history.

Helpful links of items mentioned above:

Comment form- https://www.accgov.com/FormCenter/Clerk-of-Commission-9-9/Agenda-Comment-Form-55-55

Agenda (see item #17)- https://www.accgov.com/5775/Agenda-Setting-Sessions -e666b2ab9231c05dc37fb82b7e45de0f

Project Information- https://www.accgov.com/judicialcenter

Session materials- https://www.accgov.com/8088/Work-Sessions -529faf599c1e62c248ad2c89f7bf92cb

09/29/2026

Advocacy Opportunity:
Proposed Development Near the Historic Knox Institute Site

The area surrounding Reese, Pope, Finley, and West Broad streets holds an important place in Athens’ history. Founded in 1868, the Knox Institute became one of the earliest and most prominent Georgia educational institutions for African American students following the Civil War. Although the school building no longer stands, its former campus stood near the corner of Reese and Pope streets, marked today by the Reese Street Historic District and the sign of the University of Georgia’s nineteenth-century botanical garden.

A proposed mixed-use development encompassing portions of Reese Street, West Broad Street, and Finley Street is currently under consideration by Athens-Clarke County. The proposal calls for rezoning the properties for a development containing 181 apartment units with 425 bedrooms, retail space, a six-story building along West Broad Street, and four-story townhomes along Finley Street. The project area includes property within the locally designated Reese Street Historic District and is adjacent to the historic Knox Institute site.

The Athens-Clarke County Planning Commission will consider the proposal at its meeting on Thursday, October 1, at 6:00 p.m. at the Dougherty Street Governmental Building Auditorium, 120 W. Dougherty Street.

Community members interested in the history and future of this area are encouraged to review the proposed plans and participate in the public process.

Ways to be involved (see links below):

- Review the plans for the proposed development before the meeting.
- Review the ACC Gov Staff report for the proposed development before the meeting.
- Attend the Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, October 1, at 6:00 p.m. at the Dougherty Street Governmental Building Auditorium.
- Follow the proposal as it moves through the public review process.
- Read the social posts of Athens Magic Lantern hosted by AHS members Steven and Beth Brown

As Athens continues to grow, public participation provides an opportunity for community members to share their perspectives on how new development can relate to the historic neighborhoods, landscapes, and resources that tell the story of the city.

Helpful links:

Plans- https://accgov.com/DocumentCenter/View/119969/363-Reese-St_-Concept-Plans?bidId

Staff Report- https://www.accgov.com/DocumentCenter/View/120782/660-W-Broad-St-Staff-Report-FINAL?bidId=

Agenda- https://www.accgov.com/Calendar.aspx?EID=30195 -9fb721d32d0218652f15b3e40fca2dda

09/29/2026

09/29/2026

Save the Date:
3rd Annual Oconee Hill Cemetery Tour

The Athens Historical Society is excited to return to Oconee Hill Cemetery this October for another turn through its storied grounds. Building on the success of last year’s event, we’re partnering with cemetery staff and volunteers to improve the experience for guests, including smaller tour group sizes and more family-friendly activities. We look forward to another memorable and engaging sharing of Athens' rich history.

Oconee Hill Cemetery is located in Athens, Georgia adjacent to the University of Georgia campus. The cemetery was established in 1856 during the rural cemetery movement and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The grounds feature impressive landscape architecture, decorative funerary markers, distinctive cast-iron fencing, a rare through-truss bridge, and a Sexton's House of architectural significance. True to cemeteries of the mid-nineteenth century, it is also known for its scenic beauty, including grassy and wooded rolling terrain, flowing water, and scenic vistas. It is an early bi-racial burying ground, the final resting place of paupers, African Americans, and many a notable Georgian, including governors, University presidents, veterans, and politicians alike.

October 25th at 6:00pm

Free, $5 Suggested Donation

09/29/2026

EVENT CANCELLED:
The Extraordinary Life of Lillian Smith

Please note that the event scheduled for September 30 has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Thank you for your continued support, and we hope to see you at a future event!

08/18/2026

Monday August 24, 2026 Dr. Douglas Young, University of North Georgia Political Science Professor Emeritus, will present the life of Helen Dortch Longstreet, wife of General James Longstreet. Helen was talented, strong willed, beautiful and witty. Her inspiring biography if presented today would be rejected for being unbelievable or fantasy. A program you will not want to miss. The Washington Civil War Round Table meets every fourth Monday of the month except December at The Pope Center, 48b Lexington Ave. Washington Georgia. Cost is $17.00 and includes w**e, meal, and speaker contact [email protected]

08/16/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out Friday night for our Cars at Wire Park event! 🚗🎬 We had such a great evening enjoying classic cars, a beautiful sunset, and Cars on the big screen.

A special thank you to Wire Park for partnering with the Athens Historical Society to make this event possible. We loved seeing so many familiar and new faces and appreciate everyone who joined us!

And thank you to those who brought their historic cars for us to see!

06/19/2026

Happy Juneteenth!

Juneteenth is celebrated on the 19th of June, the anniversary of when US troops spread the word of emancipation in Texas, but word got to Athens on May 4th, 1865 over two years after the (Jan. 1, 1863) Emancipation Proclamation.

To learn more about Juneteenth and Emancipation in Athens, we invite you to watch our film by the Athens Film Project:

This video tells the story of how slavery ended in Athens, Georgia,...