Oglethorpe University will once again be featured as a point of interest in the annual Phoenix Flies: A Celebration of Atlanta’s Historic Sites, presented by the Atlanta Preservation Center.

This year, Library Director Eli Arnold ’06 will guide visitors back through the history of OU. Founded in 1835 in Midway, Georgia, Oglethorpe has an eccentric past, which includes being the home of the first modern time capsule and an on-campus elephant burial. The current campus, with its intricate Collegiate Gothic architecture, opened in 1915 and is listed on Georgia’s Registry of Historic Places. Visit OU Connect to find out more about the Oglethorpe walking tour on Tuesday, March 8 at 2 p.m.

Phoenix Flies 2022 will spotlight more than 50 participating “Preservation Partners” offering nearly 100 free in-person and virtual events. These events range from guided walking tours of historic neighborhoods and districts, cemeteries, parks, gardens and battlefields, to lectures on history and preservation. Social distancing and masking guidelines will be followed at the in-person programming.

This annual program promotes the preservation of Atlanta’s architecturally, historically and culturally significant buildings, neighborhoods and landscapes through education and advocacy. The celebration was created in 2003 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the dramatic rescue of the Fox Theatre, a landmark event that led to redoubled historic preservation efforts in Atlanta. 2022 marks the 19th year that the Atlanta Preservation Center has brought together organizations from around the city to demonstrate the importance of Atlanta’s built history.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, not all partners are able to fully return in person, however, this year still promises a wealth of opportunities that can be safely enjoyed in-person or at home.

For a full itinerary of this year’s Phoenix Flies, visit the Atlanta Preservation Center website.