Oglethorpe University will once again be featured in Atlanta Preservation Center’s annual Phoenix Flies: A Celebration of Atlanta’s Historic Sites.
Started in 2003 after the rescue of the Fox Theatre changed Atlanta’s perspective on preservation, Phoenix Flies brings organizations and community members together to show the value of Atlanta’s historic built environment.
For its 21st year, this three-week-long event will highlight 80+ “Preservation Partners” and offer more than 200 events to provide opportunities to learn about Atlanta’s history and culture. The events will include guided walks through historic neighborhoods, battlefields, parks, and buildings, plus lectures on preservation and history.
At Oglethorpe, Library Director Eli Arnold ’06 will lead a walking tour showcasing the history of the campus. Oglethorpe was founded in 1835, right outside of Milledgeville, GA, but the campus we see today — known for its Collegiate Gothic architecture — was re-chartered and opened in 1915.
Today, Oglethorpe’s campus is a registered Georgia historical site. History finds itself here with the first modern time capsule and even an on-campus elephant burial among the many intriguing stories.
The walking tour of campus will be held Wednesday, March 13 at 2:00 p.m. and though free, requires pre-registration, as do most of the Phoenix Flies events.
Other events include a tour of the Fox Theatre and walking tours of Druid Hills and local Civil War battlefields.
Phoenix Flies is running from March 2-26. For a full itinerary, visit the Atlanta Preservation Center’s website.