Historic Savannah Foundation’s lecture series, “People, Places and Stories that Define Savannah,”  will feature lectures covering a wide range of speakers and topics. Each lecturer will give a presentation on a subject that falls within the realm of their expertise followed by a question-and-answer session.

Rebecca Fenwick, Raeb Moore, Joe Smith, Luciana Spracher

The Restoration of City Hall: 

A Panel Discussion

MAY 15 | 6:00 PM

HSF is delighted to host a panel discussion on the Restoration of City Hall on Thursday, May 15.

Savannah’s iconic City Hall building, designed by famed architect Hyman Witcover between 1904 – 1906, is undergoing the first major interior restoration in its lifetime. The project is currently nearing the end of Phase I, which is focused on the first two floors on the building’s west wing, comprising the council chambers and city archives. The restoration aims to strike a balance between upgrading the building to suit modern needs while retaining and restoring its incredible architectural integrity. Original tilework, plaster, wood, and marble are being restored and showcased, while the building itself will benefit from new exhibition and public gathering spaces.

The historic integrity and scale of the project, undertaken while the building is occupied, require careful work in multiple stages, with a team of experts in preservation and construction. HSF is pleased to welcome Rebecca Fenwick with Ethos Preservation, Raeb Moore with Garbutt Construction and Joe Smith of Architectural Collaborative to discuss their work in a panel-style format. Luciana Spracher, the City’s Archives & History Officer and lead stakeholder in the restoration, will be adding her expertise as a co-moderator.

The lecture will take place at HSF headquarters located at 321 E. York Street. Attendees are invited to a wine reception at 5:30 pm and the discussion will start at 6:00 pm. Reservations are recommended, as space is limited. Attendance is free for HSF members and $15 for non-members. Members may RSVP by emailing Kendall Graham at [email protected] or calling 912-233-7787, ext. 109 and non-members may purchase tickets at the link above. Additionally, members will have access to a special behind-the-scenes tour of the restoration work on May 21 – please contact HSF directly for more information.

DON’T MISS OUR UPCOMING LECTURES!

Mark your calendar and we hope to see you there!

Attendees are invited to a wine reception at 5:30 p.m. to meet & mingle with HSF members and staff. The discussion will start at 6 p.m.

We take a ‘lecture break’ in July and December.

 

 

MAY 21, 2025 at 4:30pm – LIMITED spots!

In Honor of National Historic Preservation Month

Pardon Our Dust: A Behind the Scenes Tour of the Restoration of City Hall

Meet at City Hall

 With Luciana Spracher, Director Municipal Archives
Rebecca Fenwick, Ethos Preservation, LLC.

JUNE 19, 2025

Professor Patricia West

Writer and Adjunct Faculty Retiree at Savannah State University

Celebrating Savannah’s African American & Gullah Geechee Literary Legacies

JULY 2025

Summer Break!

AUGUST 21, 2025

Danielle Hodes, Director of the Davenport House Museum

“A Home for Savannah: Expanding the Narrative of the Davenport House Museum”

SEPTEMBER 18, 2025

Laura Seifert, Founder of Savannah Archaeological Alliance

“Archaeology, Faith, and African American Education in 19th century Savannah”

OCTOBER 2025

To be Announced!