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.
Wright Mitchell, President & CEO, The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
The Georgia Trust: Saving Historic Sites
FEBRUARY 20 | 6:00 PM
Wright Mitchell has served as the President and CEO of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation since September 2023. An Atlanta native, Mitchell grew up in Buckhead and comes from a successful law career in private practice, specializing in civil litigation and historic preservation law. In 2005, Mitchell founded the Buckhead Heritage Society and served as its volunteer president for 10 years. Under his leadership, Buckhead Heritage implemented numerous historic preservation programs and received the Excellence in Rehabilitation Award from the Georgia Trust in 2009 for the restoration of Harmony Grove Cemetery. Buckhead Heritage also brokered the deal with the City of Atlanta that allowed for the Randolph-Lucas-Jones House (Georgia Trust 2020 Excellence in Rehabilitation Award recipient) to be relocated from Buckhead to Ansley Park.
While involved with Buckhead Heritage, Mitchell continued to practice law and opened his own practice, where he litigated historic preservation cases and advised neighborhoods and homeowners on a variety of historic preservation related topics.
Mitchell is a graduate of The Lovett School in Atlanta and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina and a law degree from Emory University.
Mitchell previously served on the Georgia Trust Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2012 and held several officer roles including vice chairman.
Wright currently serves as an emeritus board member of Buckhead Heritage and is a member of The Lovett School Board of Trustees. Previously, Wright served on the board of the Atlanta Preservation Center and was appointed to the Georgia Governor’s Mansion Executive Fine Arts Committee and City of Atlanta Sesquicentennial Civil War Commission.
In his presentation, Wright will provide an overview of The Georgia Trust’s preservation programs including its Revolving Fund, Easements, Legislative Advocacy, Awards, Grants and Places in Peril.
Wright will also provide an update on sites along the Georgia coast that have previously been named to The Georgia Trust’s list of Places in Peril including the Kiah House, the Berrien House and Ashbury United Methodist Church (all located in Savannah) and The Adam Strain Building in Darien and Hog Hummock Community on Sapelo Island. The mission of The Georgia Trust is to work for the preservation and revitalization of Georgia’s diverse historic resources and advocate their appreciation, protection and use.
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.