The Savannah College of Art and Design’s newly opened SCAD Museum of Art marries past, present and future in a state-of-the-art new facility that promises to revitalize the western edge of the Historic District.
SCAD Museum of Art. Photo by Dennis Burnett, Courtesy of SCAD.
Long before the doors opened, we donned hard hats and ventured inside with the innovators who forged this spectacular monument to art and design out of the rubble of an antebellum train depot.
To read the full story, pick up the Jan/Feb 2012 issue of Savannah magazine.
However, our cultural coverage is just beginning. With more new museums on the horizon, Allison Hersh gets the scoop on three of the latest additions to Savannah’s cultural scene.
Savannah Children’s Museum
Why it’s needed: “We’d like to enhance the activities currently provided in Savannah by offering a facility that is focused solely on children ages zero through 10,” said the Coastal Heritage Society’s director of development Samantha Pogorelsky, who also serves as the campaign director for the Savannah Children’s Museum. “We want to provide a place where children will be learning and active in their environment.”
Where it is: Adjacent to the Georgia State Railroad Museum (formerly the Roundhouse Railroad Museum) on W. Harris Street, the Savannah Children’s Museum is in development by the Coastal Heritage Society.
What stage it’s in: Phase one, Exploration Station, will open in the spring or summer of 2012. The Exploration Station will be an outdoor educational play area featuring one acre of multilevel “learning through play” exhibitions.
Here are the highlights: In addition to Phase One’s exploration maze and imagination playground, phase two will include more than 30,000 square feet of interactive exhibits that all tie in with Savannah. The timeline for the opening of the second phase is still to be determined.
Make a donation or sign up to volunteer at scm.chsgeorgia.org.
Pin Point Heritage Museum
Why it’s needed: “The Pin Point Heritage Museum serves as an important step in preserving Gullah-Geechee culture,” said Dr. Emory Campbell, author of Gullah Cultural Legacies and former director of the Penn Center on St. Helena Island, S.C. “The new museum is a perfect balance of commemorating and preserving both the tangible and intangible evidence of the culture in Pin Point.”
Where it is: Overlooking the Moon River at 9924 Pin Point Avenue, the Pin Point Heritage Museum is housed in the newly-renovated A.S. Varn & Son Factory, an oyster and crab factory that served as the economic heart of the community from 1926 to 1985.
What stage it’s in: The museum enjoyed a soft opening in November of 2011 and is currently open by appointment to individuals and groups. The museum will offer expanded hours in 2012 once a community group is identified to manage daily operations.
Here are the highlights: An original documentary about Pin Point, vintage artifacts, interactive displays and historic photos.
Native son: Pin Point is perhaps best known as the childhood home of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
How you can help: The Pin Point Heritage Museum is currently searching for a local organization to run the daily operations of the site. The museum will be deeded to a community group in exchange for operating and maintaining the site.
For more info, visit www.pinpointheritagemuseum.com
W.W. Law Cultural Heritage Center
Why it’s needed: The late Civil Rights leader W.W. Law amassed an incredible collection of archives during his lifetime, offering insight into African-American history in Savannah. Law’s collection features thousands of letters, books, recordings and documents. “This is the most important collection of Savannah Civil Rights history,” said George Bowen, a member of the board of directors for the W.W. Law Foundation. “We can’t afford to lose this collection. It needs to be preserved.”
Where it is: The museum is tentatively planned as part of the City of Savannah’s new Cultural Arts Center, which is set to break ground later this year at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Oglethorpe Avenue.
What stage it’s in: The museum is currently in the planning stages while Law’s collection is being carefully catalogued.
Here are the highlights: Original letters from Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy as well as rare books, records and documents.
How you can help: Make a donation to the W.W. Law Foundation at its website by clicking on the DONATE tab in the upper right corner.
For more info, visit www.wwlawfoundation.org
