New Research Tools on the Way!

In the last few months, the Historic Preservation Division has launched two new historic context projects that will address important updates and fill gaps in the current body of knowledge on several resource types commonly found in Georgia.

New Report – Georgia Commercial Resources

While commercial resources have been studied at length in Georgia, HPD identified a gap in the available information needed to list significant commercial buildings to the National Register of Historic Places.

To close this gap, a historic context focusing specifically on commercial buildings with typology and comprehensive evaluation guidelines, including registration requirements, is in development.

Although many commercial buildings meet the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under criteria associated with significant historic events or people, many others do not, but might be significant for their physical characteristics.

The context report will facilitate the identification, documentation, and ultimately preservation of commercial resources based on their physical development within the area of study.

The scope of this context will focus on the counties in Georgia impacted by Hurricane Michael and will examine resources and historical narratives through 1985. The commercial context report is expected to be completed in fall 2025.

These 70 counties in Southwest and Central Georgia have a wide range of resources to study and provide insights that will be applicable across the state.

The contracts for creation of both context documents have been awarded to New South Associates, and both projects are funded through the Historic Preservation Fund and the Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service.

Updating Tilling the Earth

Published in 2001, Tilling the Earth: Georgia’s Historical Agricultural Heritage, the statewide agricultural historic context report, has served as the foundational document for nominating agricultural properties to the National Register of Historic Places.

But it needs an update! This update will address the changes in agriculture that have entered the historic period since the document’s initial publication nearly a quarter of a century ago.

This update will further understanding of Georgia’s agricultural heritage, the broad themes of this history and the impact it has on the built and natural environments. The updated context document will also expand on guidance to extant historic resource types associated with agricultural heritage and their significant historic associations, events, patterns, and themes.

The scope of this context update will focus on the counties in Georgia impacted by Hurricane Michael and will examine resources and historical narratives through 1985. The update to Tilling the Earth is expected to be available in winter 2026.

These 70 counties in Southwest and Central Georgia have a wide range of resources to study and provide insights that will be applicable across the state.

The contracts for creation of both context documents have been awarded to New South Associates, and both projects are funded through the Historic Preservation Fund and the Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service.