Incoming students were able to explore Athens and Madison over the two-day orientation. Professor Brown gave students a tour focusing on the social history of the University of Georgia’s campus using some of the university’s iconic and lesser known buildings. On the following day, students joined Professor Reap, Professor Goetcheus, and Christine McCauley of the Madison-Morgan Conservancy. Christine gave students a tour of two of Madison’s abandoned mansions- Nolan House and the Foster-Thomason-Miller House. Two MHP alumni, Ken Kocher, Madison’s information specialist and planner, and Monica Callahan, Director of the planning department, showed students how Madison’s planning efforts are dedicated to the preservation of the town’s resources like the McDowell Warehouse. To end the day, a state park ranger at Hard Labor Creek State Park showed students the surviving structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

In May, seven students assisted Taylor Davis on preservation projects for the Jekyll Island Authority. Some of these projects in the historic district included priming, removing rotted wood and mold, restoring windows, and plastering a damaged wall. In addition to learning preservation techniques, students spent time on the surrounding barrier islands like St. Simons, Sapelo, and Cumberland.

Charleston is a preservationist's happy place. This year's field study brought visits to old favorites like Drayton Hall and the Aiken-Rhett house, as well as new experiences such as the Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church. The first day, students toured Historic Charleston Foundation's (HCF) two house museums to compare the approaches of preservation versus restoration. Students then engaged in a Q&A session with HCF's CEO and MHP alumnus, Winslow Hastie, to learn what it takes to run a robust non-profit. On day two, a board member and historian for the Mother Emanuel Church toured the students and explained how from tragedy comes the responsibility to educate and speak to the congregation's rich history. Later, preservation planners from the city government explained their role in ensuring a compromise between smart growth and preservation regulations. The field study concluded with Drayton Hall, a perennial favorite. Though the MHP program visits the former plantation each time students are in Charleston, a new visitor center and archaeological findings brought refreshed discussion on what it takes to enrich the visitor experience and deepen understanding of the nearly 300-year-old house and grounds. Between site visits, students had plenty of time to meander the streets of the Holy City and soak in what is truly a living laboratory for preservation. 

The Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm in Jefferson, GA has been in the same family since it was settled in 1792. Its rich history and collection of farm buildings used through the mid-twentieth century make it a wonderful site to experience Georgia's agricultural history and study construction techniques firsthand. 

Dr. Wayde Brown's Site Interpretation class took a whirlwind weekend trip to visit and analyze methods of interpretation at Pasaquan, Andersonville Civil War prison, Andalusia, and Ocmulgee Mounds.  

The Student Historic Preservation Organization took a Saturday trip to Edgefield, SC to explore antebellum houses, the historic downtown, family cemeteries, and Hickory Hills Dairy. 

The State Historic Preservation Conference was three days of tours through Macon and informative sessions by leaders in Georgia's preservation community. 

Professor Cari Goetcheus' Cultural Landscape Documentation service learning class spent a weekend at the Salem Campground in Covington, GA to document the site. The campground has been in continuous use since its founding in 1828. With their findings, they prepared an inventory and recommendations for future expansion. 

This two-week Maymester field study led by an MHP alumnus gave students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience amongst the historic resources of Jekyll Island. Additional excursions included Sapelo Island and Cumberland Island National Seashore. 

Led by Dr. Wayde Brown, MHP students and faculty spent their annual field study in Savannah on February 15-17. Highlights of the trip included visiting historic sites such as the Owens-Thomas House, Fort Pulaski, Tybee Island’s Lighthouse, and Wormsloe Plantation.  Students enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at Kehoe Iron Works, an adaptive reuse project along Savannah’s riverfront, and an African American History Tour led by Day Clean Journeys.  Meeting with the Chatham County Planning Commission and the Historic Savannah Foundation gave a look at both the public and non-profit sector’s work in helping to preserve Savannah.  A group project called “le flâneur” had students take on the role of tour guides to interpret various landmarks in the downtown historic district.  After a long day of site-seeing, students and faculty kicked back with area alumni for an informal social at Bierhaus.

MHP students and faculty gathered at the home of Program Coordinator James Reap to enjoy the annual MHP Reception on August 27.  It provided an opportunity for everyone to catch up with summer adventures and spend quality time outside of Denmark Hall. 

Incoming students gathered the week before classes to orient themselves to the MHP program at UGA.  Several guided tours of Athens included a campus tour, a cemetery tour with Professor Goetcheus, and an architectural style tour with Dr. Reinberger. Students also had the chance to familiarize themselves with UGA through the general new student orientation and a talk with Dr. Brown. For many, the highlight of the week-long orientation was a trip to Macon where they met with Historic Macon Foundation Executive Director and MHP alumnus Ethiel Garlington. They toured the Hay House, the Spring House, Capricorn Studios, and a neighborhood under revitalization. The week ended with a Social Hour hosted by SHPO at the Founders House.

For the 2017 Charleston Field Study, students visited a variety of historic sites and met with different preservation professionals in the Charleston area.  Site visits included the Nathaniel Russell House, the Aiken Rhett House, St. Michael’s Church, and the Old Slave Mart in Charleston.  Tours off the peninsula included Boone Hall, Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, and Drayton Hall.  From these visits, students were able to see the differences between privately and publicly run sites in terms of both management and interpretation.  They also met with professionals from the Preservation Society of Charleston; the director of the City of Charleston’s Department of Planning, Preservation, and Sustainability; young alumni; and students from the College of Charleston/Clemson University’s Historic Preservation Program.  Between all these planned activities, they found time to tour the Holy City and take in all it has to offer. 

The annual MHP Reception was held on Sunday September 18, 2016 at the Founders House. Despite the rainy weather outside, students, faculty, and alumni enjoyed light hor d’oeuvres and pleasant company inside.

First-year MHP students enjoyed a 3-day orientation beginning August 5th.  On the first day, they were introduced to the many resources available through the department, UGA, and Athens. The following Monday, students visited the Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm where they toured the many outbuildings of the farm and learned about the non-profit Farm Foundation. Their final day was spent in Historic Wilkes County with MHP alumna and Main Street Director Elizabeth Elliot. The morning included a tour of Kettle Creek, a Revolutionary War battlefield, followed by lunch at the Fitzpatrick Hotel with city officials. Students were given free time to explore the downtown area before reconvening at the North Alexander School, a site in the process of being adapted for reuse with the help of grant awards.  The day was concluded with a visit to Peacewood, a beautifully restored 1790s plantation home.

Listening to military strategies to understand the Kettle Creek Battlefield	Students walk through the North Alexander School in Washington
Shields Ethridge Farm	Alumna Elizabeth Elliot led the students around Washington

First-year MHP students went to Savannah on February 18-20. There they met with the Historic Savannah Foundation and the Savannah-Chatham County Metropolitan Planning Commission to see the differences in public and private preservation. The students also visited several sites in and around the city including Fort Pulaski and the Owens-Thomas House. In order to understand the breadth of professions that historic preservation can encompass, they visited an archaeological site on Skidaway Island and went on a tour highlighting African American history in Savannah. Students and faculty caught up with area alumni for a social at the Ordinary Pub.