On June 19, 2009, an early morning fire gutted Athens, GA’s historic Georgia Theatre. Now the theater’s owners have launched a campaign to rebuild and reopen the famed room by New Year’s Eve of 2011. Unfortunately, insurance on the building covered replacement costs — which would mean replacing the building to 1930s code. According to theater owner Wilmot Greene, “to rebuild to current building codes will cost much more — about $3 million total.” Greene recently partnered with The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, a not-for-profit whose mission is to restore buildings of historic and cultural importance. The Georgia Trust has established a fund to accept tax-deductible donations toward rebuilding the Georgia Theatre.

Clean up efforts are underway to remove the debris and steel support beams are now bracing the exterior walls. Restoration is about to begin. Please click here to donate.