Historic Athens Spring Showcase

Historic Churches Excursion & 56th Preservation Awards
Saturday, May 17, 2025

This year’s event features the 56th Preservation Awards hosted at Athens First Christian Church, a self-guided tour of historic churches around Athens-Clarke County, and an evening VIP Reception at Little Kings Shuffle Club.

Preservation Awards Ceremony at First Christian Church

After visiting the check-in table inside the Grand Hall, join us in honoring our 56th Preservation Award Winners inside the warm and inviting sanctuary of the 1915 Athens First Christian Church before embarking on a self-guided tour of historic churches in Athens and Winterville. 

Designed by George Washington Kramer, Athens First Christian Church reflects an early 20th-century synthesis of two major 19th-century developments in church design. Along with serving as an example of a plan which Kramer dubbed “Pulpit in the Corner,” the church’s sanctuary features a sloped floor, a curved balcony, colorful stained glass, and an impressive dome. 

Historic Churches Excursion

Following the awards ceremony, Awards & Excursion and All-Inclusive VIP ticket holders can expect to be greeted by friendly faces at each participating church open during the four-hour touring block- including Winterville Methodist Church, Hill First Baptist Church, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Oconee Street United Methodist Church, Ebenezer Baptist Church West, First African Methodist Episcopal Church, and more! Be sure to consult your event program to learn which locations will have members of their choir performing hymnals that hearken back to the early days of the church.

VIP Reception at Little Kings Shuffle Club

All-Inclusive VIP ticket holders can look forward to an evening reception at Little Kings Shuffle Club, located in the West Downtown Local Historic District. Expect hors d’oeuvres from Slater’s Steakhouse and Marti’s at Midday, and a cash bar supporting the host establishment. 

Schedule

Event Check-In

12:30-1:00 - Check in inside the Grand Hall at Athens First Christian Church.

Awards Ceremony

1:00-2:00 - All ticket holders join us in honoring our 2025 award winners at the 56th Preservation Awards Ceremony in the sanctuary of Athens First Christian Church.

Historic Churches Excursion

2:30-6:30 - Awards & Excursion and All-Inclusive VIP ticket holders explore historic Athens and Winterville churches at your own pace. Consult your event program for details on each participating church.

Reception

7:00-8:30 - All-Inclusive VIP ticket holders enjoy an evening reception at Little Kings Shuffle Club complete with hors d'oeuvres from Slater's Steakhouse and Marti's at Midday.

Parking

Limited parking is available at Athens First Christian Church. To ensure easy access for anyone with mobility limitations, we encourage guests who are able to utilize on-street parking or park at the Washington Street Parking Deck. 

Guests participating in the excursion will be expected to transport themselves to each church. Each church will have parking instructions listed in the event program. 

VIP Reception guests should utilize Downtown Athens public parking.

Secure your tickets before they are gone!

Members can use code historicmember for 10% off Awards & Excursion and All-Inclusive VIP tickets.
Partners, please check your email invitation for your code.
To join or renew for 2025, click here now!

---

Preservation Award Categories

• Outstanding Rehabilitation

  The category honors excellence in the wholesale rehabilitation of a structure. Rehabilitation is defined as the act of returning a dilapidated, neglected, and/or damaged property to a state of utility through repair or alteration, which makes possible an efficient, contemporary use while preserving those portions or features that are significant to its historical, architectural, and cultural integrity. Whenever possible, projects should comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

• Outstanding Adaptive Reuse of a Historic Building

  The category recognizes the successful adaptive reuse of a historic building for a new purpose. Projects will be judged based on sensitivity to the building’s character-defining features and architectural integrity, innovative design solutions, and impact on the local community. Examples may include a gas station to a restaurant, a warehouse to shared office space, a residential building to an inn, etc.

• Outstanding Restoration

  Restoration is defined as: “The act or process of accurately recovering the form and details of a property and its setting as it appeared at a particular period of time by means of the removal of later work or by the replacement of missing earlier work.” This award is presented to restoration projects of exemplary quality completed in the course of the last three years. Consistent employment of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Restoration is a necessary qualification.

• Outstanding Revitalization

  This award recognizes efforts to preserve the historic fabric of a structure for modern purposes. The act of revitalization makes a space suitable for today's lifestyles while also preserving character-defining features whenever possible. These projects breathe new life into dilapidated or otherwise neglected structures, finding the best possible way to create preservation within the fabric of existing features and materials.

• Outstanding New Construction in a Historic Area

  Exclusively for new construction, this category recognizes architectural designs in a local historic district, National Register District, or older neighborhood that are contemporary yet compatible to their surroundings. Projects may include an individual structure or an addition to a historic structure.

  • Considerations for individual structures include scale, massing, setback, materials, roof shape, window openings and compatibility of overall design.

  • Considerations for additions to historic structures include subordinance to the original structure,

  • Massing, materials, roof shape, window openings and compatibility of overall design.

• Outstanding Achievement

  Recognizing exemplary activities in the field of historic preservation, this award is presented to persons, groups, businesses, and government entities for a wide variety of projects and accomplishments. Examples may include:

  • Contribution to the advancement of and/or having a positive impact on the field of historic preservation.

  • Consistent employment of standard preservation practices, particularly those stipulated in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

  • Completion of historic preservation-related projects that involve a broad scope and/or scale.

• Publications and Programs

  The category honors innovative and successful programs/publications that make a lasting contribution to our knowledge and understanding of local history, heritage and historic preservation. Examples include printed materials, websites, social media efforts, and educational workshops.

• The Milton Leathers Award for Grassroots Preservation

  The category honors individuals or groups that have used collective action to make a significant contribution to local preservation and heritage through education and advocacy campaigns.

• Stewardship

  The award for Stewardship is given to an individual or organization in recognition of exceptional long-term care of a historic property, structure, or site in the strictest sense of preservation.

• Innovative Solutions in Preservation

  The category recognizes projects that exhibit sensitive and creative solutions to older or historic buildings without compromising integrity or character. A broad range of work will be considered, including incorporating issues of sustainability, technology, and integration of accessibility improvements.