About The Phoenix Flies

About the Atlanta Preservation Center and The Phoenix Flies: In 1978 the dramatic rescue of the Fox Theatre changed Atlanta's attitude toward its historic buildings and became the inspiration for many other successful projects. As part of the Atlanta Preservation Center's 25th anniversary celebration for saving the Fox, we recognized the city's other historic attractions with our ground-breaking event, The Phoenix Flies: A Citywide Celebration of Living Landmarks.

Designed to show the extent to which preservation is a part of Atlanta's fabric, the Phoenix Flies brings together a community of Preservation Partners ­ each independent and charged with a separate mission but sharing a common purpose in contributing to the city's character. Our role as a preservation center is to work for the benefit not only of our own mission but for the success of our community partners. Where any one of us succeeds, the city is enhanced and everyone wins.

History of the Phoenix Flies: Since our first effort in 2003, our 14 Preservation Partners have grown to 21, and we have expanded the celebration from 10 days to three weeks. More than 7,500 residents and visitors have toured 30 historic venues. In 2004 The Phoenix Flies won two prestigious awards ­ an Award of Excellence from the Atlanta Urban Design Commission and a Preservation Award from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation ­ for its contribution to promoting the city's heritage.

Why is it called "Phoenix Flies?" The phoenix is the mythical bird that consumed itself by fire and rose renewed from the ashes as Atlanta did after the Civil War. It has been the symbol of the city of Atlanta and featured on the city seal since 1887.

Who is participating? For the Fifth Annual Phoenix Flies on March 10-31, 2007, we welcome these new Preservation Partners: Chastain Park Conservancy, Historic South-View Preservation Foundation, Sylvester Cemetery Foundation and Trees Atlanta. We are also grateful to our returning Preservation Partners: Academy of Medicine, Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta Preservation Center, Atlanta Urban Design Commission, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, The Fox Theatre, Georgia Battlefields Association, Georgia State Capitol, Grant Park Conservancy, The Herndon Home, Historic Oakland Foundation, Margaret Mitchell House & Museum, Martin Luther King Jr. Historic District, Piedmont Park Conservancy, Rhodes Hall and the Georgia Trust, Trees Atlanta and the Wren's Nest House Museum.

Click on the Event links to the left for details on these preservation partners' plans for this year.

How can our organization participate? To become a Preservation Partner, please call the Atlanta Preservation Center at 404-688-3353, ext. 14. Participation is free for Preservation Partners.

This March and in the following months
take time to explore what these remarkable
"living landmarks" contribute to understanding
Atlanta as it thrives today.