The Phoenix Flies: A Celebration of Living Landmarks

The Atlanta Preservation Center hosts its annual event "The Phoenix Flies" from Saturday, March 10, 2012, through Sunday, March 25, 2012. This city-wide celebration provides free access to more than 55 historic sites integral to Atlanta’s rich heritage.

The celebration was created in 2003 by the Atlanta Preservation Center as a way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the dramatic rescue of the Fox Theatre, an event that changed Atlanta’s preservation outlook forever.  Since that time the celebration has won an Award of Excellence from the Atlanta Urban Design Commission, a Preservation Award from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, and has presented over 1,100 events while providing a better understanding of Atlanta’s history to over 20,000 individuals.

Highlights of this ninth annual celebration include:

• a new Atlanta Preservation Center Guided Walking Tour of the Ponce de Leon corridor;
• an increase in the number of performing and visual art events at historic venues;
• a series of guided bicycle tours of Atlanta’s Historic Districts;
• the addition of Utoy Cemetery which dates from 1828;
• a visit to Atlanta’s oldest working fire station, and;
• a second look at two private properties undergoing renovation, The Castle and The Wrecking Bar Brewpub.

The Atlanta Preservation Center was founded in 1979. It promotes preservation of Atlanta’s architecturally, historically, and culturally significant buildings, neighborhoods and landscapes through education and advocacy.