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History Alive Brings History To Life

Since 2013, through History Alive, we’ve brought to life the history of Dunwoody and our surrounding community through speakers and workshops on a range of interesting topics – from how to trace your family genealogy to the story of the little train that once ran in front of the Donaldson-Bannister Farm. Through History Alive, we also offer tours of Dunwoody’s historic cemeteries, where some of Dunwoody’s earliest settlers are laid to rest, and participation in a variety of events related to historical traditions.

2024 Dates:

January 20
Speaker – Paige Watts
Subject – “What’s with Atlanta? The hidden history of Atlanta.”

March 16
Speaker – Traci Rylands
Subject – “Cemeteries from Dunwoody, Atlanta, and Beyond.”

May 18
Speaker – Brad Quinlin
Subject – “Marietta, Georgia. The Civil War City.”

July 20 

September 21

November 16

Recent History Alive topics:

      • “Kennesaw: One Last Mountain” with speaker Brad Quinlin
      • “Interview with a War Hero” with speaker Col. George Miserondino, USMC
      • “Marietta National Cemetery” with speaker Brad Quinlin
      • “When Atlanta Took the Train” with speaker Lloyd Neal
      • “Georgia’s Covered Bridges” with speaker Lisa Russell
      • “The Intelligence Game” with speaker Franklin Adler
      • History and the Holocaust
      • Two Very Different Vietnam Combat Tours
      • My Diverse Experiences in the FBI
      • Marriage in Georgia: Love or Money?
      • Atlanta From Below: Exploring the History of Underground and the Railroad Gulch
      • The Cherokees of Southern Appalachia
      • Secret Atlanta: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
      • Beyond Vietnam: MLK and the Vietnam War
      • Fighting Fascism with Film
      • A Short History of Barbeque in America
      • A Salute to the Life of Martin Luther King Jr.
      • Underwater Ghost Towns of North Georgia
      • The Ancient Ways of the Cherokee
      • Children of the Holocaust

Recent History Alive events:

      • Tours of the New Hope and Stephen Martin cemeteries
      • Sacred harp singing at Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church, Dunwoody’s oldest church
      • DPT Antiques Roadshow, at which people’s antique treasures were appraised

Follow our events calendar for the schedule of our next History Alive topics.

History Alive

March 16, 2024

For some, cemeteries can be spooky places that are best left alone and unbothered. However, for people with a bit of courage and curiosity they can provide us with a wealth of information about the past. Please join us at the Donaldson-Bannister Farmhouse as speaker and cemetery expert Traci Rylands talks about the history and cultural impact of cemeteries. What do these silent storytellers have to teach us? You’ll have to join us on March 16th at 9:30 AM at the Donaldson-Bannister Farmhouse to find out.

Traci Rylands, writes for her blog, Adventures in Cemetery Hopping and is a photo volunteer for Findagrave.com. She has visited and researched cemeteries in over 25 states.

This History Alive will be held Saturday, March 16th from 9:30 am to 11 am
at the Donaldson-Bannister Farm located at 4831 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338.

No reservations are necessary. Donations (cash or card) are accepted at the door.

Thanks to a generous donation from Starbucks at Georgetown, coffee and pastries will be served at this event.

HISTORY ALIVE VIDEOS

Do you have special historical expertise you’d like to share? We’d love for you to be a speaker at one of our History Alive presentations.

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