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.

2021 Programs:

  • January 16th – “A Salute to the Life of Martin Luther King Jr.”
  • March 20th – “A Short History of Barbecue in America”, Speaker Jim Auchmutey
  • May 15th – “Fighting Fascism with Film”, Speaker John Thomas (Tom) Scott, Ph.D.
  • July 17th – “Beyond Vietnam: MLK and the Vietnam War”, Speaker Doug Thompson
  • September 18th – “Secret Atlanta: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure”, Speaker Jonah McDonald
  • November 20th – “The Cherokees of Southern Appalachia: A talk and show-&-tell”, Speaker Mark Warren

Recent History Alive topics:

  • Underwater Ghost Towns of North Georgia
  • The Ancient Ways of the Cherokee
  • Children of the Holocaust
  • How to trace your family genealogy
  • The Roswell Mill
  • The “Dinky” and the Roswell Railroad

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 – January 16, 2021

A Salute to the Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Christian minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. Emerging as a leader in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, he was 26-year-old pastor who was elected president of the Montgomery Improvement Association and soon after formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to unify other black churches to end segregation across the South. On May 17, 1957, King’s status as a leader of the civil rights movement was cemented with his “Give Us the Ballot” speech at the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom—a demonstration held to urge the U.S. government to enforce the Brown v. Board of Education ruling across the country, on the third anniversary of the decision.

Program Overview:

Celebrate Martin Luther King and all that he stood for as Dunwoody Preservation Trust displays a number of iconic photos, some of his most powerful quotes, and a viewing of his most famous speech, “I Have a Dream,” which invoked the words of the founding fathers, Lincoln, and the U.S. Constitution. This broadcast was originally aired live on television and radio on August 28, 1963. This commemorative Martin Luther King Jr. exhibit will be on display from 9:00 am until 12 noon.

At the Donaldson-Bannister Farm, 4831 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338

$5 for DPT members. $10 for non DPT members. No reservations required. (This exhibit will be on display in our newly enclosed garage at the Donaldson-Bannister Farmhouse.  The location is heated and does have larger openings to the outside for air circulation. Limited # will be allowed entry at a time for COVID safe distancing.)

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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