Since 1987, the Atlanta community has worked to preserve the Hawes Elevator as part of its agricultural history. Looking back after nearly 20 years of preservation work, it may appear that the need and desire to save the Elevator was a foregone conclusion — something easily decided and done.

That assumption could not be further from the truth.

Like many small, rural towns Atlanta has a rich history — but saving and interpreting history is not always valued or easily accomplished in our contemporary society.

The Atlanta Historical Preservation Council (AHPC), the organization that oversees the J. H. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum, is committed to preserving and presenting Atlanta's past. In addition, the AHPC is eager to share lessons learned with other organizations having similar interests.

Such groups are invited to contact the AHPC if they would like to network on preservation projects or learn about the approach and processes Atlanta has used to save and leverage its historical assets.