The opening of the A.W. Jones Heritage Center in April 2008 represents a landmark achievement for the Coastal Georgia Historical Society and for the
thousands of Society members, generous donors and project volunteers whose support made its construction possible.
The 10,000 square-foot Heritage Center, designed by St. Simons Island architect John Rentz, complements its neighboring historic structures.
The two-story brick structure features a wraparound porch, tall windows and a variety of rooflines that give the illusion of several adjoining buildings.
The Center's main entrance along Beachview Drive leads to an entrance gallery, a museum shop, a 1,400 sq. ft. multi-purpose room, and a well-appointed boardroom.
The second floor includes administrative offices, a 500-volume research library and a climate-controlled, hurricane-safe vault housing the Society's vast
collection of objects, artifacts and archival materials representing hundreds of years of coastal Georgia history. The collection exceeds 15,250 items and
includes archival records, photographs family papers, decorative objects, furniture and archeological artifacts.
The Center was made possible through the successful completion of the two-and-a-half year Lighting Our Way capital campaign. Challenged with grants from
the 2004 G8 Summit Host Committee, the Woodruff Foundation and The Kresge Foundation, the Lighting Our Way campaign raised more than $5.5 million in member
donations, individual gifts, corporate contributions and grants.
