Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) will host Ardis Wood, preservationist, advocate, artist, and founder of the local affiliate of Scenic America, as the next presenter in their “People, Places and Stories that Define Savannah” lecture series. Her presentation is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, at Historic Savannah Foundation, located at 321 E. York Street.

Ardis Wood is a long-time member of Scenic America’s board of directors and president and founder of its Scenic Chatham (Georgia) affiliate. Her concerns for the visual environment go beyond billboards and unsightly signage, diving deeply into historic preservation–an area of particular interest in Savannah. Ardis received Historic Savannah Foundation’s 2015 Lee & Emma Adler Award for Advocacy.

Scenic America is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the visual character of America. Based in Washington, D.C., the group carries out its mission with the help of 41 state and local affiliates spread throughout the country.

“We are delighted to have Ardis join us as part of our lecture series," HSF Education & Research Associate, Kimberly Newbold said. “Ardis is very passionate in her unwavering dedication to preserving and protecting scenic beauty. Through this lecture, she will provide insight into what we can do to keep our city beautiful both visually and through preservation.”

The lecture is free for HSF members and $15 for non-members. The presentation will begin at 6 p.m. with a pre-lecture gathering at 5:30 p.m. to socialize and enjoy a glass of wine. Members may RSVP for the March 23 lecture by emailing Kimberly Newbold at [email protected]. The $15 nonmember registration fee can be paid by visiting HSF’s website, www.myhsf.org. Space is limited, so reservations are recommended. 

For information about other HSF events, please visit myhsf.org or call 912-233-7787, and follow HSF on their social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Historic Savannah Foundation, a leading nonprofit preservation and cultural institution, saves buildings, places, and stories that define Savannah’s past, present, and future. Following its formation in 1955, the organization started a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties, now totaling over 412 buildings throughout several of Savannah’s historic districts. HSF continues to build capacity within its operations, secure new financial resources, improve its image and visibility, and increase public policy efforts to protect Savannah’s historic districts. For more information about the work of the Historic Savannah Foundation, visit www.myhsf.org.