The Massie Heritage Center in Savannah, GA

The Southern part of the United States is rich with history both grim and good. In the town of Savannah Georgia, with its quaint charm and lazy afternoons, is home to bright spot in the history of public education.

The Massie Heritage Center was designed by John S. Norris and is compromised of three Greek Revival Buildings.  These buildings served as a public school in Savannah and were opened in 1856 ten years before the charter for Public Education was granted to Georgia. The school catered to the poor children in the area who may not have been granted such luxuries as an education. The Massie Center served as a school until 1974. It was soon reopened as a museum.

During its long history, The Massie Center was more than just a school. In 1864 when the Union occupied Savannah, the Massie School was used as a Union hospital. It was not until 1866, under the Federal Army, did the Massie school start allowing African-American children to attend. Education has changed much since the start of the Massie School. Obedience to God, teacher, and parent were the foundation of learning and Scripture was read at the beginning of each school day. It was thought to be wasteful for teachers to change text books each year, so the same book was used for several years.

Today the Massie Center offers tours of the school buildings along with comprehensive information about Savannah's history, and architecture. There is even a complete classroom where children can sit and see how it was like to be a pupil attending the Massie School.