The Georgia African American Historic Preservation Network’s (GAAHPN) was established in 1989. In 2000, the Georgia Legislature provided funding for a full-time African American programs coordinator position within the Historic Preservation Division (HPD) at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to provide staff support to GAAHPN’s volunteer steering committee. In 2006, HPD received a National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO) Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation for establishing the nation’s first African American program in a state historic preservation office.

GAAHPN is an advocate for partnerships that incorporate diversity. In 2002 GAAHPN members recruited participants for “Your Town: Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design,” a National Trust for Historic Preservation program that offers workshops for rural preservationists each year in cities around the country. The 2002 “Your Town” workshop, cosponsored by the University of Georgia School of Environmental Design, was held in Plains. GAAHPN also supported the National Park Service’s special resource study of the Gullah/Geechee culture in southeastern coastal regions.

GAAHPN collaborates with a number of regional initiatives to provide technical assistance to African American preservationists. The network is a member of the Southeast Regional African American Preservation Alliance, a consortium of southern organizations, and hosted the alliance’s 2001 regional conference in Augusta. GAAHPN also collaborates with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and the Georgia Civil War Commission

GAAHPN continues to celebrate African American heritage in Georgia, with the hope that all Georgia communities will embrace diversity as a unique opportunity to enhance heritage tourism and historic preservation.