Our Legacy Museum History
In 1927, the Fairmont community was created as the first neighborhood in Griffin, GA where African-American men and women could purchase a plot of land to build a home. Two years later, the Griffin-Spalding Board of Education purchased ten acres of land in Fairmont, on which the Rosenwald Fund supported the creation of a six-teacher type school for African-American children. The next 40 years witnessed an educational boom with two adjacent new buildings constructed in 1949 and the expansion of Fairmont High School into a new set of buildings in 1958. In the fall of 1970, Griffin-Spalding schools fully integrated, reducing the uses of the Rosenwald School building and adjacent structures. Over time, the school buildings fell into disrepair.
The discussion for site revitalization in Fairmont began as early as 2006, and in 2016, the residents of Spalding County passed a SPLOST directing funds toward that goal. The project culminated in the creation of Fairmont Vocational Heritage Park, which is anticipated to house a special events facility, a cultural arts center, and Our Legacy: The Griffin-Spalding African-American History Museum upon the park’s completion.
Our Legacy Museum will be housed within the 1929 Rosenwald School building. Construction on the museum commenced in May 2021, and it is expected to open to the public in 2024.
Mission Statement
To present the inspiring historical and cultural experiences of Griffin-Spalding’s African-American community within a regional and national context.
Vision Statement
To be a space where future generations of all backgrounds will learn of their shared heritage and discover what they can achieve together.
Interested in supporting Our Legacy Museum? Great! We have many different ways for you to show your support.
What will Our Legacy Museum be about?
Our Legacy Museum will present the inspiring historical and cultural experiences of Griffin-Spalding’s African-American community within a regional and national context. The museum will focus primarily on events between 1925 and 1975, but we will preserve and share Griffin-Spalding’s African-American history before 1925 and after 1975 as well. We want to create a space where future generations of all backgrounds will learn of their shared heritage and discover what they can achieve together.
When will the museum open?
Our Legacy Museum is expected to open to the public in 2024.
What is the difference between Fairmont Vocational Heritage Park and Our Legacy Museum?
Fairmont Vocational Heritage Park and Our Legacy Museum are separate Spalding County projects.
Fairmont Vocational Heritage Park is a Spalding County park located within the Fairmont community, and it is currently comprised of historic buildings and grounds that are under construction. When the park is completed, it is expected to house an event center, a cultural arts space, a greenspace, and Our Legacy Museum.
Our Legacy Museum will be located within the 1929 Rosenwald School building, one of the renovated historic buildings in the park. The museum will preserve and share Griffin-Spalding’s African-American narrative.
What is a Rosenwald School?
Julius Rosenwald, President of Sears, Roebuck & Co., established the Rosenwald Fund in 1917. This fund provided financial support for African American communities to create schools. Between 1917 and 1937, over 5,000 schools were constructed to provide educational opportunities to African American children in the Southern States. Today, these schools are collectively known as Rosenwald Schools.
I attended Vocational or Fairmont High OR I know someone who did. How can I or they get involved in the museum?
Great! Our Legacy Museum is collecting oral histories from people who can share stories about the African-American community in Griffin-Spalding between 1925 – 1975. We are interested in narratives about Vocational High School, Fairmont High School, the local Civil Rights movement, desegregation, and everyday life during that time. We are also collecting clothing items, objects, photos, sports memorabilia, and more to become part of the permanent collection of Our Legacy Museum. These items would be gifted into the care of Spalding County and the Museum Curator to be preserved and displayed in the museum. We are specifically interested in the time period of 1925 – 1975, but we will protect and conserve an item from any era that helps to fulfill the museum’s mission to “present the inspiring historical and cultural experiences of Griffin-Spalding’s African-American community within a regional and national context.”
Please contact us at 770-467-4750 if you would like to know more!
Can I donate memorabilia to the museum?
Yes! We are collecting clothing items, objects, photos, sports memorabilia, and more to become part of the permanent collection of Our Legacy Museum. These items would be gifted into the care of Spalding County and the Museum Curator to be preserved and displayed in the museum. We are specifically interested in the time period of 1925 – 1975, but we will protect and conserve an item from any era that helps to fulfill the museum’s mission to “present the inspiring historical and cultural experiences of Griffin-Spalding’s African-American community within a regional and national context.”
I have objects that might fit the mission of the museum. Can I trust that my objects will be protected?
Spalding County and the Museum Curator are taking every possible measure to ensure the long-term preservation and protection of each object donated to the museum. If you would like to know more about the Collection Management process, please feel free to contact us at 770-467-4750.
Can I financially support Our Legacy Museum?
Our Legacy Museum also accepts support in the form of financial gifts. We are greatly appreciative of your continued support of this project, and no amount is too small. Please contact us at 770-467-4750 to know how to make your contribution today.
Want to know more? Feel free to email us! We will return your message as soon as possible!
Phone: 770-467-4750
Address: 843 Memorial Dr. Griffin, GA 30224
Help Create Our Legacy Museum!
Spalding County is currently working to build Our Legacy: Griffin-Spalding African-American History Museum in the Fairmont community! We are very excited about this cultural addition to Griffin-Spalding and cannot wait for it to open.
You have the opportunity to help create Our Legacy Museum. The paver bricks you purchase today will be placed in the landscaping of the museum, marking your contribution to this project. Preserve a piece of the Historic Fairmont Gym for your home collection and share countless memories of basketball games or school dances with your loved ones.
All proceeds from your purchase aid in the creation of museum exhibits that will share Griffin-Spalding’s African-American narrative for years to come.
Pieces of Historic Fairmont Gym are limited! Purchase yours before they’re gone!
Bricks and gym floor pieces can be purchased online with a debit/credit card or in person with cash or debit/credit card at the Leisure Services Administration Office (843 Memorial Drive), the Senior Center (841 Memorial Drive), or Fairmont Community Center (241 Blanton Ave).
For questions, please call the Leisure Services office at 770-467-4750.
Construction Photos
The 1929 Rosenwald School building required extensive renovation and repair in order to house Our Legacy Museum. We will periodically update these images so you can follow along in the journey.
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