Kiah Hall is a building in

Savannah, Georgia Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia and the county seat of Chatham County, Georgia, Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the Kingdom of Great Brita ...

, United States. Located on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Regarded as "one of the finest examples of

Greek Revival architecture Greek Revival architecture is a architectural style, style that began in the middle of the 18th century but which particularly flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in northern Europe, the United States, and Canada, ...

in Georgia",''The Savannah College of Art and Design: Restoration of an Architectural Heritage'', Connie Capozzola Pinkerton, Maureen Burke (

Arcadia Publishing Arcadia Publishing is an American Publishing, publisher of neighborhood, local history, local, and regional history of the United States in pictorial form.(analysis of the successful ''Images of America'' series). Arcadia Publishing also runs th ...

, 2004) it is one of the original 1856 buildings of the country's only intact

Antebellum Period The ''Antebellum'' South era (from ) was a period in the history of the Southern United States that extended from the conclusion of the War of 1812 to the start of the American Civil War in 1861. This era was marked by the prevalent practi ...

railroad facility.Kiah Hall
–

Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is a private art school with locations in Savannah, Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia; and Lacoste, France. It was founded in 1978 to provide degrees in programs not yet offered in the southeast of the United ...

Formerly named the Gray Building, of Savannah's Central of Georgia Railroad depot, it was designated a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...

in 1976. It is now home of the

(SCAD) Museum of Art.

History

Originally conceived as a major trade post for Savannah, the railroad complex was occupied by Union troops at the close of the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

. In the early 20th century, the area surrounding much of the Central of Georgia Railroad buildings emerged as an important African-American commercial district and cultural hub, and remained so through the middle of the century. Despite its prime location and significant pedigree, however, the complex was beset by five decades of neglect and, by the late 20th century, the depot and its Savannah gray brick lay in ruins."Kiah house continues to crumble"
– ''Savannah Agenda'' In 1992, SCAD acquired the deteriorating former railroad headquarters and began renovations. A year later, the building was dedicated to Virginia Jackson Kiah (1911–2001), a member of SCAD's Board of Trustees between 1987 and 1997 and a pioneering African-American female artist."Accusations among friends, family fly while Savannah artist, icon Virginia Kiah's house crumbles"
– ''

Savannah Morning News The ''Savannah Morning News'' is a daily newspaper in Savannah, Georgia. It is published by Gannett. The motto of the paper is "Light of the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry". The paper serves Savannah, its Savannah metropolitan area, metropolitan ...

'', December 1, 2017

Gallery

EAST FRONT - Central of Georgia Railroad, Gray Building, 227 West Broad Street, Savannah, Chatham County, GA HABS GA,26-SAV,57A-1.tif, The building in the mid-20th century EAST FRONT AND NORTH WALL - Central of Georgia Railroad, Gray Building, 227 West Broad Street, Savannah, Chatham County, GA HABS GA,26-SAV,57A-2.tif, Eastern façade and northern wall, on West Turner Blvd. BOARD ROOM, SECOND FLOOR - Central of Georgia Railroad, Gray Building, 227 West Broad Street, Savannah, Chatham County, GA HABS GA,26-SAV,57A-5.tif, Second-floor board room

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kiah Hall Commercial buildings completed in 1856 Buildings and structures in Savannah, Georgia 1856 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state) Greek Revival architecture in Georgia (U.S. state) National Historic Landmarks in Savannah, Georgia Savannah College of Art and Design buildings and structures Savannah Historic District

History

Gallery

See also

References