New history center getting ready for grand opening

GAINESVILLE - Plans are being finalized for the grand opening of the Northeast Georgia History Center at Brenau University.

A four-day celebration is scheduled beginning Thursday, May 6, and continuing through Sunday, May 9.

The events of the first two days will feature a ribbon-cutting and receptions for donors and individual members and other invitees; an open house is planned for the public on Saturday and Sunday, May 8 and 9.

The History Center was first known as the Georgia Mountians History Museum and operated for more than 20 years in a converted fire station in downtown Gainesville, rent-free courtesy of the Gainesville City Council.

After five years of planning and fund-raising, construction of a new 26,000-square-foot building began in 2002 on Academy Street just off E.E. Butler Parkway and was completed last year.