NEWS - Education & Colleges

SBJ Special Report

Feb 6, 2012 - Bethesda Academy, one of Savannah’s private high school and middle schools,  announced plans today to develop a new museum and visitors center on its 600-acre campus located at 9520 Ferguson Avenue, expected to open to the public in January 2013.

The William H. Ford Museum and Visitor Center will be located on the main floor of Burroughs Hall,  originally built in 1870, and will feature 2,200 square feet of exhibition space as well as digital video stations and a gift shop.

Bethesda has launched a fundraising campaign aimed at raising an additional $100,000 to complete the facility which will celebrate the institution’s rich history.

“Bethesda welcomes approximately 20,000 visitors on campus each year, and this new museum and visitor center will allow us to share the fascinating story of Bethesda through informative, state-of-the-art exhibits,” according to Bethesda Academy president David Tribble. “This exciting new facility will celebrate the historical role Bethesda has played in transforming young men and will allow us to share that story with new students, guests and visitors.”

The museum will also honor the legacy of Rev. William H. Ford, the only Bethesda alum who also served as superintendent. The Ford family is honoring their father for his 19 years of exceptional service at Bethesda.

The William H. Ford Museum and Visitor Center will feature interactive exhibits, photographs, video, oral histories and artifacts that tell the story of Bethesda’s past, present and future. The main exhibit hall will offer insight into early Georgia history, chronicle the founding of Bethesda, detail early life at the orphanage and trace George Whitefield’s legacy.

“This museum has been strategically designed to make the Bethesda story engaging, entertaining and accessible to a wide range of audiences,” according to Jody Marcil, owner of Jody Marcil Design Studio in St. Augustine, Fla., the company designing the exhibitions at Bethesda. “Bethesda played an important role in our nation’s history. We are honored to share Bethesda’s story.”

Originally founded in 1740 by George Whitefield and James Habersham as a home for orphans, Bethesda has the distinction of being the oldest child care facility in America. Over the past three centuries, Bethesda has served more than 10,000 boys, each of whom has benefitted from George Whitefield’s founding mission to teach “a love for God, a love of learning and a strong work ethic.”

Today, Bethesda Academy is a successful school with a curriculum designed specifically around the ways boys learn most effectively. The school, which serves students in grades six through twelve, features a wildlife management program, an on-site video production studio, an organic farming program and a nationally-ranked chess team. Bethesda Academy alumni have gone on to enjoy successful careers in a range of fields including business, medicine and professional sports.

“The structured environment, commitment to excellence and strong sense of community at Bethesda have the power to change lives,” said Tribble. “We’re proud of Bethesda’s positive impact on young men in our community and are delighted to share our story through this landmark new museum.”