A Journey through Atlanta's National Treasure with Gene Kansas episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 19, 2026 · 48 MIN

A Journey through Atlanta's National Treasure with Gene Kansas

from PreserveCast · host Preservation Maryland

Gene Kansas, an award-winning cultural developer, preservationist, and social entrepreneur, joins us to discuss his book Civil Sights (UGA Press, 2025), which examines the Sweet Auburn Historic District in Atlanta, the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sweet Auburn was a hub of Black commerce, community, and civil rights activism that helped shape Dr. King’s early life. As the district declined after the 1960s, preservation efforts emerged to protect its history, including MLK’s childhood home, culminating in its designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1976 and ensuring this powerful civil rights landscape endures.

Gene Kansas, an award-winning cultural developer, preservationist, and social entrepreneur, joins us to discuss his book Civil Sights (UGA Press, 2025), which examines the Sweet Auburn Historic District in Atlanta, the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sweet Auburn was a hub of Black commerce, community, and civil rights activism that helped shape Dr. King’s early life. As the district declined after the 1960s, preservation efforts emerged to protect its history, including MLK’s childhood home, culminating in its designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1976 and ensuring this powerful civil rights landscape endures.

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A Journey through Atlanta's National Treasure with Gene Kansas

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This episode was published on January 19, 2026.

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Gene Kansas, an award-winning cultural developer, preservationist, and social entrepreneur, joins us to discuss his book Civil Sights (UGA Press, 2025), which examines the Sweet Auburn Historic District in Atlanta, the birthplace of Dr. Martin...

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