Hartwell 250: Black History Exhibit Celebration

YOU’RE INVITED

We are honored to invite you to our annual Black History Month Celebration this Thursday, February 12, at 6:00 P.M.

This year’s exhibit has been curated and will be presented by the wonderful Loretta King. As many of you know, we are always privileged to have Loretta share her expertise and passion with us; her presentations are a highlight that our community looks forward to every year.

However, we have some especially exciting news: this year’s exhibit is entirely new. The 2026 showcase focuses specifically on the intersection of military history and Black history within our local area. It is a powerful, deeply researched collection that provides a unique look at our local heroes, and it is truly an exhibit you do not want to miss.

Special Guest Speakers

We are also thrilled to announce that we will be joined by two distinguished guest speakers who embody the spirit and history of our region:

• Dr. Diane Merritt: A lifelong resident and pillar of Hart County, Dr. Merritt is a dedicated educator with a 36-year tenure in the local school system. She is a steward of her family’s ancestral land—a legacy dating back to 1861—and a staunch advocate for preserving local Black history and landmarks, including the Harmony Grove Baptist Church cemetery.

• Dr. Nathaniel Clark: A retired veterinarian and the only African American veterinarian to have attended and graduated from the historic Hart County Training School. After a distinguished 38-year career with the USDA, Dr. Clark returned to Georgia where he founded a non-profit group dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Training School and securing its official Georgia Historical Society marker.

Exhibit Schedule

If you are unable to join us for the main celebration on Thursday evening, we encourage you to visit during our open gallery hours. The exhibit will be open all week:

• Dates: February 10 – February 14

• Times: 12:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. daily

   

We look forward to seeing you there as we honor our history and celebrate the individuals who have shaped our community.