Preservation work focuses on Savannah’s future, not just the past | Beneath the Moss

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Historic preservation has long shaped Savannah’s identity, but leaders at the Historic Savannah Foundation say the work is just as much about the future as it is about the past.

That theme anchors the second episode of Beneath the Moss, a collaboration between WTOC and the Historic Savannah Foundation during National Preservation Month. Episode two features Collier Neely, President and CEO of the HSF, who shares his vision for preservation as a tool for community connection and long-term planning.

Neely said the organization’s legacy is deeply tied to Savannah’s national reputation as a preservation leader.

“HSF has been around for 70 years, it’s an institution,” Neely said. “It’s responsible for galvanizing people into saving downtown in the Landmark District. Nationally, it’s an organization that was using the past to influence the future, and that’s the mission we’re still taking on today.”

Central to that vision is what Neely describes as community preservation - an approach that looks beyond individual buildings to understand how historic places support identity and belonging.

“We’re looking at how all of those things come together to preserve community identity,” Neely said.

That people-first approach drives many of HSF’s programs today. Neely says historic buildings matter because of the lives lived inside them and the stories connected to them.

“Historic places wouldn’t be important if people hadn’t been there,” he said. “Putting people first and making sure community needs are met through the stories we tell - that’s where our responsibility comes in.”

The episode also highlights how the HSF creates opportunities for residents to connect with Savannah’s history, whether through saved properties or public events like family days at the Davenport House.

“It’s about creating moments for people to engage with the past and understand what makes this place special—and how they personally connect to it,” Neely said.

Beneath the Moss episodes

• Episode 1: Preservation 101 - Kaylee Johnson, HSF Director of Preservation, explains what historic preservation is and why it is essential in a city like Savannah.
• Episode 2: The HSF’s Vision for the Future - Collier Neely discusses strategic planning, coalition-building and preservation as a way to unite communities.
• Episode 3: Preservation and Economic Development - HSF Board President Austin Hill explores how preservation supports tourism, local businesses and economic growth.
• Episode 4: The Power of Preservation - Granddaughters of the “7 Ladies” who founded HSF share their legacy, alongside Davenport House Executive Director Danielle Hodes, who discusses expanding the site’s historical narrative.

Beneath the Moss streams live on WTOC+ every Tuesday and Thursday at 3:30 p.m. throughout the month of May, with episodes also available online after airing.