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Our Blog-FriendsWhat was the past has now become the future.
No, no Michael J. Fox time-machine DeLorean DMC-12 here. BUT, our great friends over at the Georgia Historical Society (GHS) have given their old website a facelift. Times ten.
In an effort to beef up and streamline public access to their historical resource treasure trove, GHS got together with the gang at Smack Dab Studios to overhaul their (yes, “historic”) website.
Overall, we dig the whole juxtaposition-of-past-and-future thing. It’s part of what makes Savannah cool. (Plus, it reminds me of one of my favorite old-school TCCa-flavored collateral fortune cookie fortunes: “I see a historic future in your present.”)
So, the result of this transformation? Georgia history being brought to life (ala Frankenstein but much more attractive).
Yea, we know the folks at Smack Dab, and they’re good, creative peeps. So it’s no wonder that the website looks so good and is chocked full of new cool features that make it both user-friendly on the front end and easy to maintain and update on the back end. We’re talking an upgrade from FrontPage 98 (collective MOAN) to a Ruby on Rails‘ custom CMS (Content Management System).
Part of a $1.1 million, multi-phased technological expansion known as Expanding Audiences for History: Access for a New Century, GHS now boasts an online library and archives collection amassed over 175 years, new online exhibits, articles and publications, history education resources for teachers, an interactive historical marker tour (’holla at my man Will), images from GHS’s artifacts collection, archived newsletters, excerpts from books on Georgia history, online gift shop, event tickets and photography, calendar of GHS events and advanced research tools.
GHS is the oldest cultural institution in the state and one of the oldest historical organizations in the nation, so it holds the oldest primary sources material on Georgia’s history. All accessible now through your fingertips. How cool is that? (Have I mentioned that they’re home to one of only seven remaining drafts of the U.S. Constitution?! Yeah, and now you can see it on your computer screen.) I told you it was hotter than Frankenstein.
So, what are you waiting for?! Check it out: www.georgiahistory.com. (And if you’re the opinionated type, you can even tell them how you like it).
Popularity: 8% [?]
Congratulations, Laura! And all our GHS friends. Excellent work. I remember the old site… amazing improvement.
Awesome website…good job guys.
Going from FrontPage 98 to Rails is the equivalent of swapping your Ford Pinto for a (insert sleek speedy auto.)
I resent that comment.
So do I.
Wow! This website will prove to be a tool that makes researching Georgia history much easier. And it will probably engage more people in taking up an interest in Georgia’s history. Yay!! Kudos Laura and the GHS crew!! I know my HS history teacher, Mr. Hugh Golson, is loving this.
The site is awesome and gives users a greater chance to realize and utilize the resources of the Georgia Historical Society. Congrats to Smack Dab on another excellent job and to Todd, Laura and the staff at GHS for making their services even more accessible!
The transformation is truly amazing. My favorite feature, which is still in the works, will be geared toward heritage tourism. All of GHS’s historic markers will be loaded up on their website with photos, historical background and directions (with map) for how to get to the sites. Opening Georgia’s history up to all traveling genealogists, school field-trippers and history buffs. So cool!
CONGRATS on the new website….look great
Wow, that took ages to load! And wants to load a pop up every time I click a link! What gives? =P
Nice design job.