Step onto the grounds of the UGA Center for Research + Education at Wormsloe. Feel the history beneath your feet. This isn’t just a research center. It’s a living testament to centuries of Georgia’s past.
The UGA Center for Research + Education at Wormsloe a unique partnership. It combines the University of Georgia’s academic rigor with the Wormsloe Foundation’s dedication to preserving this historic site. The center stands on land claimed by Noble Jones in the mid-1730s. It’s the oldest tidewater estate in Georgia. It served as a vital military post. It was a working plantation during the era of slavery. Wormsloe even housed an unparalleled collection of books and manuscripts. These documents chronicle Georgia’s history from colonial times to the present. These eventually became part of the University of Georgia’s Rare Books and Manuscripts Collection in 1938. This solidified the long-standing relationship between Wormsloe and the university.
Nine generations of the Jones family have lived at Wormsloe. Each generation supported scholarly work. They laid the groundwork for the research conducted here today. For over a century each generation strengthened ties with UGA. They supported academic research education libraries and even the University of Georgia Press. The center carries on this legacy of partnership. UGA faculty and graduate students collaborate on research. They develop initiatives and plan long-term goals.
The center isn’t just about the past. It is also about the future. The Experiential Learning Center opened in 2023. This facility enhances the site’s research capabilities. It includes a wet-lab a classroom and office space. Housing is available for faculty and graduate students. Researchers study archaeology ecology and cultural history. They excavate artifacts identify and restore them. They investigate the local environment.
Wormsloe is more than just a research facility. It’s a place where history nature and the environment intertwine. It’s a place where scholars work to understand the past and protect the future of Georgia’s coast. The UGA Center for Research + Education at Wormsloe stands as a powerful symbol of this ongoing collaboration. A collaboration that preserves history fosters learning and safeguards Georgia’s precious natural and cultural heritage. The legacy continues.