When explaining my decisions regarding the preservation and presentation of the Tara façade I often remind folks that I don’t have a marketing or public relations degree,….so my methods may seem somewhat unorthodox.
When I started my company (Historical & Hysterical Tours) over 25 years ago, it was after “testing” the waters for a few years as an itinerate storyteller sharing Civil War tales in the local Confederate Cemetery…for tips. From there I got hired to speak at a number of corporate events, historic sites and I even did a little television spot or two. I have been shot, stabbed and executed (all staged of course) and have sung and danced my way from one end of the red clay road to the other. But always with the plan to get the word out to the masses because I believe that there is a great story to tell (as Margaret Mitchell proved) and that even someone as short on talent as I can get the job done…
So, as the project of preserving and presenting the most iconic movie set of all times continues,….I have to find ways to get out the word that Tara was not burned down by the Yankees in Hollywood,…it’s not still standing on a back lot in Culver City covered over by a western motif…and (heaven forbid) it’s not standing in the lobby of a casino in Dubai….Tara is being cleaned and counted and catalogued as loving hands seek to put here myriad of famous parts on display. She is where she has been for the last 25+ years,… in a dairy barn south of Atlanta, Georgia (where Margaret Mitchell said she should be) and not languishing away waiting for rot and decay to destroy her but being talked about, posted, photographed and admired. Her story has brought over 23,000 folks to her media pages and has been told over the last two years to well over 5 million readers in over 20 publications around the world.
The next step in the process is simple, we (the volunteers and I) keep cleaning and sorting and putting things together. We continue to tell the story to anyone who will listen and I keep sharing the stories and information gleaned from my research on sites such as this….and I say “YES” to any and every group who would like to have me come and speak about this most amazing story.
I hope to have a number of locations to share soon where you can come and meet me, purchase a book, shake my hand and share in the work. I hope to have more video clips of the work up on the sites soon and…..I hope to show you all how the bricks of Tara were made and then how the brick panels were attached to the 2×4 walls. I hope to do that and then be able to mount one of the original windows within the wall so that Tara’s visitors can see one more piece of the puzzle.
But make no mistake, as the work continues there is one abiding lesson that I have learned from the beginning of this quest and I continue to learn from those who contact me daily to share their love of the story,…a truth that will Tara was NOT just a brick and mortar manse. It was more than a location, setting on a hill a short distance from the Flint River on the red clay of Clayton County, Georgia….it is a dream remembered a mindset and a place to call home.
I look forward to meeting you up at the gate.
Peter
Please let me know when your book is available to purchase. Gone With The Wind is the best movie of all time. Tara has been a part of our history since the 1930’s. Our Southern heritage can be seen and lived through this movie. It is sad that many want to take our southern heroes and history from us. Thank you for preserving Tara.
Sue Ann, Thanks for the message. The Official Guide to the Saving Tara Project can be purchased at any online store but I can send you an autographed copy if you will follow the links at the top of the home page on this site where it says BOOKS. That will take you to the book page and you can then purchase via paypal and I will personally send you an autographed copy. Thanks again.
Would be glad to volunteer to help with restoration of set . I have been in construction as CEO for 38 years . Extensive knowledge of construction and engineering. Plus I was a history major in college ,please post when you will speak again and where .
I live in Griffin , ga
Cell 404-216-4554
Kirk, I will contact you and we can talk about it further. Thanks for your offer.
You’re doing great work! Thank you to you and the volunteers. Look forward to seeing updates.
Thank you. Please keep telling others and keep coming back.
I truly appreciate the previous comments especially the remarks referencing the possible help in the restoration of our Tara. I can just feel how much appreciated this project would be upon its completion. I was recently in our local Greenville, AL Wal-Mart and saw both my 4th grade elementary and 10th grade English teacher. Oh, how blessed I was to be able to talk to these two wonderful teachers, my English teacher being the one who introduced me to GWTW.
Thank you Peter for your Heaven–Sent interest in the restoration of Tara and other such restoration projects. I know there are alot of people from above smiling down on you for your desire in seeing all this accomplished. I wish there were something I could do to help. I certainly tell everyone who will listen re: your interest in the Saving Tara Project.