Timeline

Black Savannahians organized the Savannah Education Associate and opened schools for newly freed blacks. The Association contacted northern church societies requesting financial support.

Alfred Ely Beach, an inventor and the publisher of Scientific American magazine donates $13,000 to The Freedmen's Bureau to build the first official school for African-American children. The American Missionary Association opened the Beach Institute with 600 students whose families paid teh AMA $1.00 per month in tuition.

The Savannah Board of Education leases the building from the AMA and operates the Beach Institute as a free public school for black children.

A suspicious fire heavily damages the school, rendering it temporarily unusable.

American Missionary Association finally rebuilds and reopens the Institute.

A suspicious fire heavily damages the school, rendering it temporarily unusable.

Savannah Boy's Club begins meetings in the basement.

The American Missionary Association closes the Beach Institute.

The Beach houses a nautical school.

The Beach is reopened as a continuation school.

The building stands vacant.

The Savannah Board of Education purchases the building for $5,000 and opens Harris Street Elementary School.

The Board of Education closes Harris Street School.

Harris Vocational Trade School utilizes the building.

Harris Reading Center offers classes in the building.

Beach Institute house the Board of Education central office annex.

Harris Adult Education Center operates from the building.

The King-Tisdell Cottage is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of African-Americans in Savannah and the Sea Islands.

W.W. Law creates the King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation Inc

The Beach Institute Alternative High School opens.