Mission
THE DEPARTURE INSTITUTE, AN ATLANTA BASED 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT FOUNDED IN 2018 IS DEDICATED TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATION. THE INSTITUTE'S GOAL OF "SHAPING THE FUTURE THROUGH THE PRESERVATION OF THE PAST" IS REALIZED THROUGH A VARIETY OF INITIATIVES AND EVENTS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPORTANCE RAIL TRAVEL HAS HAD ON SHAPING THE COUNTRY BY CONNECTING IDEAS, ADVANCEMENTS AND EXPERIENCE. WE BELIEVE IF WALLS COULD TALK, SOCIETY WOULD BE MORE TOLERANT. HISTORY CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH THEIR HERITAGE, FOSTERING A CULTURE THAT CELEBRATES PROGRESS, ART AND DIVERSITY. THERE ARE CULTURAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION, ALL OF WHICH ARE INTERCONNECTED. HISTORIC BUILDINGS LEND COMMUNITIES UNIQUE CHARACTER AND HELP ENSURE A MEANINGFUL LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.