Field Notes

Lithonia, GA is a great place to start your bike ride and explore the National Heritage Area. Here are a few trailheads you can enjoy, as well as tips to get you started:  1. Downtown Lithonia Trailhead Located on Johnson Street (between Council and Magnolia Streets), this trailhead lets you hop on the very northern […]

Have you visited historic Lithonia? Once the granite capital of the world, this small southern city is situated at the northern end of the National Heritage Area and offers a rich array of historic and natural sites to explore.  1. Start at the Lithonia Woman’s Club Begin your exploration at the Lithonia Woman’s Club, located […]

On Sunday, November 14th, staff and representatives of the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, the City of Lithonia, DeKalb County and Martin Rickles Studio hosted the first community engagement and visioning session to determine the future of the historic Bruce Street School. The Bruce Street School (also called the Lithonia Negro School and the Old […]

Above: Max Cleland speaking about growing up in Lithonia.  The Board and staff of the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance are saddened at the passing of Vietnam War veteran, former U.S. Senator, native Lithonian and dedicated public servant Max Cleland (1942 – 2021). Mr. Cleland lived a life of service, from his time in the […]

On Sunday, Nov. 14, from 1-4pm, community members will gather to shape the future of the Bruce Street School ruins, the remnants of the first Black public school in DeKalb County. The event will take place on-site at 2449 Bruce Street, Lithonia, GA 30058. Martin Rickles Studio, an Atlanta-based interdisciplinary design studio, will lead the […]

On Veterans Day (Nov. 11), we honor the sacrifice and courage of all veterans, throughout American history. We also want to honor one veteran specifically: Lucious Sanders, a WWII veteran and civil rights activist who helped to shape the history of Lithonia and the nation.  After serving in the military in WWII, Sanders returned to […]

On Sunday, Nov. 14, from 1-4pm, community members will gather to shape the history of the Bruce Street School ruins, the remnants of the first Black public school in DeKalb County. The event will take place on-site at 2449 Bruce Street, Lithonia, GA 30058. Martin Rickles Studio, an Atlanta-based interdisciplinary design studio, will lead the […]

From November 8-10, Panola Mountain State Park will be closed for its annual deer hunt. All trailheads in the park will be inaccessible, including sections of the 34-mile PATH trail that run throughout the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area and through the State Park. These measures ensure the safety and success of the deer hunt. […]

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2021 Daisy Days. The event is over now, and we’re still thankful (as always) for the sight of those stunning daisies this fall. Here’s a reel of a few of the beautiful photos we received throughout the month:  Thank you to our partners at Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, […]

Flat Rock is one of the oldest Black communities in Georgia. You can tour the Flat Rock Archives with Co-Founder, Johnny Waits, to experience the area’s history first-hand! You can sign up for a tour here. Starting at the historic T.A. Bryant, Sr. Homestead (home of the Archives), Johnny will walk you through Flat Rock’s […]

Taking place on Nov. 14 and Dec. 11, 2021, on-site at the Historic Bruce Street School Ruins (2449 Bruce St., Lithonia, GA 30038), community engagement sessions will help determine the future of the remnants of DeKalb County’s first Black public school, the Bruce Street School in Lithonia. Martin Rickles Studio, an Atlanta-based interdisciplinary design studio, […]

COVID-19 has impacted parks and sites throughout the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. As we head into the fall, people are wondering where the National Heritage Area sites stand on reopening. Check out our answers to all of your questions below! What’s open in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, and what’s closed? Atlanta Wild […]