 The Savannah College of Art and Designs Museum of Art turned ruins into revitalization at the country's only surviving antebellum railroad complex. Built in 1856 by slaves, the railroad depot was a Union stronghold during the Civil War and later the heart of Savannah's African American commercial district. Yet by the late 20th century, after decades of neglect, the complex lay in ruins. The college recognized the neighborhood's value and chose to expand in the blighted area. The 82,000-square-foot museum, which showcases world-class African American artists, was erected within the footprint of former warehouses. The museum conserves historical material, enlivens a formerly dead streetscape and reconnects this district with Savannah's vibrant center. The museum's location gives voice to a historically marginalized demographic in the very place where history occurred. It's truly a lesson in the art of conservation.