Grant looks to see if FAMU’s Historic Gibbs Cottage has a future
Season 11 Episode 25 | 2m 14sVideo has Closed Captions
In 2025, FAMU received a $50,00 grant to study the restoration of Gibbs Cottage. Can it be saved?
Andrew Chen tells us about the $50,000 grant written by FAMU to save the university’s Gibbs Cottage. The cottage was the home to Thomas Van Renssalaer Gibbs, FAMU's first Vice President.
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Local Routes is a local public television program presented by WFSU
Grant looks to see if FAMU’s Historic Gibbs Cottage has a future
Season 11 Episode 25 | 2m 14sVideo has Closed Captions
Andrew Chen tells us about the $50,000 grant written by FAMU to save the university’s Gibbs Cottage. The cottage was the home to Thomas Van Renssalaer Gibbs, FAMU's first Vice President.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipThis is the Florida A&M that you know.
But, tucked away within the campus is Gibbs Cottage, a landmark for this university.
Florida A&M University was awarded a $50,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for the first phase in an attempt to restore the university's Gibbs College.
We spoke with Andrew Chen, Dean of the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology.
He is the person who wrote this grant and told us about its significance and the future of Gibbs Cottage.
In its current condition.
No, we're surprised, shocked, amazed and greatly appreciate how well it's kind of withstood the test of time.
It's been relocated, initially was by the center of campus where currently the Allied health structure is what we're going to begin to look at is the current condition in terms of its structural stability, and what it would take in order to have it returned to what it used to be.
Gibbs Cottage was the former estate of Thomas Van Renssalaer Gibbs, a former state representative who was instrumental in creating FAMU.
When we wrote the grant, we often think from the perspective of being an academic institution on the FAMU campus and often write those grants and proposals within the context of what's the role of this building, this structure, this place to the FAMU campus?
I think many times we overlook its value to the city of Tallahassee, Leon County, the state of Florida.
This landmark has weathered hurricanes, tornadoes, and much more.
After discussing the current condition of the cottage, Chen reflected on its deeper meaning to the university.
I think when people look at Gibbs Cottage, they may look at it from the perspective of its historical significance.
I think some people also need to recognize it's a metaphor for the university.
It's a metaphor for for a lot of people and the challenges they go through and hopefully reminds people that no matter what trials, tribulations and storms that are going on around you, you just need to stand your ground and kind of and look for your positive finish.
Right now, the goal is to figure out what type of restoration is possible for Gibbs Cottage.
After that, the university hopes to have more answers about how the building can be used.
For WFSU Public Media, I'm Justin Edwards.
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Local Routes is a local public television program presented by WFSU