The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation included the University’s Marine Institute in its 10 “Places in Peril” for 2008.

The Marine Institute, located on Sapelo Island, was founded in 1953 as a center for nearshore and geological research, according to the institute’s Web site.

“People have ideas about what they want to study – they conceptualize the idea and we try to make the researcher’s dream come true,” said William Miller, director of the Marine Institute.

The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is the country’s largest statewide, nonprofit preservation organization. It seeks to raise awareness of important structures across the state that are threatened by neglect and lack of maintenance, among other problems.

“The entire institute is not in peril, only the greenhouse and administration building,” Miller said.

Howard E. Coffin, an automobile pioneer and island landowner, built the structures in the early 1900s. The greenhouses were used until 1976, and the administrative building until 2004.

“The greenhouse is a very special structure – there is nothing like it around here. Although it currently looks like ‘Jumanji,’ a lot of cleaning up has taken place,” Miller said.

Miller hopes the list will raise public awareness and interest in historic conservation.

“We hope that others interested in helping with restoration would come to our aid because this is a multi-million dollar undertaking and we want to reclaim usability in some areas,” Miller said.

Other sites on the list include: the Meriwether County Jail in Greenville, the A.L. Miller Senior High School for Girls in Macon, the Old Clinton Historic District in Gray, the Spencer House in Columbus, the Trinity C.M.E. Church in Augusta, the Adam-Strain Building in Darien, the Sunbury Historic Colonial Town Site, the Cockspur Island Lighthouse in Tybee Island and The Castle in Atlanta, according to the release.

To learn more about becoming involved in preservation efforts visit www.georgiatrust.com or www.friendsofugami.org.