Fox Theatre

At the age of 15, National Monuments Foundation President, Rodney Mims Cook, Jr., led the Youth For The Fox campaign that sucessfully saved the 5,000+ seat Fox Theatre in Atlanta. The campaign took over four years and brought about the creation of Atlanta Landmarks, now called Fox Theatre, Inc., which purchased the building and expertly runs it to this day. It is the most successful theater of its type in the world. Cook’s organization received the National Trust for Historic Preservation Award at Decatur House in Washington, D.C. by First Lady Betty Ford and National Trust President James Biddle in 1971.

Ledreborg Palace

National Monuments Foundation President Rodney Mims Cook, Jr. was part of the team advising the Munro Holstein-Ledreborg family to restore their 300-year old house and historic park, in Lejre, Denmark. This included dismantling the entire roof and encasing the building like the artist Christo, in order to allow the heat to stay on and the family to remain living there through the Danish winter. An adjacent hameau retreat was entirely designed by the Cook team.

Rhodes Hall

The restoration of historic Rhodes Hall was done over a period of years and includes the return of the historic spiral staircase, which had been removed to the Georgia State Archive Building. National Monuments Foundation President, Rodney Mims Cook, Jr., arranged for historic furniture, rugs, and portraits to be returned to the collection.

Constantinovski Palace

National Monuments Foundation President, Rodney Mims Cook, Jr., initiated the preservation of the Constantinovski Palace at Strelna, St. Petersburg, Russia. The masterplan has been followed, and the building’s faltering foundation and roof restoration were primary for stabilization purposes of the entire building. Finishes were primarily completed by Juan Pablo Molyneaux.

Glenridge Hall

This great country house on the outskirts of Atlanta was slated for demolition. With the guidance of NMF President Rodney Cook, Frances Glenn, and her future husband, Joseph Mayson, were compelled to save the house and 50 acres of the original 1,000 acres surrounding the manor house. Extensive roof reconstruction, interior restoration, and furniture restoration was required. Glenridge Hall was repaired and the surrounding regional community was invited to use it for charitable events and weddings. Numerous films were done there including the Oscar-winning picture Driving Miss Daisy.

Resurrection Cathedral at the
New Jerusalem Monastery

The Resurrection Cathedral and the New Jerusalem Monastery in Istra, Russia was the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church before the Russian Revolution. The complex was seriously damaged by the invading Nazi Army, and the unique conical dome and bell tower were dynamited. A temporary roof was rebuilt to preserve the remnants of the cathedral by General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev. The skeet of Patriarch Nikon (1605-1681) was also badly damaged. NMF president, Rodney Cook, delivered a keynote speech at the Russian Embassy, Washington, as the World Monuments Fund Russia expert successfully nominating the Resurrection Cathedral to the most endangered list in the world. Over 1,000 guests in the Washington diplomatic corps and ecclesiastical leadership attended. This was the first function on a Christian subject in a Russian embassy since 1917. The complex has been restored.