The Mycenaean Foundation was founded in 1967 by Professor George Mylonas (Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri). His goal was to give students the opportunity to become involved in the excavation efforts of the ancient Greek city of Mycenae and to further Greek-American collaboration in the work. Those who have since worked at the site have made valuable contributions to archeological organizations and archaeological discoveries in the field. The Mycenaean Foundation, presided by Professor Christofilis Maggidis (Field Director of the Mycenae Lower Town Excavations) founded the MELATHRON American Center for Archaeology at Mycenae in collaboration with the University of South Carolina in 2017.