Save America's Treasures

Save America's Treasures. It is a federal grant initiative established in 1998 as a cornerstone project of the White House Millennium Council, led by then-First Lady Hillary Clinton. The program was created to celebrate the nation's millennium by preserving and protecting America's most significant endangered cultural heritage, including historic structures, collections, and documents. Administered through a partnership between the National Park Service and various cultural agencies, it has provided critical funding to hundreds of preservation projects across the United States.

History and establishment

The program was officially launched in 1998 under the administration of President Bill Clinton, emerging from the recommendations of the White House Millennium Council. The council, chaired by the First Lady, sought projects that would honor the past and imagine the future as the nation approached the year 2000. A pivotal early supporter was Richard Moe, then president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, who helped shape its focus on urgent preservation needs. Its creation was also influenced by successful prior efforts like the Historic Preservation Fund and the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which established a federal framework for safeguarding cultural resources. The inaugural projects were announced with great fanfare, highlighting nationally iconic sites to build immediate public and bipartisan congressional support.

Program goals and scope

The primary mission was to provide direct grants for the conservation of nationally significant historic properties and cultural artifacts that were determined to be urgently threatened. Eligible projects encompassed a broad range, from architectural landmarks like the Ellis Island Immigration Museum to irreplaceable collections such as the original Star-Spangled Banner at the Smithsonian Institution. The program specifically targeted resources that conveyed a national story, requiring applicants to demonstrate both the national significance of the asset and the immediacy of the threat from deterioration, damage, or lack of resources. This scope distinguished it from broader state-level preservation programs by focusing on a curated list of projects of paramount importance to the American people.

Notable projects and grants

Over its history, the program has funded the restoration of hundreds of iconic sites and collections. Early high-profile awards supported the stabilization of President Lincoln's Cottage in Washington, D.C. and the preservation of the Wright brothers' Wright Flyer III at Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. It provided critical funds for the Gettysburg Battlefield rehabilitation and the conservation of the Thomas Edison National Historical Park laboratory complex. For cultural collections, grants assisted the New York Public Library in preserving the original manuscript of Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" and the Museum of Modern Art in conserving works by Jackson Pollock. Other significant projects included work on the San Antonio Missions and the Hawaii's Iolani Palace.

Funding and administration

Initial funding was allocated through the federal budget process, with the National Park Service serving as the lead administrative agency in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The National Trust for Historic Preservation acted as a key non-federal partner, providing technical expertise and advocacy. Grants were awarded on a competitive matching basis, requiring recipients to secure non-federal funds, which leveraged significant private investment from organizations like the Getty Foundation and local historical societies. While annual appropriations varied, the program enjoyed support from multiple Congresses until federal funding was effectively eliminated in the 2010s, though some projects continued with previously allocated funds.

Impact and legacy

The program is widely credited with catalyzing the preservation of countless irreplaceable pieces of American history that might otherwise have been lost. It raised national awareness about the fragility of cultural heritage, influencing subsequent local and state preservation initiatives. The required matching funds stimulated substantial private philanthropy, creating a powerful model of public-private partnership in the field. While direct federal appropriations ceased, its legacy continues through completed projects that remain open to the public, such as the restored Villard Houses in New York City and the preserved papers of Chief Justice John Marshall at the Library of Virginia. The program's emphasis on "treasures" also helped shape the public narrative around preservation, highlighting its role in national identity.

Category:Historic preservation in the United States Category:Government programs established in 1998 Category:National Park Service