Preservation Month

Preservation Month Preservation Month is an annual observance held each May to celebrate and promote the protection of historic places, cultural landscapes, and built heritage across the United States. Initiated by national preservation organizations, the month brings together federal agencies, state offices, local nonprofits, and community groups to advance conservation of landmarks, neighborhoods, and sites associated with notable figures and events. It often coincides with programs that educate the public about architectural history and conservation techniques, linking local initiatives to national frameworks and landmark lists.

History

Preservation Month traces roots to early preservation campaigns such as efforts to save Mount Vernon and the establishment of National Trust for Historic Preservation and advocacy following passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. In the 1970s, organizations including the National Park Service and American Institute of Architects expanded public outreach to mark preservation achievements, aligning with anniversaries of designations like the National Register of Historic Places. Influences include high-profile preservations of sites such as Independence Hall, Mesa Verde National Park, and grassroots campaigns around places tied to figures like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and events like the Civil Rights Movement. Over decades, the observance has incorporated partnerships with agencies such as the National Endowment for the Arts and programs launched by the Smithsonian Institution, reflecting evolving priorities in conservation, adaptive reuse, and inclusive heritage recognition.

Objectives and Themes

Preservation Month aims to promote stewardship of historic resources, broaden participation in heritage preservation, and highlight themes that change annually to focus attention on specific aspects of conservation. Themes have linked to topics including preservation of African American history sites like the African American Civil War Memorial, protection of LGBTQ history landmarks such as locations associated with the Stonewall riots, and resilience of places affected by disasters like Hurricane Katrina. Objectives include encouraging designation to the National Register of Historic Places, supporting rehabilitation projects guided by the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and integrating preservation into planning processes led by entities such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development and National Trust for Historic Preservation. The month also spotlights technical topics from masonry conservation practiced at Monticello to landscape preservation at Central Park.

Activities and Events

Activities during the month encompass walking tours, open houses, workshops, lectures, and hands-on conservation events organized by institutions including Local Historic Districts, State Historic Preservation Offices, and cultural centers like the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Typical events include guided tours of houses linked to figures such as Thomas Jefferson, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Walt Whitman; workshops on preservation carpentry with partners like the American Preservation Foundation; and thematic symposiums hosted by universities such as Harvard University and Columbia University. Other events involve collaborations with museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Building Museum, lecture series featuring scholars from institutions like the Library of Congress and community-driven efforts led by organizations such as Preservation Brooklyn and Historic New England.

Partners and Sponsors

Preservation Month engages a broad network of partners and sponsors spanning federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and corporations. Prominent participants have included the National Park Service, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, National Endowment for the Humanities, and philanthropic entities such as the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Corporate sponsors and professional associations involved in programming range from the American Institute of Architects to preservation-minded firms like Conservation Resources International, while community-level partnerships often involve entities such as Main Street America, local Rotary International clubs, and historic house museums including The Mount (Lenox, Massachusetts). Funding and in-kind support have also come from foundations such as the Kresge Foundation and heritage funds associated with state historic preservation offices.

Impact and Recognition

The observance has contributed to increased public awareness, elevated designation of historic properties to registries like the National Register of Historic Places, and catalyzed preservation-driven economic development in downtowns recognized by Main Street programs. Success stories include restoration projects that preserved sites associated with Susan B. Anthony and Langston Hughes, adaptive reuse of industrial buildings in cities like Pittsburgh and Baltimore, and disaster recovery efforts that drew on technical assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Park Service. Preservation Month has also supported recognition of underrepresented places, aiding nominations for landmarks tied to Latino history, Asian American history, and Indigenous peoples of the Americas heritage such as sites managed by tribal historic preservation officers. Awards and honors presented during the month by organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and state historic preservation offices celebrate distinguished preservation projects, lifetime achievement in conservation, and innovative approaches to integrating heritage into contemporary community planning.

Category:Heritage conservation Category:May observances