The Preservation Foundation

The Preservation Foundation
Name	The Preservation Foundation
Formation	1970s
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Boston, Massachusetts
Region served	United States
Leader title	Executive Director

The Preservation Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving historic buildings, cultural landscapes, and intangible heritage in urban and rural settings across the United States. Founded in the late 20th century, it operates through advocacy, acquisition, restoration, and education, engaging with municipal agencies, landmark commissions, heritage trusts, and community stakeholders. Its activities intersect with a wide range of preservation movements, including vernacular architecture, industrial archaeology, and landscape conservation.

History

The organization emerged amid the postwar preservation movements that followed events such as the demolition of Penn Station (New York City) and the activism of groups like National Trust for Historic Preservation and Historic Charleston Foundation. Early leaders drew inspiration from preservationists associated with Olmsted Brothers, Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, and figures connected to the restoration of Mount Vernon and Independence Hall. During the 1970s and 1980s the foundation engaged with regulatory milestones including the implementation of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and interactions with municipal bodies such as the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and the Boston Landmarks Commission. The group participated in high-profile campaigns alongside organizations that worked on sites like Horton House, Lowell National Historical Park, and Eads Bridge.

Mission and Programs

The foundation’s mission emphasizes stewardship of built heritage, cultural landscapes, and documentary archives, aligning with principles advanced by ICOMOS and standards promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Programs include landmark designation support, architectural salvage, and technical assistance for owners of properties on the National Register of Historic Places and state historic registers such as those administered by the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office. It also runs conservation labs influenced by practices at institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Library of Congress. Collaborative initiatives have tied the foundation to urban revitalization projects seen in cities like Philadelphia, Charleston, South Carolina, and San Francisco.

Projects and Preservation Efforts

Project activity spans residential, commercial, industrial, and landscape sites. Notable efforts include adaptive reuse schemes reminiscent of those at Tate Modern (converting industrial sites), stabilization of historic bridges akin to work on Brooklyn Bridge, and restoration of colonial and antebellum houses comparable to interventions at Mount Vernon and Monticello. The foundation has led archaeological surveys paralleling methods used at Jamestown and partnered on maritime preservation similar to projects with the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. It has undertaken preservation easements and conservation covenants in coordination with bodies like the National Park Service and state parks departments, and participated in disaster recovery efforts comparable to programs after Hurricane Katrina and the Northridge earthquake.

Organization and Governance

Governance is provided by a board of trustees, advisory councils, and specialized committees drawing professionals from fields represented by American Institute of Architects, American Society of Landscape Architects, Association for Preservation Technology International, and the Urban Land Institute. Executive leadership typically includes roles analogous to those at Getty Conservation Institute and regional preservation offices of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The foundation maintains archives, conservation studios, and field crews, and coordinates with municipal agencies such as the Parks and Recreation Department and historic commissions in cities like Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding derives from membership, philanthropy, capital campaigns, and grants from foundations and agencies, similar to support structures used by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Ford Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The organization partners with universities with preservation programs such as Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, and Boston University for internships, research, and technical training. Corporate and private-sector collaborations mirror relationships seen with firms like Skanska, Turner Construction Company, and architectural practices including Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners.

Public Outreach and Education

Public programs include walking tours, lectures, workshops, and publications modeled on outreach by Historic New England, AIA, and municipal landmark programs in Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. Educational partnerships extend to K–12 initiatives like those promoted by the National Council for the Social Studies and university curricula in preservation and architectural history at institutions such as Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and the University of Pennsylvania School of Design. The foundation also produces exhibition collaborations with museums including the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum to interpret architectural history and heritage conservation for the public.

Category:Historic preservation organizations in the United States