Forum Blog - Preservation Leadership Forum - A Program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Is LEED Tough Enough for the Climate-Change Era?

By Special Contributor posted 3 days ago

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Editor's note: Twenty years ago the U.S. Green Building Council helped take the concept of “green building” mainstream with the launch of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. Today, LEED is written into building codes across the country, guiding not only the construction of new buildings but also renovations—and even entire neighborhoods and cities. But with an increasingly urgent need to quickly and dramatically reduce carbon emissions associated with the construction ...

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Window Repair Strategies at the Farnsworth House

By Forum Online posted 5 days ago

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The Farnsworth House, which Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed in 1945 and built in 1951, sits in the floodplain of the Fox River in Plano, Illinois, about 55 miles west of Chicago. The house is a steel structure with concrete floors and travertine pavers, and its interior space is enclosed with large panes of glass held in place by simple steel frames. The Farnsworth House | Credit: National Trust for Historic Preservation In fall 2017 staff at the Farnsworth House noticed a crack in ...

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Preservation in Process: A Master Mason at the James Brice House

By Special Contributor posted 12 days ago

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Introduction by Ariane Hofstedt and Videography by Mark Hildebrand Since December 2017 master stone mason Ray Cannetti has been working with Historic Annapolis at the James Brice House in Annapolis, Maryland. His primary focus has been completing forensic work and restoring architectural elements to their original 1774 appearance. The James Brice House account book provides no direct evidence about who did the original pointing work. Whether they were a free journeyman, a master mason, ...

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Preserving Route 66 as a National Historic Trail

By Special Contributor posted 13 days ago

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By Morgan Vickers During summer 2018 the National Trust for Historic Preservation, together with the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and other Route 66 organizations, is conducting a major marketing campaign to support the permanent federal designation of Route 66 as a National Historic Trail (NHT). The campaign will also be a national celebration of Route 66—the places, the people, and the stories that make it an irreplaceable part of the American landscape. Route 66 was named to the ...

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The Preservation Green Lab is Now the Research & Policy Lab

By Jim Lindberg posted 17 days ago

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In recognition of its expanded scope and role, the Preservation Green Lab is now the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Research & Policy Lab . The Research & Policy Lab will continue to provide cutting-edge research and policy innovation to support the conservation and reuse of older and historic buildings across the country. The National Trust founded the Preservation Green Lab in 2009 to strengthen the connections between environmental sustainability and historic preservation. ...

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Larimer Square and America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places of 2018

By Barbara Pahl posted 19 days ago

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Since 1988 the National Trust for Historic Preservation has used the list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places to raise awareness about the threats facing some of the nation's greatest treasures. This year’s list is no different. The decision to save a historic place is not something you make just once; it’s a choice you must make over and over again. Every time it needs a new roof, new electrical and mechanical systems, or structural repairs—the kind of investments that extend ...

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Forum Journal: Technology Transforming Preservation

By Forum Online posted 23 days ago

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By Priya Chhaya and Reina Murray A little more than a year ago, the two of us were tasked with surveying the role technology plays in historic preservation. Over the course of many subsequent hours of planning—and cups of coffee—we tackled this broad subject. We ultimately decided to focus on two distinct applications of technology in preservation. The first is the documentation of historic places and the management of the resulting historic resource data. The second is telling the stories ...

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Forum Webinar: National Treasures: Shaping the Future of Preservation

By Forum Online posted 24 days ago

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During last week’s Forum Webinar, representatives from three National Treasure projects discussed centering their preservation work on people. Ana Edwards reflected on her role at Shockoe Bottom , Gabriela Rosada talked about her experience in Little Havana , and Seri Worden gave insight into the Historic Neighborhoods of Philadelphia . Watch the full recording , and then read “ Preservation for People: A Vision for the Future ,” which inspired this webinar. March 2018 opening of the ...

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Saving Scofield Mansion

By Special Contributor posted 06-14-2018

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By Robert Klein Scofield Mansion is one of only 10 known remaining buildings designed by architect and sculptor Levi Scofield, who is best known for the Soldier’s and Sailor’s Monument that stands in Cleveland’s Public Square. Scofield designed and built his family home on Cleveland’s East Side in 1898. “It was designed in a very picturesque setting to overlook the city,” said Kathleen Crowther, president of the Cleveland Restoration Society . “He built it in a bucolic area to have magnificent ...

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On the Hill: Building on Appropriations Success and Protecting Public Lands

By Janelle DiLuccia posted 06-13-2018

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Despite the highly polarized political environment, Congress is making progress on funding bills and legislation relevant to the historic preservation community. Read on for a roundup of current bills and advocacy efforts. To receive regular updates from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s government relations team, click here to sign up for our new monthly newsletter. Credit: Architect of the Capitol House and Senate Appropriations Bills On June 6 the House Appropriations ...

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Smart Growth and Resilience in the Face of Another Ellicott City Flood

By Nicholas Redding posted 06-07-2018

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When I last visited Ellicott City just a few weeks ago, I saw a community full of hope and potential. Two years after the devastating 2016 flood, Main Street bustled with activity and new life. Just a few short days later, that new reality was shattered by a ferocious wall of water. Ellicott City's Main Street circa 1890 | Credit: Library of Congress In the span of less than 24 months, Ellicott City has endured two “1,000-year” floods. In 2016 the preservation community rallied ...

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Holistic Approaches, Inclusive Change

By Lawana Holland-Moore posted 06-06-2018

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The core mission of preservation is to save the material culture of our past and interpret history. But how do the evaluation processes we use align with what the communities we work in value? What if there is no “material” to preserve? Whose history do we interpret, and who gets to say? To truly connect with the communities we hope to serve, we must use more inclusive, holistic approaches in our evaluation processes. Nominating Tillie’s Corner Like many African Americans, Lillie Pearson left ...

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Replacing the Ceiling at the Glass House

By Forum Online posted 06-01-2018

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In 2015 staff at the Glass House —a National Trust for Historic Preservation historic site—observed a noticeable sag in the ceiling. It had dropped low enough to disturb the swing of two doors, and the dips were visible from outside the building. The investigation team discovered that the wood framing for the metal lath had been attached using nails, and over time, the weight of the plaster had pulled the nails down and out of the roof framing. Finished Glass House ceiling, March 2018 | ...

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Safeguarding Our Heritage: Preserving Cherokee Nation

By Special Contributor posted 05-30-2018

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By Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker Editor's Note: The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Trustees Emeritus Award for Historic Site Stewardship recognizes success and innovation in historic preservation, management, and programming at historic sites. Want to submit a nomination for this year’s award? Learn more about the criteria and nomination process here . The deadline for nominations is June 29, 2018. Historic preservation for Cherokee Nation means safeguarding ...

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Lessons Learned from Saving the Historic Tax Credit: Messaging Through Media Engagement and High-Level Resources

By Special Contributor posted 05-25-2018

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By Andy Grabel, Sarah Heffern, Michael Phillips, Renee Kuhlman, Shaw Sprague On December 20, 2017, during the final hours of congressional action on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the historic tax credit (HTC) was added back into the bill . The HTC is the single most important incentive for the preservation of our nation’s historic buildings and has been instrumental in preserving more than 42,000 nationally significant resources. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National ...

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Lessons Learned from Saving the Historic Tax Credit: Building an Advocacy Network to Connect with Legislators

By Special Contributor posted 05-24-2018

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By Renee Kuhlman, Shaw Sprague, Michael Phillips, Andy Grabel, and Sarah Heffern On December 20, 2017, during the final hours of congressional action on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the historic tax credit (HTC) was added back into the bill . The HTC is the single most important incentive for the preservation of our nation’s historic buildings and has been instrumental in preserving more than 42,000 nationally significant resources. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National ...

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Lessons Learned from Saving the Historic Tax Credit: Launching the Campaign

By Special Contributor posted 05-23-2018

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By Renee Kuhlman, Shaw Sprague, Michael Phillips, Andy Grabel, and Sarah Heffern On December 20, 2017, during the final hours of congressional action on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, t he historic tax credit (HTC) was added back into the bill . The HTC is the single most important incentive for the preservation of our nation’s historic buildings and has been instrumental in preserving more than 42,000 nationally significant resources. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Trust ...

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Forum Webinar: Building Connections Using Social Photography + Video

By Forum Online posted 05-17-2018

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During the latest Forum Webinar, presenters discussed the importance of using social photography and video to build connections and audience. Listen to a recording of the webinar to hear Sarah Heffern, Kirsten Hower, and Raina Regan from the National Trust for Historic Preservation—as well as Liz Williams from Gadsby's Tavern—discuss using Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook Live, and more. The presenters emphasized using visual media on social networks to engage a wide variety of audiences around preservation: ...

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Long Day’s Journey into New London

By Special Contributor posted 05-16-2018

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By Emily Choi The fog was where I wanted to be. Halfway down the path you can’t see this house. You’d never know it was here… That’s what I wanted—to be alone with myself in another world where truth is untrue and life can hide from itself.” —Eugene O’Neill, Long Day’s Journey into Night I stood at that same spot, halfway down the path. There wasn’t any fog, but I could easily imagine my favorite author sitting on the Monte Cristo Cottage porch. Long Day’s Journey was particularly “close ...

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We’re Going to San Francisco: PastForward 2018 Field Study Preview

By Colleen Danz posted 05-11-2018

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Earlier this month a group of National Trust for Historic Preservation staff traveled to San Francisco for a site visit in advance of PastForward 2018 , which will take place November 13–16. This trip provided conference staff based in Washington, D.C., with an opportunity to conduct dry runs of events and tours, check out meeting spaces, and connect with our local supporters. Get a sneak peek at this year’s Field Studies and special events, along with a look at our host city, by searching for ...

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