From churches to casitas and from panaderias to dance halls, Latino culture is an important part of our country’s story. Yet the very sites that tell these stories are often unknown, ignored, and unappreciated. But communities can take steps to protect these cultural resources, especially if they have the right tools and an understanding of how to make preservation happen.

The National Trust has developed an online training video, called Este Lugar Vale: Preservation 101, which provides an overview of the approaches, players, and policies that can help save Latino cultural resources. As a part of the National Trust’s Promoting Diversity and Place Preservation Priority, this 60-minute video was developed to build the preservation capacity of America’s diverse communities.  The beginning of the video focuses on the “why” of preservation and highlights the wide and rich diversity of Latino sites across the country. The second half outlines the basic steps needed to save  these places, beginning with identifying threats and determining significance. Information on the National Register, tax credits, and preservation organizations and agencies that can help preserve Latino resources is also included.