Preservation League of New York State

08/16/2026

On the blog: a guest post from Maureen (Mo) Duggan with the Rochester Olmsted Parks Alliance, who shares an update on the three Olmsted-designed pedestrian bridges in Rochester’s Genesee Valley Park, a 2014-2015 Seven to Save. The League is excited to be participating on a project advisory committee along with our colleagues Rochester Olmsted Parks Alliance and The Landmark Society of WNY.

This kind of collaborative advocacy is a key part of our Seven to Save program — which we are still taking nominations for through the end of this month, for the 2027-2028 list. Link in bio for both Mo’s article and the STS call for nominations.

08/16/2026

We were thrilled to be part of Historic Saranac Lake’s grand opening of their expanded museum campus, following their incredible rehabilitation of the Trudeau Building. The League’s Director of Communications Katy Peace attended the ribbon cutting to present HSL with their 2026 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award — an achievement we look forward to celebrating again at our event next month in NYC!

The new museum space is incredible, with exhibits about the region’s history including a special installation from Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center.

If you’re ever in the area, be sure to pay them a visit!

First two photos courtesy of our friends at Adirondack Architectural Heritage

08/13/2026

There is a lot of information out there about the current threat to Section 106 and we wanted to make it easy to find what you’re looking for. We’ve gathered webinar recordings, fact sheets, call scripts, and other resources that we have organized into a simple Advocacy To-Do list.

https://www.preservenys.org/advocacy-updates/section-106-advocacy-resources for the Section 106 resource page, where we have pulled together helpful information from organizations leading the charge, including National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Action, Cultural Heritage Partners, National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, and the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers.

08/03/2026

Behind every restored building is a story worth preserving.

This October, Excelsior Society members will step inside the beautifully restored Community Theatre in Catskill, a beloved landmark that has been thoughtfully brought back to life. From its rich history to its vibrant role in the community today, this stop on our Hudson Valley tour celebrates the power of preservation to honor the past while inspiring the future. The Community Theatre

Join us as we explore remarkable places like this throughout the Hudson Valley and Catskills. Link in bio for all the details.

Photo by Alex Staniloff

07/27/2026

As part of the League’s Hudson Valley & Catskills Experience, we’ll visit Foreland, a remarkable example of adaptive reuse and creative community along the Hudson River.

A former industrial site, Foreland has been thoughtfully transformed into a vibrant hub for artists, makers, and businesses while preserving the character and stories of its past.

Guests will experience this unique space and explore how historic places can be reimagined for new generations.

Registration is open! Join us October 24-25 for a weekend celebrating preservation, innovation, and the remarkable places of the Hudson Valley and Catskills. https://www.preservenys.org/hudson-valley-2026

Photos courtesy Foreland. Slide 2: Rachel B. Hayes, credit Alon Koppel

07/24/2026

The Reclaimed Motel in Red Hook will be our homebase for our fall weekend in the Hudson Valley.

The Reclaimed Motel is a reimagined mid-century roadside motel made modern. Independently run and lovingly restored, every room has been individually curated with vintage and second-hand items. Bathroom tiles, sconces, doors, chairs, records — the owners believe that everything can have a chance at a second life.

If you’re planning to join us for our exclusive Excelsior Tour weekend in October, consider booking your stay at Reclaimed Motel today — our discounted room block expires on July 26. Claim your space and register for the tour: https://www.preservenys.org/hudson-valley-2026

All photos via The Reclaimed Motel

07/23/2026

An Advocacy Update from the League about the current threat to Section 106 Review, a key tool ensuring public participation and expert oversight in preservation projects.

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is proposing to dramatically overhaul the regulations governing the implementation of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. While it was understood that there has been a move afoot to revise the regulations, by all accounts the sp

07/22/2026

TRANSART & Cultural Service Receives Statewide Recognition
from the Preservation League of NYS for the Rehabilitation of 107
Henry Street

TRANSART & Cultural Service has received a 2026 Excellence in Historic
Preservation Award from the Preservation League of NYS.
This award recognizes the rehabilitation of the Burger-Matthews House at 107 Henry Street in Midtown Kingston. Since 1984, the League's annual Excellence Awards program has shined a light on the people who make positive change through preservation — including exemplary restoration projects, indispensable publications, individual action, and organizational distinction. This year’s Award winners will be recognized at a public reception in NYC on Monday, September 28. Event details can be found on the Preservation League NYS website.

07/21/2026

This story is something everyone in the preservation field should be keeping an eye on. From the article: "'What is going to happen regularly is communities are not going to know that major projects are happening in their backyard until the bulldozers show up,' said Marion F. Werkheiser, a founding attorney at Cultural Heritage Partners, who has reviewed the proposed changes."

The Trump administration is moving to rewrite federal historic-preservation rules to give agencies broader authority to advance projects with less public input and narrower protections for historic sites.

07/21/2026

The League’s Preservation Book Club will be IRL at a remarkable historic place this summer. Join us at Eagle Island Camp this Labor Day weekend for their first-ever Women’s Reading Retreat. Imagine spending a long weekend reading from an Adirondack chair overlooking the water, listening to an audiobook while wandering wooded trails, or discussing a great story with fellow readers inside a historic Great Camp. This weekend is an opportunity to slow down, connect with others, and rejuvenate on a private island in the middle of the Adirondacks. And did we mention all meals are provided? https://eagleisland.org/womensweekends