National Trust for Historic Preservation

National Trust for Historic Preservation The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places.
(565)

While we encourage constructive discussion, we ask that you conduct yourself in a civil manner and treat others with respect. The National Trust monitors comments and may remove posts that it deems inappropriate.

During the heyday of the movie palace, audiences were surrounded not only by architectural splendor, but also in some ca...
09/04/2026

During the heyday of the movie palace, audiences were surrounded not only by architectural splendor, but also in some cases by entire worlds, like that of the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre in downtown Palm Springs, California.

Architect Harry J. Williams designed the Atmospheric-style interior of the 1936 Spanish Colonial Revival venue to look like an outdoor village square, with little tiled-roof building facades under a starry night sky.

Closed for more than a decade, the Plaza Theatre reopened in December 2025 after a $40.3 million rehabilitation partly funded by the city. "It shows what a community can do to partner with its city to hold onto its history and magic," says J.R. Roberts, president of the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation.

Aided by $18 million from private donors, a $2.5 million state grant, and $7.2 million in funding from federal historic tax credits via the National Trust Community Investment Corporation, the Plaza Theatre Foundation, which operates the 700-seat theater, was able to restore and upgrade it.

The foundation provided the design team at .create (ARG) with the original drawings for its signature village, which specified details down to the curtains and flowerpots.

They discovered that the original proscenium, the architectural frame for the stage, was hidden behind furred plaster. "We took down all that built-up plaster to reveal the decorative cast concrete and stencil-painted original," says Jason Currie, senior associate architect at ARG. "It was wonderful to see that artistry and craftsmanship." The team also added twinkling lights to the ceiling and color-changing LEDs to create sunset and nighttime effects.

Of course, most of the budget went into updating the theater infrastructure, including a full seismic upgrade and new electrical wiring and plumbing. Patrons also enjoy a larger lobby with a new bar, a quiet underfloor air-conditioning system, and, for the first time, wheelchair-accessible seating.

In addition to classic movies, the theater is once again home to a variety of live performances, including those of the Palm Springs Symphony.

Photos by Dan Chavkin

As of August 2026, 160 acres of Hanging Rock Revolutionary War Battlefield have been protected through an acquisition by...
09/03/2026

As of August 2026, 160 acres of Hanging Rock Revolutionary War Battlefield have been protected through an acquisition by the American Battlefield Trust with funding from the South Carolina Conservation Bank and a grant from the National Park Service.

The American Battlefield Trust plans to use the land to further the site's interpretation, storytelling, and programming efforts.

The battlefield spans 600 acres in total, and more than half of this land is now protected through acquisition for public access and conservation easements.

Located between Camden, South Carolina, and Charlotte, North Carolina, the area surrounding the battlefield has been experiencing population growth and subsequent development pressure. As a result, the battlefield's remaining land is vulnerable to development that could fragment the site and impact visitors’ ability to understand the story of the battle.

In 2026, the National Trust included Hanging Rock Revolutionary War Battlefield on its list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

This acquisition brings the battlefield one step closer to being fully protected, and will help preserve the site for future generations while providing opportunities to educate visitors about its important role in the American Revolution.

Photo by Catherine Noyes

Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a coalition of seven other local and national organizations move...
09/02/2026

Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a coalition of seven other local and national organizations moved to reactivate litigation at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in defense of Bears Ears National Monument.

In addition to the National Trust, the coalition of Native American, conservation, historic preservation, and other organizations involved in the suit includes— Conservation Lands Foundation, Utah Diné Bikéyah, Archaeology Southwest, Patagonia, The Access Fund, A’Nuche, and the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.

The National Trust has long advocated for the protection of Bears Ears as a cultural landscape, an area rich with archaeological resources, prehistoric cliff dwellings, paleontological resources, and sites sacred to many Native American tribes.

In 2016, the National Trust listed the monument as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

Learn more about this case: https://ow.ly/Et4U50ZIrSn

Last night, the world premiere of Route 66: The Main Street of America received glowing reviews from the sold-out crowd ...
09/02/2026

Last night, the world premiere of Route 66: The Main Street of America received glowing reviews from the sold-out crowd at the Art Institute of Chicago's Rubloff Auditorium!

The documentary, which chronicles the famous highway at the time of its Centennial, highlights the people and places that keep the road vibrant and alive.

Screenings will take place at historic theaters along the Route 66 corridor over the next two months, with each state receiving a customized version of the film that focuses more on stories from its region.

Find a screening near you: https://ow.ly/ceGx50ZGhbU

Image 2 and 4- Route 66: The Main Street of America filmmaker John Paget
Image 7- National Trust Preserve Route 66 Initiative Manager, Rhys Martin

First+Main Films, Paget Films

Now accepting nominations for the 2027 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places!For 40 years, the National T...
09/01/2026

Now accepting nominations for the 2027 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places!

For 40 years, the National Trust’s list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places has uplifted and catalyzed community-led preservation work at over 380 sites through a high-impact advocacy and public awareness campaign, resulting in increased visibility and new resources to save and activate historic places for the public good.

For the 2027 list, we particularly invite nominations for historic places that are facing threats related to proposed changes to Federal historic preservation laws and regulations.

We also welcome nominations that highlight overlooked aspects of American history and broaden our understanding of our shared national heritage.

Nominations will be accepted September 1–October 1, 2026: https://ow.ly/my1V50ZHqIS

In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today, Brent Leggs, President and CEO of the National Trust for Histori...
08/31/2026

In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today, Brent Leggs, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation issued the following statement:

“We are deeply disappointed in the Supreme Court’s ruling today and respectfully disagree with the majority’s opinion on standing. It is noteworthy that the majority did not weigh in on whether the ballroom project was in fact legal.

We are pleased with Chief Justice Roberts' strong dissent, which reaffirmed our standing to bring this case, and reiterated what we have maintained from the start—that construction of the White House ballroom is unlawful.

In addition, this is not the final decision on the merits of our case and does not resolve our fundamental argument—that each President is a temporary steward of the People’s House and does not have the unilateral authority to demolish and redesign it without the approval of Congress.

We anticipate that the government will file an application for a writ of certiorari and look forward to reviewing it. We urge the Supreme Court to expeditiously consider the government’s certiorari petition, and we will continue to advocate with our partners on behalf of the American people, the democratic values of our nation, and the preservation of our country’s most historically significant places.”

Learn more and explore resources about this case: https://ow.ly/1ZoS50ZHvsg

The National Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and The Conservation Fund's Legacy Places Initiative...
08/31/2026

The National Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and The Conservation Fund's Legacy Places Initiative are partnering to advance the preservation and long-term protection of historically significant Black heritage sites across the United States. Each year, hundreds of these historic sites are lost as buildings and landscapes sit abandoned, forgotten or dismissed.

The partnership was inspired in part by our organizations' shared involvement with the historic Ben Moore Hotel in Montgomery, Alabama. The hotel was a rich cultural landmark for Black Americans living in Montgomery under Jim Crow. However, prolonged vacancy has led to the hotel's structural deterioration.

Acquired by The Conservation Fund in November of 2025, the Ben Moore Hotel was subsequently named one of the National Trust’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in America in 2026.

Under this new partnership, The Conservation Fund will secure at-risk African American heritage sites, and the National Trust will help advance those sites preservation efforts and long-term stewardship, creating a stronger pathway for their restoration and future reuse.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/kcMb50ZEUXR

Restored: Castro Theatre | The Castro Theatre’s hand-painted ceiling resembling the interior of an ornate tent is its mo...
08/30/2026

Restored: Castro Theatre | The Castro Theatre’s hand-painted ceiling resembling the interior of an ornate tent is its most distinctive feature. But for decades, layers of grime and an improper coating partly obscured this original element of the 1922 San Francisco movie palace, designed by Bay Area architect Timothy Pflueger.

“In an effort to stabilize it, a coat of varnish had been applied,” says Elisa Hernández Skaggs, associate principal at Page & Turnbull a preservation architecture firm. But rather than protecting it, “the varnish turned dark and gave the ceiling a very dark appearance.”

In early 2024, Page & Turnbull, CAW Architects, Inc. and EverGreene Architectural Arts embarked on a $41 million restoration funded by Another Planet Entertainment which manages and operates the theater.

The project included restoring the ceiling and other key features, as well as addressing persistent issues such as water intrusion, ventilation problems, and limited accessibility.

Unveiled to the public in February 2026, the Spanish Colonial/Eclectic–style theater is again “a beacon of culture and activity in the neighborhood,” says Page & Turnbull Principal Carolyn Kiernat.

The Castro Theatre has long stood as a safe space for the Castro neighborhood’s q***r community, hosting drag shows and an annual performance by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.

Following the restoration, the theater’s newly expanded programming includes live music, comedy shows, film screenings, and more. “I went to the grand opening. ... There was a lot of oohing and aahing,” says Skaggs. “It’s just stunning.”

From the Transitions section of Preservation magazine, Summer 2026.

Photo by Jason Chew/Another Planet Entertainment

Our journey through Six Historic American Fountains continues in the heart of Boston. A restoration of the Boston Public...
08/29/2026

Our journey through Six Historic American Fountains continues in the heart of Boston.

A restoration of the Boston Public Library courtyard fountain was completed in 2021. The project included replacing tiles damaged by freeze/thaw cycles and updating the plumbing and lighting. The fountain remains the centerpiece of the library’s open plaza, an oasis in the bustling city.

During the work, the bronze sculpture at the fountain’s center, Frederick William MacMonnies’ Bacchante and Infant Faun, had to be lifted out by crane.

An 1896 gift from the sculptor to the building’s architect, Charles Follen McKim, the piece features a n**e pagan reveler holding a baby in her left arm and dangling grapes from her right hand.

After a public outcry over the figure’s nudity and perceived portrayal of immoral behavior, the sculpture was given to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. More than a century later, during the 1990s, the library made a copy and returned Bacchante to her original watery perch.

“In the courtyard, with this beautiful fountain in the middle, the sound of the water is so peaceful,” says Finegold Alexander Architects Principal Ellen Anselone, who oversaw the 2021 project. “And then at night, when the lights are on, it’s gorgeous.”

Photo by Raj Das

“Route 66 is not just an old highway. It is one of America’s most powerful reminders that local identity, human connecti...
08/28/2026

“Route 66 is not just an old highway. It is one of America’s most powerful reminders that local identity, human connection, and a sense of place are worth preserving.”

Filmmaker John Paget knows Route 66 better than most. In the 1990s, he created the documentary Route 66: An American Odyssey, providing an intimate perspective on those who live and work along the iconic roadway.

Now, in honor of the Route’s 100th anniversary this year, Paget Films returned to the road. His new film Route 66: The Main Street of America premieres next week and highlights the many stories of resilience that sustain the route and its relevance today and into the future.

Beginning in September, Route 66: The Main Street of America embarks on a rolling roadshow to premiere the film in communities along the route from Chicago to Los Angeles.

Find a screening near you and read insights from Paget about what drew him back to Route 66 thirty years after his first trip along the Mother Road: https://ow.ly/rz0b50ZGhbT

The National Trust and First+Main Films are proud to partner on Route 66: The Main Street of America.

Follow along and find screening details at https://ow.ly/ceGx50ZGhbU

Address

600 14th Street NW, Suite 610
Washington D.C., DC
20005

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when National Trust for Historic Preservation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category