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[Slideshow] Celebrating Places at the Partners in Preservation Open House Weekend

Posted on: May 9th, 2013 by Sarah Heffern No Comments

Sousapalooza! -- in honor of one of Congressional Cemetery's famous residents, John Philip Sousa -- was in full swing.

The DC metro area served up what could only be described as perfect spring weather -- sunny, warm, and dry -- for the Partners in Preservation Open House Weekend on May 4-5. And with activities ranging from viewing Saturn's rings to meeting adoptable dogs, participating sites pulled out all the stops to impress visitors -- and garner votes!

Excited that, after years of being in other cities, Partners in Preservation was in our own back yard, I was among several National Trust staff who jumped at the chance to see Open House Weekend first-hand. And I think I speak for all of us when I say that we were impressed with not only the events and sites, but also the enthusiasm of local community members who turned out.

Before you dive into the slideshow and recaps, one reminder: Voting ends tomorrow, so there are but two chances left to support your favorite sites. Vote now!

A soul/gospel band performing on the steps was one of the activities available at the Washington National Cathedral.

... Read More →

Sarah Heffern is the social media strategist for the National Trust’s Public Affairs team. While she embraces all things online and pixel-centric, she’s also a hard-core building hugger, having fallen for preservation in a fifth grade “Built Environment” class.

Help Us #PreserveDMV with Partners in Preservation

Posted on: April 24th, 2013 by Sarah Heffern

Believe it or not, it's been seven years since we first launched our partnership with American Express, Partners in Preservation. Since that time, the program has made grants worth $9 million to historic places in San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, Seattle, Saint Paul/Minneapolis, and New York. And as a longtime resident of the District of Columbia, I could not be more excited to announce that the D.C. metro area has been selected as 2013's host city.

Today through May 10, two dozen historic places in the DMV -- as the District, Maryland, and Virginia are known in Twitter-speak -- will be competing for $1 million in grants through a popular vote campaign. How does it work? This short video explains the process:

You can vote for one site per day, every day through May 10 and earn additional points through social sharing, so visit www.partnersinpreservation.com to see the participating sites and get voting!

And if you're local to the DMV, save the date now for Open House Weekend, May 4-5, when the sites will be hosting special events and programs to share the stories of these terrific places.

To keep up with the latest news, like Partners in Preservation on Facebook or follow @PartnersinPres on Twitter.

Voting begins on April 24, 2013 at 12:01am Eastern Time and ends on May 10 at 11:59pm ET. Must be at least 13 to vote. Limit one (1) vote per person/email address per calendar day. See terms of participation for complete details.

[Slideshow] Bridges of Yosemite Valley: A Photographer’s Personal Account

Posted on: April 15th, 2013 by Guest Writer 2 Comments

North side of Sugar Pine Bridge. Half Dome is viewed through the trees at left rear.

Last year we added the bridges of Yosemite Valley to our 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list and our National Treasures portfolio out of concern for how the National Park Service’s plan to manage the Merced River would impact the historic Rustic-style stone bridges that span the river. Despite our ongoing advocacy efforts, earlier this year the National Park Service released a draft plan calling for the demolition of the beloved Sugar Pine Bridge and 100 other historic structures in the Yosemite Valley Historic District.

Photographer Brian Grogan generously agreed to share with us some of his gorgeous photos of Yosemite’s bridges and his thoughts about their importance to the park’s landscape. Take a minute to be dazzled by these bridges’ rustic simplicity, and then send a message to the National Park Service that urges their stewardship of these precious structures.... Read More →

Although we're always on the lookout for blog content, we encourage readers to submit story ideas or let us know if you've seen something that might be interesting and engaging for a national audience. Email us at editorial@savingplaces.org.

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Small Gestures, Big Meaning: Show Some Love for Texas Courthouses

Posted on: February 6th, 2013 by Jason Clement 1 Comment

Staffer Jason Clement wears his heart on his sleeve(s) in front of a Texas courthouse.

Everybody needs to feel loved.

It’s a basic fact of life, regardless of where you fall on the scale between overemotional ninny (where I sit) and, well, the opposite of that.

It doesn’t have to be fireworks or someone showing up outside your window, pouring their hearts out while blasting an '80s mid-tempo classic on a boombox. For me, the simple things usually get the most traction: a bit of scribbled-down sweetness left somewhere thoughtful, an unexpected-in-a-good-way phone call, a “just because” gesture that takes you by surprise -- the things that say “I’m paying attention. I care. I’m here.”

As a preservationist/marketer whose job it is to turn non-emotive structures into emotional touch points, I feel like buildings are very much in the same boat as us ninnies. Places need love too ... except they're incapable of letting us know when they need a hug.... Read More →

Jason Clement

Jason Lloyd Clement is the associate director for strategic campaigns at the National Trust, which is really just a fancy way of saying he’s a professional place lover. For him, any day that involves a bike, a camera, and a gritty historic neighborhood is basically the best day ever.

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Prentice Hospital Denied Landmark Designation; The Fight Continues

Posted on: November 2nd, 2012 by National Trust for Historic Preservation 2 Comments

Written by Virgil McDill, Public Affairs

After repeated delays, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks finally placed Bertrand Goldberg’s Prentice Women's Hospital on its November 1st meeting agenda to officially consider whether the building qualified for preliminary landmark status.

As many of you know, this preservation battle has been brewing for a long time -- the Trust first named Prentice to its 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list in June of 2011 -- and in the ensuing months, thousands of you have spoken out, signed petitions and taken other actions to encourage Northwestern University to find a creative new use for this iconic building. ... Read More →