PreservationNation Blog

[10 on Tuesday] Buying a Historic Home: What’s Your Style? (Part 2)

Posted on: April 16th, 2013 by Emily Potter 9 Comments

[10 on Tuesday] Buying a Historic Home: What’s Your Style? (Part 2) from PreservationNation

Part Two of our architectural style digest (read Part One here) offers definitions and examples of houses from approximately 1855 up to 1960.

When you’re looking at historic houses, it’s important to remember that many are not exactly a single kind of style. You’ll discover that some have used other materials or details not found in the technical definition, or alterations, additions, and updates have melded two different styles together.

These nuances and variations are what make each historic house special and oftentimes historically significant. So preserve them, celebrate them, and enjoy them!... Read More →

A New Designation for Las Vegas’ Historic El Cortez Hotel

Posted on: April 15th, 2013 by Katherine Flynn 1 Comment

Neon sign at historic El Cortez Hotel in Las Vegas. Credit: Roadside Pictures, Flickr

Las Vegas is legendary for being a city of neon lights and tourists -- a place where everything, from the amount of money in people’s wallets to the signs outside of hotels and casinos, is constantly in flux.

So when the El Cortez Hotel, the longest continuously running downtown hotel-casino in the city, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in February of this year, Courtney Mooney, a historic preservation officer for the city of Las Vegas, saw it as a preservation victory in an ephemeral place.... Read More →

[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 →

Announcing the Great American Main Street Award Winners for 2013

Posted on: April 14th, 2013 by National Trust for Historic Preservation

Written by Erica Stewart, Public Affairs Manager

Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and Rochester, Michigan celebrate their Main Streets. Credits: Ben Muldrow; Steve Kovacs
Ocean Springs, Miss. (l.) and Rochester, Mich. (r.) celebrate their Main Streets.

We all know a great Main Street when we see it. Maybe it offers abundant antique shops and a second-hand bookstore or two. Perhaps it is awash in art galleries and trendy restaurants, or overflowing with edgy coffee shops and funky clothing stores. In fact, it might offer all of these things -- plus shady trees, easily navigable streets, jazzy festivals, and eclectic historic storefronts.

But what isn’t as evident beyond those inviting streetscapes is the Main Street organization that in many cases made it possible. Neither the casual tourist nor the regular shopper probably knows much about the work of the Main Street organization’s staff and loyal volunteers, its board of directors, and its coordinating program at the city, county or state level.... Read More →

[Sitings] Brucemore: A Century of Stories

Posted on: April 13th, 2013 by Mame McCully

Brucemore, a Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a house museum and community cultural center. Visitors annually enjoy the historic mansion, stroll through the beautiful gardens, and attend a variety of special events on the estate.

The 26-acre estate tells the stories of three Cedar Rapids families, all business and social leaders, who reflected and influenced the community in which they lived. The changes they made to their estate, the impact they had on their community, and the stories they left behind shape visitors' understanding of the American Midwest.

Brucemore offers a wide variety of concerts, theater, programs, and tours for visitors of all ages. Plan your visit today -- and if you can't make it there soon, enjoy some fun facts about the estate in this week's slideshow.