The National Trust for Historic Preservation has released its annual list of America's most endangered historic places, themed around equality ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary. The 11 sites, announced Wednesday, include Stonewall National Monument in New York City, Philadelphia's President's House Site, and Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls.
Key Takeaways
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has released its annual list of America's most endangered historic places, focusing on equality ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary. The 11 sites include Stonewall National Monument and Philadelphia's President's House Site, each receiving a $25,000 grant to highlight their significance.
- National Trust lists 11 endangered historic equality sites
- Each site receives $25,000 grant for preservation efforts
- Sites threatened by structural deterioration, development pressures, political factors
- Three sites impacted by Trump administration actions
The list marks America's upcoming 250th anniversary with the foundational principle that everyone is created equal as its theme. Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the nonprofit organization, stated that these sites offer examples of how Americans have fought against injustice and for equality over time. Each site will receive a one-time $25,000 grant to help highlight their connections to this principle.
The sites are spread across the United States, from New York and California on the East and West Coasts, to Alabama and Texas in the South, to Michigan in the Midwest and the Four Corners region of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. At least three of these sites - Stonewall National Monument, El Corazón Sagrado de la Iglesia de Jesús in Texas, and President's House Site in Philadelphia - have been endangered by Trump administration actions.
Among the other threatened historic places are the Ben Moore Hotel in Montgomery, Alabama; Tule Lake War Relocation Center in California; Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco Bay; Swansea Friends Meeting House in Massachusetts; Detroit Association of Women's Clubs headquarters building; Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico; Hanging Rock Battlefield Site in South Carolina. Each site faces unique challenges ranging from structural deterioration and development pressures to political factors.
According to PBS, the Stonewall National Monument faced administration actions that saw the rainbow Pride flag removed from its flagpole earlier this year before it was restored. The National Park Service had removed the flag in February, citing federal guidance that limited the agency to displaying only specific flags. However, the administration reversed course in April as it agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by advocacy and historic preservation groups.
Additionally, after Trump returned to office, he ended diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and many references to transgender people were excised from the Stonewall monument's website and materials. The Republican administration has also put national parks, museums, and landmarks under a messaging microscope, aiming to remove or alter materials that it says are 'divisive or partisan' or 'inappropriately disparage Americans.'
The administration abruptly removed exhibits on the lives of nine people enslaved at the President's House Site in the 1790s under George Washington. The exhibits were taken down as part of a broad effort by the administration to remove from federal properties information it deems 'disparaging' to Americans. The issue is currently the subject of litigation between the city and federal government.
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