Historic preservation in the US and Canada aims to protect places, objects, buildings, and artifacts of historical significance. This has led to the development of historic districts, encouraging downtown revitalization and attracting tourists. The destruction of sites has led to the formation of private conservation groups, and careers in the field have developed.
The term historic preservation is typically applied to efforts in the United States and Canada to preserve and protect places, objects, buildings, and artifacts of historic significance. The practice of historic preservation almost always applies to an environment that has been constructed rather than a natural or wilderness environment. Such activities lead to historic buildings, historic districts, historic parks, and other designations that essentially preserve and protect something of historical significance. Historically preserved buildings and sites are often listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the United States, historic preservation has led to the development of historic districts. These are areas, such as downtown areas or historic sites, that have been preserved and protected to showcase both the history and character of the region. This, in turn, has encouraged downtown revitalization in many cities across the country, which allows cities to attract tourists and stimulate local economies that might otherwise have remained stagnant or worse. Such practices have been particularly successful in rural areas or smaller urban areas with less industry than large cities.
Perhaps one of the most significant events to promote conservation in the United States occurred in 1964 when New York City’s Penn Station was destroyed. The main concourse was considered historically significant and architecturally unique, but declining passenger service and revenue encouraged the city to tear down and rebuild the station with a more modern look. This event caused international outrage and helped spur a more fiery push for the preservation of historic buildings and sites across the United States, as well as New York City’s first architectural preservation statutes.
The destruction of such sites and the subsequent preservation of others have led to the formation of many private conservation groups, such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This group is a privately funded non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of historic sites; they have been around since 1949 and maintain nearly thirty sites nationwide. Internationally, the World Monuments Fund was created in 1965 to preserve sites around the world.
While historic preservation relies heavily on volunteerism, many professional careers have developed in the field over the past few decades. Scholars and researchers can find work as a historian of a particular preserved site, researching the history and cultural significance of the site and, in many cases, turning those sites into educational opportunities for the community. Many fields of architecture also apply to historic preservation, and a historic architect might develop plans for revitalization, research a site’s architectural history, and so on. Additionally, several higher education degrees have been developed to focus on the field of historic preservation. Many colleges and universities offer degrees in conservation planning, historic preservation, building preservation, and other related fields.
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