African American Heritage in Preservation
Join us in celebrating the people and places that tell the story of the contributions of African Americans throughout our nation's history. The National Trust for Historic Preservation endeavors to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize communities, and the preservation of African-American historic sites is crucial to this effort. Browse the links below for information on sites, programs, and resources relating to people of African heritage.
Take Action to Save the Sites of the Civil Rights MovementAct Now
From coast to coast, the heroic battles of the African American civil rights movement were waged in classrooms, at lunch counters, and in our public squares. However, despite being poignant reminders and enduring tributes to this seminal moment in our history, many of these sites are at serious risk of being lost. This month, as the country celebrates Black History Month, we are launching a campaign to save these important places for future generations. Please join us in urging members of Congress to take the first step in creating a National Civil Right Heritage Trail by becoming co-sponsors of the “United States Civil Rights Trail Special Resource Study Act of 2009.” This legislation would authorize a study to identify the places associated with the movement to secure racial equality. Contacting your Senator only takes a few minutes using our online form, and every e-mail counts. E-mail your Senator to become a co-sponsor of Civil Rights Heritage Trail legislation »
Profiles of Black
PreservationistsMore
Judith Samuel, a member of the board of Landmarks Illinois and of the Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society of Illinois, gives her answer to the question, "As an African-American woman, how did you get involved in preservation?" Learn more »
James A. Turner, owner of Turner Restoration and an advisor to the National Trust, shares the story of how a house with a 12" x 18" hole in the ceiling of the foyer and the living room re-awakened his love for preservation. Learn more »
Grant Projects at Black History Sites More
- Tennessee Preservation Trust, Gallatin, Tennessee
- Sit-in Movement, Inc., Greensboro, North Carolina
- Seventy-Eight Restoration Corporation, Buffalo, New York
- Royall House Association, Medford, Massachusetts
- Project Row Houses, Houston, Texas
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African American Historic SitesMore
Southgate Street School
Built in 1873, the Southgate Street School served generations of black children attending Newport, Kentucky's segregated schools. It was one of four schools built after the Civil War, as the state established consistent funding for public schools. Read More »
North Lawndale, Chicago
This neighborhood on the west side was home to Chicago's Jewish community before transforming into an African-American neighborhood. Golda Meir, Martin Luther King, Jr., Benny Goodman, and Diana Washington all called it home. Read More »
11 Most Endangered
- The Lower East Side, New York, New York
- Sweet Auburn, Atlanta, Georgia
- St. Louis, Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri
- Rosenwald Schools, Charleston, South Carolina
- Gold Dome Bank, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Farish Street Historic District, Jackson, Mississippi
From Our Blog All Posts
- Belmead on the James: Preserving a Treasure of African American Heritage - 03/09/10
- One-Time WPA Project at the Heart of Bronzeville Arts Community - 02/25/10
- A Dollar a Day Yields Prosperity for Generations to Come - 02/23/10
- What I Learned from Lawndale - 02/15/10
- Award-Winning Preservation: Labor Housing Reborn as a Community Center - 02/12/10
Saving African American Historic Places
For people and organizations who are working to save or interpret the history of African American Historic Places, the National Trust for Historic Preservation offers a wide range of resources to help and inspire you. Visit the Saving African American Historic Places page to find case studies of successful projects, profiles of colleagues in the field, reports and news, and links to related organizations. Learn more »
