Save America's Treasures
Save America's Treasures' story unfolds in many places, from world-famous landmarks to the familiar houses and churches, parks and museums that grace our hometowns. Every community has something – a railroad station, a fountain in the town square, a mural in the courthouse – that helps to define it, sets it apart from every other place, and makes it feel like home. These structures, objects and works of art tell our story as a nation and a people – an inspiring story written in brick and bronze and paint. Keeping this story alive and intact is what Save America's Treasures is all about.
Established by Executive Order in 1998, Save America's Treasures is a public-private partnership that includes the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Park Service, the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities and the federal cultural agencies. Honorary Chair Mrs. Laura Bush leads this effort along with co-chairs Richard Moe, President of the National Trust, and Susan Eisenhower, noted author and granddaughter of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Former First Lady Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, who launched the program as the centerpiece of the Millennium celebration, continues to participate as the Founding Chair.
Since its creation, Save America's Treasures has designated over 1,600 Official Projects and awarded over $300 million in public and private grants to preservation efforts in every state. It forges partnerships with corporations and foundations, public agencies, the media and private citizens, generating new resources and public visibility to ensure a brighter future for our past. The collection ranges from such iconic objects as the Star Spangled Banner, the Founding Fathers' Papers and the World Trade Center Model to historically and architecturally significant structures, including the Acoma Pueblo, Lincoln Cottage, Taliesen and the Conservatory of Flowers, as well as the autobiographical homes of Edith Wharton, Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, Harriet Tubman and Captain Frederick Pabst.
Save America's Treasures is a public-private partnership that works—its success enriches our lives and honors the past with gifts to the future.
About the Partnership
In the words of Richard Moe, National Trust President, “Save America’s Treasures is the country’s most significant preservation effort in over 40 years.”
The Save America's Treasures federal grant program is administered by the National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Each year, grants are available for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and historic structures and sites. Intellectual and cultural artifacts include artifacts, collections, documents, sculpture, and works of art. Historic structures and sites include historic districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects. Grants are awarded through a competitive matching-grant program by SAT's public partners.
Save America's Treasures at the National Trust for Historic Preservation is the partnership's principal private partner. Through creative collaboration with preservation organizations, private donors, foundations, corporations and media outlets, SAT at the National Trust raises awareness and new resources for the nation’s most important historic and cultural preservation efforts. The program also plays an important role as an on-the-ground 'eyes and ears' for the federal program. We work closely with a variety of projects across the country, meeting with project representatives, providing advice and guidance on the federal grant process, often reviewing draft applications as appropriate, and providing assistance in meeting the required match when possible. We are dedicated to reaching out and identifying strong candidates and encourage you to keep us informed of any projects you think worthy, and to contact us if you have questions or would like more information. The offices of Save America's Treasures at the National Trust can be reached at (202) 588-6012 or saveamericastreasures@nthp.org.
Full information on Save America's Treasures at the National Trust for Historic Preservation
