Most Endangered National Historic Sites in the U.S.
In 1988, the National Trust for Historic Preservation began to put out annual lists of the most endangered historic places in the United States. Aiming to save architectural and cultural examples of our past that risk becoming bulldozed, the annual list continues to ignite preservation efforts — good news for travelers seeking a history lesson.
But the efforts do not always work, as was the case with the original Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, which was demolished in 2007. The original building from 1963 featured a 1,441-seat theater that was home to a resident acting company. After demolition, a new theater was created in its place.
We have compiled the lists from 2018 and 2019 to highlight the most endangered National Trust historic sites in the country, from Denver's Larimer Square to the iconic Route 66. Should they be saved? Will they be saved? Well, see for yourself...
Ancestral Places of Southeast Utah
Appeared on the 2019 List
The Colorado Plateau of Utah features 8,000 miles of land that was home to Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo and Ute tribes. Across these once-sacred lands are evidence of the ancient people who lived here: cliff dwellings, archaeological sites and petroglyphs.
Although some areas are managed and can limit how many people visit, there are some that are not protected. The preservation team is working to keep all sites preserved as they tell an important part of our nation's ancient history.
Annapolis City Dock Area, Maryland
Appeared on the 2018 List
One of the nation's biggest sailing cities, Annapolis' harbor area is filled with shops, restaurants and views. The area has been a historical district under protection for nearly 50 years.
Yet proposals to rezone the Colonial Annapolis Historic District could allow protected areas to be released from the zone and change the dock area completely.
Ashley River Historic District, South Carolina
Appeared on the 2018 List
An area made up of less than 15 miles of riverfront marshland, the Ashley River is named for Lord Anthony Ashley Cooper, one of the founders of the Carolina Colony charter who owned the land. On the National Register of Historic Places since 1994, the historic district was expanded to 23,000 acres in 2010.
Zoning changes in favor of developing the land is now threatening to take away several acres, and the National Trust is attempting to thwart the development.
Bismarck-Mandan Rail Bridge, North Dakota
Appeared on the 2019 List
Built in 1883, the bridge connecting Bismarck and Mandan, North Dakota, was the first made for rail crossings on the upper Missouri River. This bridge opened up the western portion of the country to settlement.
BNSF, a railway company, wants to demolish the bridge. Although the Coast Guard is working on a deal to preserve the bridge, there is no guarantee the Bismarck-Mandan Rail Bridge will remain standing.
Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte Memorial Hospital, Nebraska
Appeared on the 2018 List
Susan LaFlesche Picotte was the first Native American in the United States licensed to practice medicine. The hospital, located in Walthill, Nebraska, was the first built on an Indian reservation that was fully funded by the reservation — in 1913.
Abandoned for years, the building is falling apart as it stands alone. A National Historic Landmark and part of the National Park Service, the building requires upkeep and repairs to keep it standing.
Excelsior Club, North Carolina
Appeared on the 2019 List
The Excelsior Club was a nightclub found in the "Green Book," meaning it was safe and friendly to black performers traveling in the south. The social club, built in an Art Moderne style, welcomed names like Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole.
However, the aged club, located in Charlotte, needs many repairs to bring it back to life. The property is for sale for $1.5 million, and new owners would have to meet historical renovation requirements, keeping buyers at bay.
Four Towns of Vermont's Upper Valley
Appeared on the 2018 List
Vermont's Upper Valley is home to the small rural towns of Royalton, Sharon, Strafford and Tunbridge, each charming in their woodland surroundings.
All four are at risk of losing their quintessential New England charm if a new planned community proposed for the area is given the go-ahead.
Hacienda Los Torres, Puerto Rico
Appeared on the 2019 List
When Hacienda Los Torres was built in 1846, Puerto Rico was experiencing a coffee boom. One of the last of the island's big plantation homes and one of the oldest buildings, the home represents the Mission/Spanish Revival.
The building may have survived the Spanish-American War but may not survive demolition as it continues to fall into disrepair.
Industrial Trust Company Building, Rhode Island
Appeared on the 2019 List
When it was built in 1928, it was the tallest building in Providence and styled in Art Deco fashion. Nicknamed by Rhode Islanders as the "Superman Building," the building has remained vacant for more than six years.
Because the building is historic, to update it for modern-day usage could prove to be extremely costly. This is keeping developers away from a purchase. Without a buyer, the building continues to rot, and it's future isn't looking very bright.
Isaiah T. Montgomery House, Mississippi
Appeared on the 2018 List
Mound Bayou, Mississippi, was one of the first all-black municipalities and was founded by Isaiah T. Montgomery, a former slave. The town's mayor and a politician throughout his life, Montgomery was called the Booker T. Washington of Mississippi.
Now, Montgomery's home, built in 1910, is empty and in need of repairs. It is not open to the public.
James R. Thompson Center, Illinois
Appeared on the 2019 List
When it opened in 1985, it was just another example of Chicago's leadership in architecture. The Post-Modern building became the seat for the State of Illinois government, outside the capital of Springfield. Occupying an entire city block, the 17-story building is made up of curved glass panels and was considered stunning when it was complete.
In 2019, the Illinois governor signed permission for the sale of the building within two years in support of the state's budget woes. Without preservation, the building could be demolished, if sold.
Larimer Square, Colorado
Appeared on the 2018 List
Larimer Square is a prime example of how cities can revitalize former dead zones. The first commercial block in Denver was transformed into a charming historic district (another Denver first) with boutique shops and restaurants bringing people back.
Despite the fact that the district is thriving, there are proposals to demolish some buildings and erect towering replacements. In an effort to keep the charm of Larimer Square, petitions are circulating in an attempt to dismiss those proposals.
Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses, Connecticut
Appeared on the 2018 List
These two abandoned houses in Bridgeport, Connecticut, may look like eyesores, but they were once the homes of Mary and Eliza Freeman. Here was the pre-Civil War free Black community where the women lived, and the homes are considered the oldest built by blacks in the state.
Empty for years, the buildings may eventually crumble without financial input to restore them.
Mount Vernon Arsenal and Searcy Hospital, Alabama
Appeared on the 2019 List
Home of the Confederate Army during the Civil War, the Searcy Hospital complex originally served as the arsenal for the military before it became a prison for nearly 400 Apache during the war at the end of the 1800s. By the 1900s, the hospital segregated into a facility for the local black community, cementing its long and storied history.
Closed in 2012, the building remains vacant and deteriorating. The National Trust is working with the Alabama Historical Commission to save and preserve the complex.
Mount Vernon and Piscataway National Park, Maryland/Virginia
Appeared on the 2018 List
George Washington's stately home in Virginia, as well as the Piscataway National Park that lies across the water in Maryland, are both popular for tourists and history fans.
But Dominion Energy is looking to build a gas compressor station that would be next to Piscataway and destroy the views as were seen by the first president.
Nashville's Music Row, Tennessee
Appeared on the 2019 List
Whether it was country, rock, blues or jazz, much of America's music was recorded along Nashville's Music Row. This area features dozens of different buildings that all touched the music industry, including RCA, where Elvis and the Everly Brothers recorded their big hits.
As the music world has changed, the buildings of Music Row have been dormant. Since 2013, there have been 50 building demolitions, and the National Trust is hoping to stop more from falling to the wrecking ball.
National Mall Tidal Basin, Washington, D.C.
Appeared on the 2019 List
Home to the National Cherry Blossom Festival with its cherry tree-lined waterway, the National Mall Tidal Basin draws millions of visitors to the District of Columbia in the springtime and throughout the year.
Rising water levels from the Potomac River, caused by global warming, are causing the land surrounding the Tidal Basin to sink, which will steal away the cherry trees and parks.
Route 66, Multiple States
Appeared on the 2018 List
The famous Route 66 begins in Illinois and runs through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico before it arrives in California. Traveling between the Midwest and the West Coast, the iconic road is badly in need of repair in many areas.
The National Trust is pushing to preserve the interstate by having it named a National Historic Trail.
Ship on the Desert, Texas
Appeared on the 2018 List
Found in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, this West Texas home was built in a Modernist style. Resembling a ship looking out onto the desert below, the house has long been abandoned.
Ship on the Desert was built by Wallace Pratt in Salt Flat in 1945. Even though it's on the National Register of Historic Places, it's in need of maintenance and repair to keep it standing.
Tenth Street Historic District, Texas
Appeared on the 2019 List
After the Civil War, many former slaves set up residence along Dallas' Tenth Street. The buildings in the African American district were built following the emancipation and into the early 20th century.
Today, the city obtained demolition permits to demolish any houses that are smaller than 3,000 square feet in size, regardless of Landmark Commission rulings. To date, at least 70 of the 260 homes that make up the district have been bulldozed.
The Trust is actively calling on people to challenge the law, and one local preservation group has filed a lawsuit against the city in an attempt to stop demolitions.
Walkout Schools, California
Appeared on the 2018 List
In 1968, amidst the Civil Rights unrest of Los Angeles, five schools facing desegregation saw thousands of students walking out of school in protest. The schools included Abraham Lincoln High School, Belmont High School, James A. Garfield High School, Theodore Roosevelt High School and El Sereno Middle School.
The aging schools, still serving students, are considered outdated and are facing demolition. Some schools, such as Garfield, have already received new buildings and designs. The Trust wants to keep each school standing, as they represent an important place in U.S. history.
Willert Park Courts, New York
Appeared on the 2019 List
The first housing project built in America specifically for African American families is Buffalo, New York's Willert Park Courts. Designed by the same people who created Manhattan's Museum of Modern Art, the apartments were meant to build homes to give residents a sense of dignity.
Now vacant and falling apart due to neglect, the city has proposed replacing the housing project with newly reconstructed buildings. This means tearing down the originals, built in 1939.
And Those That Survived...
In the history of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, endangered sites and buildings have been saved due to the organization's efforts.
In 2017, to celebrate its first 30 years, the National Trust released a list of once-endangered sites that made a thrilling comeback.
Angel Island Immigration, California
Appeared on the 1999 List
Considered the Ellis Island of the West, Angel Island was the largest West Coast immigrant station. Between 1910 and 1940, the San Francisco Bay island was the entry point for people arriving from 80 countries across the Pacific Ocean.
The immigration station was abandoned after World War II and fell into disrepair. When a park ranger discovered that the walls and floors of the buildings had poetry and carvings left behind, the National Trust added it to the endangered list in 1999. The following year, the state appropriated funds for its restoration. The island receives thousands of visitors each year, who may also enjoy hiking trails with views of San Francisco.
Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland
Appeared on the 1988-1991 Lists
One of the best preservation efforts by the Trust was saving the home of America's bloodiest day of war: Antietam. This battlefield saw the Confederate soldiers attempt to invade Maryland during the Civil War, inspiring President Abraham Lincoln to write his Emancipation Proclamation.
The Trust was able to raise funds to save the battlefield from being turned into shopping centers. Today, you can visit Antietam National Battlefield Park, considered to be one of the best-preserved battlefields from the Civil War.
Cathedral of St. Vibiana, California
Appeared on the 1997 List
When the Cathedral of St. Vibiana was built in 1876, it was the first Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of Los Angeles. Built in an Italian Baroque style, the cathedral was designated a Cultural Monument in 1963. When the church was "closed" by the Archdiocese in 1995, the city proposed to demolish it.
Two years later, the National Trust placed the cathedral on its endangered list, raising enough awareness that it was saved. It's currently an entertainment and events center known as Vibiana, completely enwrapped in the original facade.
Governors Island National Monument, New York
Appeared on the 1998 List
Governors Island, located between Manhattan and Brooklyn, has been a part of America's history since the Revolutionary War. Until it was closed in 1995, it was one of the oldest continuously operated military bases.
It appeared on the endangered list in 1998, and by 2001, it was named a National Monument and public park, with the help of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. You can visit the island's northern half as a park, with pop-up camping options available as outdoor space for city dwellers.
Historic Boston Theaters
Appeared on the 1995 List
Boston's Theater District was a thriving arts scene at the turn of the 20th century. As it and its neighboring Downtown Crossing fell into disarray (earning the nickname "The Combat Zone"), the Boston Opera House, the Paramount Theatre and Modern Theatre were expected to be lost forever.
When Emerson College moved into the neighborhood in 1992, it set forth a transformation of the area, including its own Majestic Theater. With the help of the preservation society's endangered list, more funds were raised, and the city rallied to save its theaters.
Little Rock Central High School, Arkansas
Appeared on the 1996 List
When nine African American students attempted to go to school at Little Rock Central High School after the Supreme Court allowed the school to be integrated in 1957, they were stopped at the door. They became the "Little Rock Nine" that set off a ripple effect, which led to complete integration at schools across the South.
It took $6.5 million to repair the school, and once the school was named a National Historic Site, the funds were raised and the school was restored to its full glory.
Nine Mile Canyon, Utah
Appeared on the 2004 List
Like the Ancestral Places of Utah that have yet to be saved, Nine Mile Canyon is home to ancient signs of the Ute people, which date back 1,700 years.
As traffic ran through the canyon, the petroglyphs and pictographs were at risk of being lost by the dust. A paved road was added due to the help of the National Trust, which put a stop to the eroding dust.
Penn School, South Carolina
Appeared on the 1990-1991 List
Found in Frogmore, South Carolina, the Penn School was the first school founded in the American south that served African Americans. Built in 1862 on a plantation, the school began losing its students after World War II.
When the preservation society set about to rescue it in 1990, it was able to raise the funds for the repairs. It was named a Reconstruction Era National Monument and now operates as a museum on the Civil Rights Trail.
Abraham Lincoln Retreat – the Soldier's Home, Washington, D.C.
Appeared on the 2000 List
The summer residence of President Abraham Lincoln in Washington, D.C., also welcomed Presidents James Buchanan, Rutherford Hayes and Chester Arthur. It eventually began to decompose, even after being deemed a National Historic Landmark in 1973.
After President Clinton named it a National Monument, the National Trust added it to the endangered list. With the help of public funding, the cottage received a $15 million restoration. It is now open to tour.
Statler Hilton Hotel, Texas
Appeared on the 2008 List
When the Statler Hilton Hotel opened in Dallas in the mid-20th century, it was the epitome of luxury. The hotel featured a rooftop swimming pool and was of the first to introduce elevator music on the ride to the top.
The hotel eventually closed and sat vacant, with many calling for its demolition. After saving the building by listing it in 2008, $175 million was invested in the building's restoration, which was completed in 2017. It is now the Statler Dallas, a Hilton Curio Collection property.
Traveler's Rest, Montana
Appeared on the 1999 List
As its name implies, Traveler's Rest was a stopping point during the expedition for Lewis and Clark during their explorations of western America. The campsite of the duo and their team — the only one verified as such — can be found in Lolo, Montana. When developers wanted to take over the area, the National Trust added it to its list.
A number of people sought to save the campsite, and 65 acres of its land was designated as a state park in 2001.
How You Can Help
If you're worried about any specific historic places in need of preservation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has several ways you can help out.
Of course, you could join the organization. But you can also take action by advocating for preservation efforts in your community.
Read more here.