The nomination deadline for the 2008 11 Most Endangered Places list is Friday, January 4, 2008. Click here for submission information.
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION OF A SITE ON THE LIST?
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has three primary criteria for inclusion on the list of America's 11 Most Endangered Places:
- Significance
- Urgency
- Potential Solutions
1. Significance
Significance is the architectural, artistic, and/or historic importance of a site within its cultural, social, or geographical context. The places on the 11 Most list need not be famous, but they must be significant within their own cultural context and illustrate important issues in preservation. Each place is judged within its context. Some previous listings are of undisputed national significance, while others have been included for their role in a unique cultural tradition, for their rare architectural design, or as the last surviving example of a style or building type.
2. Urgency
Urgency is defined as the need for immediate action to stop or reverse serious threats. In previous years, places representing all stages of physical deterioration or unfavorable conditions have been listed, including those at which:
- A disaster has occurred, such as a natural catastrophe or intentional destruction;
- A disaster is imminent, either because of lack of preservation or the planned introduction of harmful factors such as development;
- A pattern of destruction - such as neglect, erosion, or exposure to the elements - is evident and will, if not reversed inevitably lead to loss;
- A longer-range danger exists that can be averted by proper planning or minimal but timely intervention.
3. Potential Solutions
Potential solutions are evaluated according to likelihood that the threats to the place can be removed. Nominators should explain potential solutions that would eliminate or lessen the threat(s) in the short- and/or long-term.
HOW DOES THE SELECTION PROCESS WORK?
The National Trust for Historic Preservation received 55 nominations in the 2007 to be considered for our list America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The Communications & Marketing department reviews and catalogs all submissions by region. National Trust regional office staff in six regional offices review the nominations within their region, and come back to the Communications department with feedback on each nomination, based on the aforementioned criteria. These evaluations are shared with a 15-member selection committee at the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C. The selection committee meets twice, and is chaired by National Trust for Historic Preservation President Richard Moe, who makes the final selections for the 11 Most Endangered list.
MORE INFORMATION
Click here for information on how to nominate a site for the 2008 Endangered List. You might also want to purchase the National Trust publication: Threatened Treasures: Creating Lists of Endangered Sites. The publication includes ideas for bringing attention to endangered sites through the use of a publicized list of threatened historic resources and is available through Preservation Books.