The World Monuments Fund (WMF)has unveiled Irreplaceable America, a new initiative highlighting 10 historic U.S. sitessymbolizingthe 250th anniversaryof the Declaration of Independence. The WMF highlights however that these iconic sites face urgent preservation challenges.
The list recognizes locations that represent the many layers of American history, including Indigenous heritage, Black history, immigration, architecture, science, public health, and cultural innovation.
WMF said the initiative aims to protect places that help communities understand the nation’s complex pastwhile ensuring they remain accessible for future generations.
“America was built by people from every corner of the globe, shaped by Indigenous nations, early settlers, immigrant communities, and generations of cultural exchange,” said Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of World Monuments Fund.
Historic sites facing climate and conservation pressures
The 10 selected sites reflect the diversity of America’s heritage but share common challenges, including rising climate risks, limited funding, development pressures, and aging infrastructure.
Among the featured locations is theSmallpox Hospital Ruin on Roosevelt Island, New York, the first U.S. facility built specifically to treat epidemic disease. The 19th-century landmark, designed by architect James Renwick Jr., has suffered decades of neglect and structural deterioration.
In Philadelphia, Bartram’s Garden, the oldest surviving botanical garden in the United States, is threatened by climate impacts, nearby development, and increasing visitor demand.
The Black Mountain College Studies Building in North Carolina was also selected. Once the center of an influential arts and education movement, the building now faces severe deterioration caused by water damage and environmental exposure.
Sites representing Black, Indigenous and cultural heritage
Boston’s African Meeting House,the oldest surviving Black church in the United States, is included for its historic role in the abolitionist movement and African American community life. WMF warned that preservation efforts must continue to highlight the site’s full historical significance.
The Mission Churches of Acoma and Laguna Pueblos in New Mexicorepresent centuries of Indigenous and Spanish cultural interaction. Still active today, the churches face restoration challenges due to limited re
The City of New Orleans was recognized as one of America’s most distinctive cultural landscapes, shaped by Indigenous, African, European, and Caribbean influences. However, rising seas, land loss, and population displacement are threatening historic neighborhoods.
Dallas City Hall from I.M. Pei was built in Brutalist style and opened in 1978 (Photo: Neff Conner-Flickr)
Architecture, a
The list also includes Colonial Homes of Newport, Rhode Island, whereone of the country’s largest collections of colonial architecture is increasingly vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels.
In Texas, Dallas City Hall, designed by renowned architect I. M. Pei, faces uncertainty due to redevelopment pressure and high rehabilitation costs.
California’sWatts Towers, created by Italian immigrant Simon Rodia over more than 30 years, remain one of America’s most important examples of folk art. The landmark faces risks from environmental damage, seismic concerns, and limited conservation funding.
The Wright Brothers Sites in Dayton, Ohio, where Wilbur and Orville Wright developed the technology that made powered flight possible, were also recognized. WMF said reduced National Park Service staffing and delayed capital projects could affect long-term preservation.
National Park System receives special recognition
Alongside the 10 sites, WMF gave special recognition to the National Park System for its role in protecting more than 430 historic and natural landmarks across the country.
The organization highlighted iconic locations including Yellowstone, Chaco Canyon, Mount Rushmore, and Washington DC memorials, while warning that the system faces growing challenges from underfunding, maintenance backlogs, staffing shortages, and climate change.
“Preserving America’s heritage depends on a broad network of institutions and communities working together,” said Jon Buono, Senior Regional Director for USA and Canada at WMF.
The final selection followed a nationwide nomination process that received 75 submissions. An independent expert panel assessed each site based on cultural importance, conservation urgency, and potential community impact.
WMF said Irreplaceable Americais intended to encourage investment and collaboration to protect the places that define the American experienceas the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.
