American History Is Under Attack

Across the country, our shared history is being forgotten, rewritten, or erased. Historic landmarks are neglected, archives are underfunded, and digital resources disappear without warning. Yet, there are dedicated individuals, institutions, and communities working tirelessly to preserve the past. From libraries and museums to local heritage groups and online archives, these efforts safeguard the stories, artifacts, and lessons that define America.

This library of links is a way to highlight and support those who are protecting our history for future generations.

National Preservation & Archival Organizations

• National Trust for Historic Preservation – Protects historic places and communities across the U.S.
• American Institute for Conservation (AIC) – Supports conservation of artifacts, documents, and heritage.
• Society of American Archivists (SAA) – Professional body for archivists and historic record preservation.
• National Archives – NHPRC – Grants and programs to safeguard public records.
• National Park Service – Historic Preservation Programs – Federal stewardship of historic lands, landmarks, and cultural programs.
• National Preservation Partners – Coordinates state and national preservation advocacy.
• Preservation Action – National lobbying and advocacy group for preservation laws and funding.

Thematic & Specialized Preservation Projects

• American Battlefield Trust – Preserves Revolutionary, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefields.
• Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project – Archives and oral histories of Japanese American incarceration during WWII.
• New York Preservation Archive Project (NYPAP) – Preserves and shares New York City’s historic preservation stories.
• United States Lighthouse Society – Restores and preserves historic U.S. lighthouses.
• Georgia Historical Society – Collects and teaches Georgia’s history as part of the American story.
• Amistad Research Center – Major archive preserving African American history.

State / Local & Grassroots Preservation Organizations

• State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) — Each U.S. state (plus territories) has a SHPO office to survey, protect, and register historic sites. National Park Service+1
• NCSHPO (National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers) — A coordinating body for state SHPOs; helps with resources, advocacy, and inter-state collaboration. NCSHPO
• Main Street America — A nationwide movement focusing on revitalizing and preserving historic downtowns and commercial districts at the local level. Main Street America
• Preservation Alliance of West Virginia — A grassroots preservation nonprofit supporting historic sites and advocacy in West Virginia. Preservation NC
• Historic Preservation Foundation of North Carolina, Inc. — State-level nonprofit in NC working to preserve historic resources, often partnering at the local level. Preservation NC
• Jeffris Family Foundation – Historical Links — Provides assistance, funding, and resource links for local historic site nonprofits in small towns across parts of the Midwest. Jeffris Family Foundation
• Preservation Society of Charleston — One of the oldest local historic preservation organizations in the U.S., active in advocacy, education, and local protection in Charleston, S.C. Wikipedia
• South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center / State Historical Society — The state’s centralized repository for archives, artifacts, and historic preservation programs, with its own museum and digital archives. Wikipedia