A city can share a story, and a town can tell a tale. Houses hold hidden history. And gas stations fuel memories. To carry on the stories, these places must be protected. The National Trust for Historic aims to do that. On May 9, the group shared a list called “America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.”
This year’s list includes places “that are nearly as diverse as the American experience itself,” said Jay Clemens. He’s a leader of the Trust. “The places on this list come in all forms,” Clemens explained. They are in small communities and big cities. Clemens added, “Losing any of them would us all.”
One city in the ranking is Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston’s historic neighborhoods are on the list. That’s because of plans for a waterfront site. The area is called Union Pier, and it runs along the Cooper River. Businesses may get to build at the site. But this could put the character of the neighborhoods at risk. Those areas are full of old homes and churches with interesting .
Many major cities have neighborhoods where Asian Americans gather. Asian Americans may live and run businesses there. The list includes two Chinatowns on opposite sides of the country. One is in Seattle, Washington. The other is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Chinatown started in 1871. It is one of the oldest remaining in the country. But the 76ers basketball team may build an arena right next to it. Some people believe this could change the culture of Chinatown.
Other spots on the list are single buildings. L.V. Hull was an artist in Kosciusko, Mississippi. She found all kinds of objects — including boards, car hubcaps, and shoes — and painted them. Hull packed her colorful pieces all around her house and yard! Hull died in 2008. Many of her artworks were saved. Her home fell into though. Her friend bought the house but needs money to make it an arts center.
The Osterman Gas Station in Peach Springs, Arizona, was built in 1929. It is along a famous highway called Route 66. The Hualapai Tribe owns the Osterman Gas Station. Its older members may remember working and hanging out at the store. The gas station is closed and being damaged by weather. But the tribe hopes to restore the historic building.
Katherine Malone-France works with the Trust. She said the spots on the list show the “power of place.” They let us see “our shared history where it happened.”
“These places and their stories might have been lost already if not for the people who stand up for them,” Malone-France added. “We are honored to join their fight.”
Updated May 11, 2023, 5:02 P.M. (ET)
By Ashley Morgan
