National Trust for Historic Preservation

In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today, Brent Leggs, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation issued the following statement: “We are deeply disappointed in the Supreme Court’s ruling today and respectfully disagree with the majority’s opinion on standing. It is noteworthy that the majority did not weigh in on whether the ballroom project was in fact legal. We are pleased with Chief Justice Robert's strong dissent, which reaffirmed our standing to bring this case, and reiterated what we have maintained from the start—that construction of the White House ballroom is unlawful. In addition, this is not the final decision on the merits of our case and does not resolve our fundamental argument—that each President is a temporary steward of the People’s House and does not have the unilateral authority to demolish and redesign it without the approval of Congress. We anticipate that the government will file an application for a writ of certiorari and look forward to reviewing it. We urge the Supreme Court to expeditiously consider the government’s certiorari petition, and we will continue to advocate with our partners on behalf of the American people, the democratic values of our nation, and the preservation of our country’s most historically significant places.” Learn more and explore resources about this case: https://ow.ly/AMuA50ZHvu9

The National Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and The Conservation Fund's Legacy Places Initiative are partnering to advance the preservation and long-term protection of historically significant Black heritage sites across the United States. Each year, hundreds of these historic sites are lost as buildings and landscapes sit abandoned, forgotten or dismissed. The partnership was inspired in part by our organizations' shared involvement with the historic Ben Moore Hotel in Montgomery, Alabama. The hotel was a rich cultural landmark for Black Americans living in Montgomery under Jim Crow. However, prolonged vacancy has led to the hotel's structural deterioration. Acquired by The Conservation Fund in November of 2025, the Ben Moore Hotel was subsequently named one of the National Trust’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in America in 2026. Under this new partnership, The Conservation Fund will secure at-risk African American heritage sites, and the National Trust will help advance those sites preservation efforts and long-term stewardship, creating a stronger pathway for their restoration and future reuse. Learn more: https://ow.ly/ETUz50ZEV0L

Restored: Castro Theatre | The Castro Theatre’s hand-painted ceiling resembling the interior of an ornate tent is its most distinctive feature. But for decades, layers of grime and an improper coating partly obscured this original element of the 1922 San Francisco movie palace, designed by Bay Area architect Timothy Pflueger. “In an effort to stabilize it, a coat of varnish had been applied,” says Elisa Hernández Skaggs, associate principal at Page & Turnbull , a preservation architecture firm. But rather than protecting it, “the varnish turned dark and gave the ceiling a very dark appearance.” In early 2024, Page & Turnbull, CAW Architects, Inc., and EverGreene Architectural Arts, Inc. embarked on a $41 million restoration funded by Another Planet Entertainment which manages and operates the theater. The project included restoring the ceiling and other key features, as well as addressing persistent issues such as water intrusion, ventilation problems, and limited accessibility. Unveiled to the public in February 2026, the Spanish Colonial/Eclectic–style theater is again “a beacon of culture and activity in the neighborhood,” says Page & Turnbull Principal Carolyn Kiernat. The Castro Theatre has long stood as a safe space for the Castro neighborhood’s queer community, hosting drag shows and an annual performance by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Following the restoration, the theater’s newly expanded programming includes live music, comedy shows, film screenings, and more. “I went to the grand opening. ... There was a lot of oohing and aahing,” says Skaggs. “It’s just stunning.” From the Transitions section of Preservation magazine, Summer 2026. Photo by Jason Chew/Another Planet Entertainment

Our journey through Six Historic American Fountains continues in the heart of Boston. A restoration of the Boston Public Library courtyard fountain was completed in 2021. The project included replacing tiles damaged by freeze/thaw cycles and updating the plumbing and lighting. The fountain remains the centerpiece of the library’s open plaza, an oasis in the bustling city. During the work, the bronze sculpture at the fountain’s center, Frederick William MacMonnies’ Bacchante and Infant Faun, had to be lifted out by crane. An 1896 gift from the sculptor to the building’s architect, Charles Follen McKim, the piece features a nude pagan reveler holding a baby in her left arm and dangling grapes from her right hand. After a public outcry over the figure’s nudity and perceived portrayal of immoral behavior, the sculpture was given to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. More than a century later, during the 1990s, the library made a copy and returned Bacchante to her original watery perch. “In the courtyard, with this beautiful fountain in the middle, the sound of the water is so peaceful,” says Finegold Alexander Architects Principal Ellen Anselone, who oversaw the 2021 project. “And then at night, when the lights are on, it’s gorgeous.” Photo by Raj Das

“Route 66 is not just an old highway. It is one of America’s most powerful reminders that local identity, human connection, and a sense of place are worth preserving.” Filmmaker John Paget knows Route 66 better than most. In the 1990s, he created the documentary Route 66: An American Odyssey, providing an intimate perspective on those who live and work along the iconic roadway. Now, in honor of the Route’s 100th anniversary this year, Paget returned to the road. His new film Route 66: The Main Street of America premieres next week and highlights the many stories of resilience that sustain the route and its relevance today and into the future. Beginning in September, Route 66: The Main Street of America embarks on a rolling roadshow to premiere the film in communities along the route from Chicago to Los Angeles. Find a screening near you and read insights from Paget about what drew him back to Route 66 thirty years after his first trip along the Mother Road: https://ow.ly/rz0b50ZGhbT The National Trust and First+Main Films are proud to partner on Route 66: The Main Street of America. Follow along and find screening details at https://ow.ly/ceGx50ZGhbU

Pulitzer Prize-winner Wallace Stegner is known for saying, “National parks are the best idea we ever had.” There are 433 different sites in the U.S. National Park System (NPS), covering more than 85 million acres. Since 1916, these protected lands have allowed people to explore the outdoors, and many of these parks are open at low- or no-cost. This National Parks Week, get inspired by our invaluable public lands with this guide to 10 kid-friendly hikes in U.S. National Parks: https://ow.ly/MobQ50ZFma0 Pictured: Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, Florida

On August 18, Miami voters gave Miami Marine Stadium a major vote of confidence, with nearly 69 percent voting yes on the referendum needed to move plans for the Stadium forward. The vote is a big step in the long effort to save and restore this one-of-a-kind Miami landmark. The National Trust has supported efforts to preserve the Stadium for many years, including naming it to our list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2009. Earlier this year, the Miami City Commission voted unanimously to select Oak View Group to operate the Stadium once it is restored. The referendum put that decision before Miami voters, who approved it by a wide margin. There is still work ahead. Oak View Group will now develop a final plan for the construction, operation, and management of the Stadium, which will return to the Miami City Commission for approval. That will take time, but the strong public support shown in the referendum gives the project real momentum. The vote also came amid renewed national attention for the Stadium. Just before the referendum, the Associated Press published a feature on its remarkable design and history and the decades-long effort to bring it back into use. For the many people who have worked to save Miami Marine Stadium, this is an important moment to celebrate. The National Trust is grateful to the advocates, partners, and supporters who helped make it possible, and we look forward to what comes next. Photo by Rick Bravo

Watch the recording of yesterday's webinar, Section 106 Regulations Under Threat: Guidance for Advocates. This session is designed to help prepare advocates as the review process for the revised Section 106 regulations gets underway. Speakers share key talking points, advocacy approaches, and tools and resources to craft clear, concise, and personalized arguments. Watch now: https://ow.ly/RsHs50ZFljQ

In DeLand, Florida, preservation helped transform a downtown once plagued by vacant storefronts and an 85 percent vacancy rate into a hub for small businesses, cultural events, and community life. The restoration of the 1921 Athens Theatre became a turning point, giving “a cultural center and heartbeat back to downtown.” Today, DeLand is balancing honoring the Central Florida city’s historic character with accommodating the expectations of a growing region. Discover how preservation helped lay the groundwork for this thriving Main Street America community: https://ow.ly/kCxg50ZFbg7 Photo by Tina Sargeant

Last week, the National Trust sent a letter to Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and House Committee on Natural Resources expressing our concerns about the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's (ACHP) proposed elimination of all meaningful Section 106 regulations. “Section 106 has served the nation remarkably well because it is not merely a compliance exercise; it is a collaborative planning framework. It has enabled federal agencies, states, Tribes, local governments, project applicants, preservation organizations, and communities to work together to identify practical solutions that both advance infrastructure and development projects and protect the places that define our shared history. It has improved project outcomes by identifying concerns early, avoiding costly conflicts later in the permitting process, and fostering collaboration rather than litigation.” We ask the Committees to weigh in during the comment period, given their longstanding jurisdiction over the National Historic Preservation Act, and respectfully urge the Committees to call on the ACHP to pursue targeted, consensus-based improvements that enhance efficiency while preserving the core principles that have made Section 106 one of our nation's most successful collaborative planning tools. Read the full letter: https://ow.ly/1LYG50ZES08 And join today’s free webinar, Section 106 Under Threat: Guidance for Advocates for the most current information and resources: https://ow.ly/knAi50ZES09