Make a Difference for History This Spring

Spring Renewal:
Make Your Gift Today

How are you? That simple greeting has taken on new meaning as we continue to live and work during the pandemic. It means so much more as we recognize that each of us has confronted hardships and challenges during this unprecedented time. All of us at Preservation Virginia do want to know, how are you? We are feeling more hopeful for the future with each passing day. Many of our historic sites have reopened and preparations for the 2021 announcement of Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places on May 11th are underway.

Through your investment, we’re here to act as a preservation call center, helping communities find solutions to literally hundreds of preservation issues. At the same time, our six historic sites open to the public – Bacon’s Castle, Cape Henry Lighthouse, Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown, Historic Jamestowne, The John Marshall House and Smith’s Fort – offer public programming and student resources that drive tourism in their communities and connect people to history where it happened. All along, we support public policy programs that help retain our communities’ historic character and hasten economic recovery.

It takes over $4 million a year to keep these projects, programs, museums and advocacy efforts operational. Our work never stops, and we continue to need your help. Places of historic value continue to disappear or are threatened, even while alternatives for their preservation exist.

Contributions make up 62% of our operational revenue. We are grateful for your support that allows us to conserve our own properties or those we help, such as the 62 barns restored through the Tobacco Barns Preservation Project. Our restoration team is always on the go, making repairs using materials, tools and technologies similar to those employed in the original constructions.

This spring, as we look to the future with optimism, we hope you'll consider making a gift and renewing your membership. Donations of all sizes are crucial to our ability to maintain the national treasures entrusted to our care and those we protect through advocacy and public policy efforts. Thank you so much for making all this possible!

Historic Preservation and Environmental Justice

April 29, 2021
12 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

Economically disadvantaged communities repeatedly face the greatest health risks from environmental disasters. Environmental justice― the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income with respect to environmental laws, regulations and policies―strives to change unfair practices in the wake of environmental disasters by advocating for fair treatment of all communities.

Notwithstanding the impacts to physical health, environmental disasters can also damage and destroy important historic places that support a community’s mental and emotional health. When a community loses its historic homes, schools, churches, landscapes, traditions and culture, much of their sense of continuity, memory and identity is lost.

Join representatives from Virginia Interfaith Power & Light, Virginia’s Council on Environmental Justice, the Pine Grove School Community in Cumberland County, the Union Hill Community in Buckingham County, the Chesterfield Heights Neighborhood of Norfolk, The City of Norfolk, the Department of Historic Resources, Preservation Virginia and Wetlands Watch as we discuss examples of environmental injustice, its impacts on historic resources in traditionally disadvantages communities and ways these injustices can be addressed. The program will be moderated by Niya Bates, Graduate Student in the History Department at Princeton.

History Where It Happened: The 1807 Treason Trial of Aaron Burr

The next installment of the History Where It Happened video series takes you through the story of Aaron Burr's treason trial and its connection to Richmond, Virginia. Chief Justice John Marshall presided over the trial, as in addition to being Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Marshall was the federal judge for the U.S. Circuit Court for Virginia. The John Marshall House is one of six historic sites owned and operated by Preservation Virginia- book your visit today and see history where it happened!

In his recent article in Architect Magazine, Carl Elefante, FAIA, covered why the reuse of existing building stock is critical to addressing housing issues and protecting the environment:

architectmagazine.com/aia-architect/aiaperspective/existing-buildings-the-elephant-in-the-room

CBS 6 News in Richmond filmed the new exhibit featuring John Marshall's conserved judicial robe at the John Marshall House in Richmond:

https://youtu.be/skZKjNTQZRo

The City of Richmond recently purchased a 1.2 acre parcel of the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground, with plans to commemorate the site:

https://richmond.com/news/local/richmond-buys-back-historical-black-burial-grounds-on-shockoe-hill/