By Julie Larry
Every year in May, local preservation groups, state historical societies, and business and civic organizations across the country celebrate Preservation Month through events that promote historic places and heritage tourism, and that demonstrate the social and economic benefits of historic preservation. Preservation Month began as National Preservation Week in 1973. In 2005, the National Trust for Historic Preservation extended the celebration to the entire month of May and declared it Preservation Month to provide an even greater opportunity to celebrate the diverse and unique heritage of our country’s cities and states. Please join us as all month long as we look at the past, present and future of historic preservation in Greater Portland.
Greater Portland Landmarks started in the mid-1960s following the demolition of Portland’s Union Station. Our early work sought to save buildings being demolished by urban renewal. But the roots of the modern preservation movement nationally and in Maine are even older, beginning in the early 19th century. Take a look below at some of the key moments in the early history of historic preservation.
Timeline compiled by Julie Ann Larry, Director of Advocacy