Historic preservation in New York Facts for Kids

Historic preservation in New York is all about protecting important places and things in New York. This includes old buildings, ships, special burial grounds, and even forests and clean water. The goal is to keep these things safe so they can teach us about the past, the people who lived here, and the events that happened long ago.

Many different groups work together to save these pieces of history. Some are government groups, like those that manage famous spots such as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Others are non-profit groups, like local history clubs and museums. Even private landowners help by taking care of historical features on their own property.

Federal Programs for Preserving History
New York State Programs
- State Historic Sites
- State-Listed Historic Sites
New York City Programs
Organizations That Help Preserve History
Looking for History Underground
Historical Societies and Museums
People Who Help Preserve History
Other Ways History is Preserved
See also

Federal Programs for Preserving History

The United States government has several programs to help protect historical sites in New York.

National Park Service Areas

While New York doesn't have any "National Parks," it has 20 other special areas managed by the National Park Service. These places are mostly focused on history and are given the highest level of protection by the government.

Here are some examples of these important historical sites:

National Monuments: These are places with special historical or natural features. New York has five, including the African Burial Ground National Monument and the Statue of Liberty National Monument.
National Historical Parks: These parks protect areas where important historical events took place, like Saratoga National Historical Park and Women's Rights National Historical Park.
National Historic Sites: These are specific places linked to important people or events, such as the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site and the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site.
National Memorials: These honor important people or events, like the General Grant National Memorial.

National Historic Landmarks

The National Historic Landmark program identifies places that are super important to the history of the entire United States. New York has 257 of these landmarks, which is more than 10% of all National Historic Landmarks in the country! Some of these are also National Park Service areas.

Registered Historic Places

There are over 5,000 properties and areas in New York listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes all the National Park Service areas and National Historic Landmarks mentioned above. Being on this list helps protect these places and can sometimes offer benefits to their owners.

New York State Programs

New York State also has its own programs to protect historical sites.

State Historic Sites

New York State manages 38 special places called State Historic Sites. These are important historical locations that the state helps to preserve and often opens to the public. Many of these are also recognized as National Historic Landmarks.

Here are a few examples of State Historic Sites:

Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site: Where an important Revolutionary War battle happened.
Clermont State Historic Site: A beautiful historic estate.
Fort Ontario State Historic Site: An old fort with a long history.
John Brown Farm State Historic Site: The home of a famous abolitionist.
Olana State Historic Site: The unique home of a famous painter, Frederic Church.
Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park: Part of an old water system that supplied New York City.
Old Fort Niagara State Historic Site: Another historic fort.
Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site: Where George Washington stayed during the Revolutionary War.

State-Listed Historic Sites

Before a site can be considered for the National Register of Historic Places, it often gets listed by New York State first. This means many places are recognized as historically important by the state, even if they don't become a federal landmark.

New York City Programs

New York City has its own special group, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. This group was created to find and protect important landmarks in the city after a famous old train station (Penn Station) was torn down.

Organizations That Help Preserve History

Many different groups, both government-related and private, work to preserve history in New York. For example, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority bought Boldt Castle for just one dollar, agreeing to use all money from visitors to keep the castle in good shape. The New York State Thruway Authority also helps protect parts of the New York State Barge Canal.

Looking for History Underground

Sometimes, important historical sites are found by accident, like when new buildings or roads are being built. For example, the African Burial Ground in New York City was discovered during construction. When new roads are planned, special teams often check the ground for old Native American sites or other historical remains. Sometimes, the exact location of very sensitive historical sites is kept secret to protect them.

Historical Societies and Museums

Across New York, many historical societies and museums work hard to collect, preserve, and share the history of their local areas. These groups often have old documents, photos, clothing, tools, and other items that tell the story of the past. They also offer tours, exhibits, and educational programs for people of all ages.

Here are just a few examples of the many historical societies in New York:

New-York Historical Society: A large museum and research library in New York City.
Brooklyn Historical Society: Focuses on the history of Brooklyn.
Buffalo History Museum: One of the oldest historical societies in the U.S.
Hispanic Society of America: Focuses on Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American art and history.
Huguenot Historical Society: Preserves a historic street with very old houses in New Paltz.
Staten Island Historical Society: Operates Historic Richmond Town, a village with restored old buildings.

Many towns also have their own history websites or local historians who share interesting facts about their area. For instance, the village of North Syracuse claims to have had the first "plank road" in the United States, built in 1846.

History museums, like the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, are often housed in historic buildings themselves. This museum is in the 1850 Weighlock Building, where canal boats were once weighed.

People Who Help Preserve History

Many dedicated people have worked to save historical places in New York. Some famous preservationists include:

Jane Jacobs: A writer and activist who fought to protect neighborhoods.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: The former First Lady, who was a strong advocate for saving historic buildings.

Other Ways History is Preserved

Historic Theatres: Some old theatres, like the Landmark Theatre (Syracuse, New York), are preserved by non-profit groups who use them for performances while also taking care of the historic building.
Bed and Breakfast Inns: Many bed and breakfast inns are in historic homes. When people stay in these places, they get to experience history firsthand, and the money helps keep the old homes in good condition.
Private Homes: Individual homeowners also play a big part in preserving history by taking care of their old houses and keeping the historic look of their neighborhoods.

Historic preservation in New York facts for kids

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