United States Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites facts for kids

United States Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS-USA) is a special group in the United States. It's part of a bigger, worldwide team called ICOMOS. This global team works together to study and protect old buildings, important historical areas, and special places around the world.

ICOMOS-USA is like a central hub in the United States for sharing ideas and knowledge about cultural heritage with other countries. It helps people learn about how America protects its history. This often involves teamwork between private groups, government offices (federal, state, and local), and even experts and volunteers.

ICOMOS-USA is one of the largest national groups within ICOMOS, with over 500 members. These members are experts in protecting historical sites. Because it focuses on global heritage, ICOMOS-USA helps American experts join in worldwide efforts to save important places. The group guides its activities through its network of members, including special scientific teams. ICOMOS-USA also holds an annual international meeting, runs a program for interns to exchange ideas globally, and sometimes offers special training classes.

World Heritage USA helps ICOMOS-USA by raising money and organizing its activities and programs. You can find out more about ICOMOS-USA at www.ICOMOS-USA.org and about World Heritage USA at www.WorldHeritageUSA.org.

Protecting History in the USA

ICOMOS-USA stands for the United States Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites. Think of it as America's part of a big, international club dedicated to saving and understanding historical places. This club works all over the world to make sure important buildings, old towns, and special sites are kept safe for future generations.

What is ICOMOS-USA?

ICOMOS-USA is a group of experts and people who care deeply about history. Their main job is to connect the United States with the rest of the world when it comes to protecting cultural heritage. They share ideas and knowledge about how to preserve old places. They also help explain how America protects its history, which often involves many different groups working together. This includes private organizations, government groups, and even everyday people who volunteer their time.

Why is Protecting Old Places Important?

Protecting old places, like historic buildings or ancient sites, is super important! These places tell us stories about the past. They show us how people lived, what they believed, and what they created. By saving them, we keep our history alive and learn valuable lessons from it. It's like having a giant history book that you can walk through and experience. ICOMOS-USA helps make sure these stories don't disappear.

How ICOMOS-USA Works

ICOMOS-USA does many things to help protect history. It acts as a main link for American experts to get involved in worldwide efforts to save heritage sites. The group guides its work through a large network of professionals, organizations, and special scientific committees. These committees are made up of experts who study different parts of heritage, like old buildings or archaeological sites.

Some of the key activities ICOMOS-USA organizes include:

• An annual international meeting where experts from around the world share their latest findings and ideas.
• An International Intern Exchange Program, which allows young professionals to gain experience in heritage conservation in different countries.
• Occasional special training courses and workshops to teach people new skills in preserving historical sites.

Who is Part of ICOMOS-USA?

ICOMOS-USA is one of the largest national groups within the global ICOMOS family. It has more than 500 members, not just in the United States but also in other countries. These members are often architects, historians, archaeologists, city planners, and other professionals who work to protect historical places. They all share a passion for keeping our world's heritage safe.

Supporting the Mission

To do all its important work, ICOMOS-USA gets help from another organization called World Heritage USA. World Heritage USA is responsible for raising money and organizing many of the programs and activities that ICOMOS-USA carries out. This partnership helps ensure that ICOMOS-USA has the resources it needs to continue its mission of protecting cultural heritage both in the U.S. and globally.

See also

• Historic Preservation
• ICOMOS
• List of World Heritage Sites in the Americas