In my last blog, I jumped the gun and provided you with an example of preserving historic lands, but in this post, I want to take a step back and explain why we should preserve historic property.

So, what are the benefits of preserving historic property?

Perhaps the biggest benefit is money. Simply put, historic property often attracts tourism which brings in revenue. Consider the Winchester Mansion for example. The construction of the mansion began in 1884 by Sarah Winchester, who is now known as the superstitious widow of one of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company founders, and now the mansion stands as a major revenue source through offering tours. Some historical buildings and properties, like Independence Hall and the Gettysburg Battlefield, can provide revenue for the local community in which it’s located.

In 2003, the Preserve America program was created to help encourage “federal agencies to advance the protection, enhancement, and contemporary use of federal historic properties and to promote partnerships for the preservation and use of historic properties, particularly through heritage tourism” (Preserve America: Executive Order 13287). Since the program’s creation, over 900 communities have been recognized by Preserve America, because they share their heritage with non-community members and aim to raise economic funds to put back into the local community. At this point, one may wonder what the difference is between heritage tourism and regular ‘ol tourism. According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, heritage tourism means “traveling to experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present” (Advisory Council On Historic Preservation). This reminds me of sites such as the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, PA, where the community’s German heritage is celebrated.

Another benefit is admiring craftsmanship though preserving the high quality of historic buildings. Unlike most modern buildings, those created prior to 1900 were often created with rarer materials such as heart pine wood and materials that are meant to last longer by withstanding the elements. Moreover, by saving old buildings, historians are able to better study how buildings were constructed during a specific period. Also, the high-quality craftsmanship of older buildings attracts homebuyers and history lovers from all over. If you wish to see some examples check out @historicalhomesofamerica and @cheapoldhouses on Instagram!

Lastly, I believe that in preserving old properties, a piece of history is saved and that in itself is a great benefit of preservation. When buildings are demolished or parking lots are laid on top of old farms, that piece of history is gone. As a result, local communities may not have the revenue earned from tourism to fall back on, and there may not be as many tourists traveling to the area. Hence the quality of life within these communities may decline since tourism funds are not being used to better the community. Of course, this is a downward spiral of what-ifs, but preserving local history is important in an age where old buildings and green space are being carelessly destroyed to make room for large corporate buildings.

What programs and laws are in place to help preserve historic properties?

The Historic Surplus Property System

When the Federal government no longer has any use for its historical buildings, it gets put into a pool with other surplus historical buildings. From there, the Historic Surplus Property System, a partnership between the National Park Service and U.S. General Services Administration, “enables state, county, and local governments to obtain historic buildings once used by the Federal government at no cost and to adapt them for new uses” (National Park Service). The non-federal governments who then own the historic buildings can utilize them as museums, attractions, and housing amongst a variety of other uses. Furthermore, the new owners are able to obtain financial assistance from the government to help relieve some of the costs of preservation and maintenance, but depending on the building’s purpose, revenue can also be drawn from leases, ticket costs, and etc.

Tax Incentives

Ah to not have to pay as much in taxes. Turns out whoever rehabilitates “certified historic structures” as determined by the Secretary of the Interior can earn a 20% tax credit if the building will produce income. However, there are some catches as the building cannot be an “owner-occupied residential” property, and the rehabilitation effort must comply with the Secretary’s Standards for Rehabilitation (National Park Service). Unfortunately, Public Law No: 115-97, enacted on December 22, 2017, repealed the 10% tax credit incentive that would have applied to the “rehabilitation of non-historic [and non-residential] buildings placed in service before 1936″(National Park Service).

Remember those historic preservation easements from the last blog? Well, any “historic property owner who donates an easement may be eligible for tax benefits, such as a Federal income tax deduction”(National Park Service). It is recommended that property owners, who wish to donate land to an easement, contact an accountant or tax attorney, as easement rules are exceedingly complex.

Executive Order 11593 — Protection and enhancement of the cultural environment

Enacted on May 13, 1971, this order essentially states that the U.S. Federal Government will “provide leadership in preserving, restoring and maintaining the historic and cultural environment of the Nation”(Executive Order 11593). It calls for the preservation of historically significant and other significant buildings, both federally and not federally owned buildings, for the benefit of the citizens. In the case that a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places will be demolished or altered, records such as detailed drawings or photographs will be produced and stored in the Library of Congress to help preserve the original building’s history.

National Historic Landmarks Program

Within Title 54, Section 302108 outlines the requirement to review threats to historic properties once every four years. This allows the Secretary and other related departments to develop plans on how to combat these threats in order to save historic properties. Within the chapter, there are notes on how to maintain a National Register of Historic Places, such as allocating grants to historically black colleges.

There are countless other programs that aim to preserve historically significant properties throughout the United States, though not all can be listed in this blog. Can you think of any other reasons to preserve historic lands? Do you believe that historically significant lands should be preserved in the first place?

References:

1. https://www.parkwoodestate.com/uncategorized/important-reasons-preserve-historical-buildings/
2. https://www.achp.gov/heritage_tourism#:~:text=Heritage%20tourism%20creates%20jobs%20and,historic%20sites%20as%20tourism%20destinations.
3. https://www.achp.gov/digital-library-section-106-landing/preserve-america-executive-order-13287
4. https://www.celebritynetworth.com/articles/celebrity-homes/10-expensive-haunted-houses-us/
5. https://www.nps.gov/tps/about.html
6. https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/11593.html
7. https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title54-chapter3021&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjU0IHNlY3Rpb246MzAyMTAxIGVkaXRpb246cHJlbGltKSBPUiAoZ3JhbnVsZWlkOlVTQy1wcmVsaW0tdGl0bGU1NC1zZWN0aW9uMzAyMTAxKQ%3D%3D%7CdHJlZXNvcnQ%3D%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim&edition=prelim