Baton Rouge, LA – The Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation is now accepting nominations for its annual list of Most Endangered Places and honorees for the Louisiana Preservation Awards for 2022.
Each year historic sites are threatened for various reasons such as demolition, neglect, funding, etc. Public nominations to the Most Endangered List are to bring awareness and attention to our rapidly disappearing cultural heritage. To date, over 150 sites have been recognized on the MEP listings. Since 1999, more than 40 sites have been rehabilitated and nearly another 40 currently in the process being restored and renovated. LTHP welcomes public nomination for sites that are important to their local community by Sunday March 6, 2022.
LTHP is also encouraging nominations from parishes that have yet to be highlighted on past years’ listings: Acadia, Allen, Assumption, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Evangeline, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Pointe Coupee, Red River, St. Bernard, St. Helena, St. Mary, Terrebonne, West Carroll, and Winn Parishes.
Recognition on this list has sparked more interest in recent years. “Having the Old Benevolent Society Building and Julius Freyhan School listed on the MEP was a validation of their importance to our history. It’s also served as a stepping stone for seeking grants and donations—it makes people aware that the building is actually endangered” says Laurie Walsh, St. Francisville Main Street.
To review past Most Endangered Places and nominate a site in your community, visit https://www.lthp.org/most-endangered/.
Louisianans can also nominate people and places for the annual 2022 Louisiana Preservation Awards. Nominations are open to the public for a list of 11 different categories ranging from educational programs, media outreach, and lifetime achievements. Nominations are also due by Sunday March 6, 2022. If you know of a special individual, organization, or project that should be recognized visit https://www.lthp.org/about/awards/ to learn more about each category and complete a nomination.
Selected Most Endangered Places and Louisiana Preservation Awards will be formally announced later this spring, tentatively May/June 2022.
