Historic preservation is the practice of protecting and preserving sites, buildings, structures, objects, or landscapes that have historical, cultural, architectural, or other significance. This can include anything from individual buildings to entire neighborhoods or regions. The goal of historic preservation is to safeguard these important places for future generations, and to ensure that they continue to contribute to our understanding of history and culture.
Historic preservation involves a range of activities, including documentation and research to understand the significance of a site or building, conservation and restoration work to repair and maintain historic materials, and interpretation and education programs to help people understand the importance of these places. It often involves collaboration between government agencies, private organizations, and community groups to identify and protect important historic resources.
The principles of historic preservation are based on the idea that historic resources are irreplaceable and that their loss would be a significant loss to society as a whole. By preserving these resources, we can learn from the past, maintain a sense of continuity with the past, and create more sustainable and livable communities.