Bending the Future: Fifty Ideas for the Next Fifty Years of Historic Preservation in the United States

by Max Page (Editor), Marla R. Miller (Editor)

The year 2016 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act, the cornerstone of historic preservation policy and practice in the United States. The act established the National Register of Historic Places, a national system of state preservation offices and local commissions, set up federal partnerships between states and tribes, and led to the formation of the standards for preservation and rehabilitation of historic structures. This book marks its fiftieth anniversary by collecting fifty new and provocative essays that chart the future of preservation.

The commentators include leading preservation professionals, historians, writers, activists, journalists, architects, and urbanists. The essays offer a distinct vision for the future and address related questions, including, Who is a preservationist? What should be preserved? Why? How? What stories do we tell in preservation? How does preservation contribute to the financial, environmental, social, and cultural well-being of communities? And if the "arc of the moral universe . . . bends towards justice," how can preservation be a tool for achieving a more just society and world?

Genres: Heritage Preservation, History

288 pages, Hardcover

Published July 15, 2016

Reviews

[Priya · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to get through the various essays in this compilation. Many of the ideas within this text are critical to the future of the historic preservation movement - especially those dealing with diversity, inclusion and telling stories beyond the expected narratives.

Others, as all good forward thinking compilation should have, are a bit more tough to fathom - especially within current political and funding challenges.

The key here is to look at the essays and other documents produced as part of the anniversary and consider what does real, meaningful change in the movement really look like.

[abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for a graduate level class on historic preservation. I liked a lot of the essays, but a few of them felt very out of place for the future of historic preservation. Also, the organization of the essays threw me off. I think this book could have used the help of themed sections maybe with the editors thought process for what he thought about these essays or his intent in choosing them? A few of these essayists were really great though and I’ll definitely look into their solo papers!

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard copy.
I read this as part of my Master's Program in Museum Studies.
This is a collection of articles written about suggestions for improving the process and requirements for historic preservation. Currently properties must be 50 years old to be considered for the historic register, but our culture is changing so fast that this rule, along with other guidelines, might no longer serve us.