Telling the Full American Story

Cultural Site above Cedar Mesa and Comb Ridge, Utah — Telling the Full American Story

Enabling all Americans to see their history around us.

We believe all Americans deserve to see their history in the places that surround us. Yet as a nation, we have work to do to fill in the gaps of our cultural heritage.

That’s why the National Trust for Historic Preservation shines a long-overdue spotlight on generations of trailblazers by saving the places where they raised their voices, took their stands, and found the courage to change the world

Thanks to the support of people like you, we can tell a fuller American story. It’s a story that does justice to the contributions of women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, and all Americans in shaping our nation and leading us forward. And it’s a story that stirs us all to take pride in our shared heritage and inspires us to create an even more perfect union for generations to come.

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Be part of the largest preservation campaign ever undertaken on behalf of African American history.

Adina De Zavala standing outside the Spanish Governor's Palace

We are identifying, honoring, and elevating places across the country where women have changed their communities and the world.

The National Trust knows that preservation must tell the stories of every American. From places that had thrived for hundreds of years before the arrival of European settlers, to communities that are being energized in the 21st century by new immigrants, the places we save are as diverse as the people they matter to.

Pre-school children on their way to their barracks from morning class.

Dorothea Lange/WRA/National Archives 537955

Asian American and Pacific Islander History

Throughout much of American history, Asians and Pacific Islanders have left an indelible mark on the events and places that make up our common experience.

Why Do Old Places Matter Acoma Sky City, San Esteban del Rey Mission Church

Native American History

American history begins not with the first European settlers, but with the people who lived here for centuries before: Native Americans.

Ken Hayden

Latino and Hispanic American History

Hispanic and Latino Americans have a long and rich history in the United States, as wide-ranging places from the Palace of the Governors to Miami Marine Stadium show us.

iStock.com/Harry Lines

LGBTQ+ History

LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) history has many places, events, and people connected to it, yet these sites and voices are not always recognized or preserved.

Diversity Scholarship Program

The Diversity Scholarship Program provides support for attendance to PastForward, the National Trust for Historic Preservation's annual conference. The Diversity Scholarship Program convenes established and emerging leaders in the historic preservation community and allied fields.

Mildred Colodny Diversity Scholarship

The Mildred Colodny Diversity Scholarship for Graduate Study in Historic Preservation program provides financial assistance and experiential learning opportunities to individuals preparing for careers in historic preservation. The purpose of the Colodny Scholarship is to increase the diversity of people pursuing degrees and careers in historic preservation in the United States.