About
Missouri Preservation advocates for, educates about, and assists in the preservation of architectural and historic landmarks that embody Missouri’s unique heritage and sense of place.
Who We Are
Founded in 1976 as the Missouri Heritage Trust, Missouri Preservation has evolved into a respected grassroots network of individuals, organizations, and preservation commissions throughout Missouri. We are united in our efforts to preserve the rich and diverse cultural and historic resources of the “Show Me” State. Missouri Preservation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Board members represent urban, rural, and suburban interests, as well as a variety of professions from architects and tax credit specialists to building historians and engineers.
What We Do
The Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation, (Missouri Preservation) is Missouri’s only statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, supporting, and coordinating historic preservation activities throughout the State.
We Advocate: Inform the public of the cultural and economic value of protecting our irreplaceable resources that encourage heritage tourism and generate economic development. Promote awareness of our threatened historic resources through an annual list of Missouri’s Most Endangered Historic Places (now known as Places in Peril). Honor individuals and organizations across the state that have contributed to the preservation of Missouri’s historic resources through the Statewide Preservation Honor Awards, presented each year at the State Capitol.
We Educate: Coordinate the annual Missouri Statewide Preservation Conference, with technical workshops and trade show exhibits, that provides networking opportunities among conference participants and experts. Sponsor a variety of educational workshops in various communities throughout the state.
We Assist: Provide a variety of resources for technical assistance, suggest funding options, and offer restoration strategies for property owners and entire communities.
The Challenges Ahead: Despite a growing recognition of the important role historic places play in creating livable communities and in contributing to the state’s economic vitality, there are still a multitude of threats to Missouri’s historic resources. This necessitates careful vigilance. While federal and state rehabilitation tax credits have generated new interest in our state’s downtown business districts and neighborhoods, population loss in the core of our communities is still occurring at an alarming rate. The resultant urban sprawl has changed the face of suburbia, and threatens once pristine rural countryside. The changing face of American agricultural production has resulted in increased population loss and rising poverty rates in small towns and rural hamlets. Small towns also tend to have less access to technical assistance on preservation issues. All of these social and economic trends place many of Missouri’s historic resources at risk-the very resources that can provide a base for economic growth through heritage tourism. An increasingly complicated environment demands increasingly sophisticated solutions.
Staff
| Riley Price, Executive Director | Sappington |