Your Connection to the World's Heritage
World Heritage USA supports the work of the U.S. National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS-USA), an organization that is part of a global network dedicated to preservation of the world’s cultural heritage. Our activities provide a gateway for U.S. citizens to experience and participate in international heritage conservation programs and activities and for the international community to learn about the rich and diverse heritage of our nation. In doing so, we uphold and advance the broad goals of ICOMOS, the World Heritage Convention, and the preservation of cultural heritage globally.
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Living Monuments and Memorials

People gather around the Blank Slate Monument at Rice University’s campus in March 2023. The monument’s slate reads: “SAY SOMETHING HERE. Connect Your Phone to the BlankSlateMonument WiFi Network.” Image Credit: Rice University News, Photograph by Gustavo Raskosky.
By Madeline Bonner, Monuments Toolkit Living monuments and memorials are designed to engage contemporary society in different ways. For example, living monuments may grow and evolve, travel to reach different audiences, and/or facilitate the gathering of people.  The following are living monuments and memorials that contradict ideas of monuments as…

Monuments Toolkit 2025 Summer Webinar Series

Monuments Toolkit 2025 Summer Webinar Series
Join us for the Monuments Toolkit 2025 Summer Webinar Series! This three-part series will discuss digital monuments, reinterpretation of historic places, and international approaches to oppressive monuments. Digitally Mapping the Monuments Landscape Register Here! Friday, July 18, 2025 – 1:00 – 2:30pm EDT/ 10:00 – 11:30am PDT The process of…
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Digitally Mapping the Monuments Landscape - 2025 Monuments Toolkit Summer Webinar Series

World Heritage USA 6 views July 23, 2025 12:07 pm

Coffee with an Expert: Briana Paxton | Preservation Maryland and Preservation Action

World Heritage USA 66 views July 1, 2025 8:43 am

Coffee with an Expert: Monica Rhodes | Rhodes Heritage Group

World Heritage USA 53 views May 8, 2025 3:00 pm

Statue of Liberty National Monument World Heritage Site (1984)

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🌐 Our fourth IEP internship update comes from Audrey in Kosovo where she is spending the summer working with the Kosovo Council for Cultural Heritage!

“My first few weeks in Pristina have been spent understanding existing frameworks for recognizing and protecting heritage within Kosovo, and conducting policy and academic research on best practices in safeguarding intangible heritage, guided by the 2003 UNESCO Convention.

In addition, the Kosovo Council for Cultural Heritage have brought me along to different cultural heritage initiatives, including a folk festival in Deçan and a workshop facilitated by Habitat-UN on the adaptive reuse of the Former Courthouse Building in Vushtrri.

In my free time, I have been exploring the historic center of Pristina and joined a local hiking group! Some pictures are from last weekend’s hike around Livadh Lake in the Brezovica region of Kosovo.”

#IEP2025 #worldheritageusa #icomos #culturalheritage #historicpreservation #heritageconservation
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🌐 Our fourth IEP internship update comes from Audrey in Kosovo where she is spending the summer working with the Kosovo Council for Cultural Heritage! 

“My first few weeks in Pristina have been spent understanding existing frameworks for recognizing and protecting heritage within Kosovo, and conducting policy and academic research on best practices in safeguarding intangible heritage, guided by the 2003 UNESCO Convention.

In addition, the Kosovo Council for Cultural Heritage have brought me along to different cultural heritage initiatives, including a folk festival in Deçan and a workshop facilitated by Habitat-UN on the adaptive reuse of the Former Courthouse Building in Vushtrri.

In my free time, I have been exploring the historic center of Pristina and joined a local hiking group! Some pictures are from last weekend’s hike around Livadh Lake in the Brezovica region of Kosovo.”

#IEP2025 #worldheritageusa #icomos #culturalheritage #historicpreservation #heritageconservationImage attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment

Give with confidence. Your support drives impact! Ever wonder where your donation goes? From student grants to global forums, your gift fuels real change. Donate today!
usicomos.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate
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Give with confidence. Your support drives impact! Ever wonder where your donation goes? From student grants to global forums, your gift fuels real change. Donate today!
https://usicomos.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate

🌐 Our third IEP internship update comes from Olivia who is working with the Center for Heritage Conservation in Ahmedabad, India!

“After a bit of a delayed start, I have finally made it to Ahmedabad, India and have completed my first full week of work here. We started with a nice orientation to the CEPT University campus (where the Heritage Conservation Lab is housed), as well as the CEPT Research and Development Foundation/Center for Heritage Conservation offices. I received a sample collection demo, and also conducted research on sample collection data management methodologies, guided mostly by ICCROM’s 2021 initiative. I have also started the process of organizing and mapping historic building materials sample data.

In my free time, I decided to take the coveted Heritage Walking Tour of the Old Walled City of Amdavad, where I saw temples, mosques, neighborhoods (called pols), havelis, and of course, the famous bird feeders. The food here is definitely my favorite part, though. You can see a picture of me enjoying chai at the 120-year-old restaurant Chandravila’s, as well as a Gujarati thali. I’m looking to traveling, trying more food, and spending time with some of the new friends I have met at work.”

#IEP2025 #worldheritageusa #icomos #culturalheritage #historicpreservation #heritageconservation
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🌐 Our third IEP internship update comes from Olivia who is working with the Center for Heritage Conservation in Ahmedabad, India!

“After a bit of a delayed start, I have finally made it to Ahmedabad, India and have completed my first full week of work here. We started with a nice orientation to the CEPT University campus (where the Heritage Conservation Lab is housed), as well as the CEPT Research and Development Foundation/Center for Heritage Conservation offices. I received a sample collection demo, and also conducted research on sample collection data management methodologies, guided mostly by ICCROM’s 2021 initiative. I have also started the process of organizing and mapping historic building materials sample data. 

In my free time, I decided to take the coveted Heritage Walking Tour of the Old Walled City of Amdavad, where I saw temples, mosques, neighborhoods (called pols), havelis, and of course, the famous bird feeders. The food here is definitely my favorite part, though. You can see a picture of me enjoying chai at the 120-year-old restaurant Chandravila’s, as well as a Gujarati thali. I’m looking to traveling, trying more food, and spending time with some of the new friends I have met at work.”

#IEP2025 #worldheritageusa #icomos #culturalheritage #historicpreservation #heritageconservationImage attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment

🌐 Our second IEP internship update comes from Marnie where she and Subika are working with Ohio History Connection at the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks!

“It has been a busy few weeks here in Newark, Ohio! We’ve made a start on our project for the summer - which will form the archival recording of the site. The Octagon Earthworks are one of eight sites included in the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.

Alongside documenting, we’ve also had the chance to learn about how these great earthworks were built including the methods and tools used and the time taken along with the vast range of exotic materials that have been found.

We’ve also had the chance to visit some of the other earthworks sites including Serpent Mound where we got to listen to a talk given by Chief Ben Barnes of the Shawnee tribe and watch the Summer Solstice. Some fun sightseeing has also been done!”

#IEP2025 #worldheritageusa #icomos #culturalheritage #historicpreservation #heritageconservation
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🌐 Our second IEP internship update comes from Marnie where she and Subika are working with Ohio History Connection at the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks!

“It has been a busy few weeks here in Newark, Ohio! We’ve made a start on our project for the summer - which will form the archival recording of the site. The Octagon Earthworks are one of eight sites included in the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. 

Alongside documenting, we’ve also had the chance to learn about how these great earthworks were built including the methods and tools used and the time taken along with the vast range of exotic materials that have been found.

We’ve also had the chance to visit some of the other earthworks sites including Serpent Mound where we got to listen to a talk given by Chief Ben Barnes of the Shawnee tribe and watch the Summer Solstice. Some fun sightseeing has also been done!”

#IEP2025 #worldheritageusa #icomos #culturalheritage #historicpreservation #heritageconservationImage attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment

Our summer fundraising campaign continues. Your gift supports world heritage, emerging professionals, and preservation initiatives that matter!

From forgotten landmarks to threatened World Heritage Sites, your donation helps fill the gaps and amplify global preservation efforts.

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Next week, join the Monuments Toolkit for the first episode of our summer webinar series: "Digitally Mapping the Monuments Landscape." We'll be joined by Huy Pham from APIAHiP: Asian & Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation.

Register here: usicomos.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F20235
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Next week, join the Monuments Toolkit for the first episode of our summer webinar series: Digitally Mapping the Monuments Landscape. Well be joined by Huy Pham from APIAHiP: Asian & Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation.

Register here: https://usicomos.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F20235Image attachment

🌐 Our first IEP internship update comes from Sabina in Lithuania!

“Im excited to share some photos from my first two weeks at my IEP internship with Fixus Mobilis in Lithuania! I’ve already had the opportunity to travel to two project sites in Rusnė and Palanga, and I’ve been learning how to collect material samples to investigate deterioration as well as performing preventative maintenance tasks. I’ve also been enjoying some sightseeing along the way too!”

#IEP2025 #worldheritageusa #icomos #culturalheritage #historicpreservation #heritageconservation
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🌐 Our first IEP internship update comes from Sabina in Lithuania!

“Im excited to share some photos from my first two weeks at my IEP internship with Fixus Mobilis in Lithuania! I’ve already had the opportunity to travel to two project sites in Rusnė and Palanga, and I’ve been learning how to collect material samples to investigate deterioration as well as performing preventative maintenance tasks. I’ve also been enjoying some sightseeing along the way too!”

#IEP2025 #worldheritageusa #icomos #culturalheritage #historicpreservation #heritageconservationImage attachmentImage attachment+5Image attachment

🌐 Day 3 of the 2025 IEP Orientation began with a meeting with the National Trust for Historic Preservation where we learned about their portfolio of sites throughout the country. We discussed at length how they interpret these sites to convey their stories and significance. We also talked about different forms of visitor engagement from signage and tours to events and workshops.

🏛️ The entire afternoon was spent inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture. With six enormous floors full of engaging and interactive exhibits, we stayed inside the museum until it closed and still felt like we had barely scratched the surface!

✨ Finally, to close out a wonderful week and launch what is sure to be an amazing summer for our interns, we hosted an IEP Meet & Greet! We were joined by IEP Alumni, program donors and supporters, and members of the World Heritage USA Board who had the opportunity to meet this year’s cohort and continue some of the poignant discussions we’d touched upon during our meetings and tours.

🔗 To see more content from Washington DC, check out our IEP 2025 highlight on Instagram! If you would like to support the activities of World Heritage USA and International Exchange Program, you can make a donation at this link: usicomos.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/usicomos/donation.jsp?campaign=7&

#IEP2025 #worldheritageusa #icomos #culturalheritage #historicpreservation #heritageconservation
... See MoreSee Less

🌐 Day 3 of the 2025 IEP Orientation began with a meeting with the National Trust for Historic Preservation where we learned about their portfolio of sites throughout the country. We discussed at length how they interpret these sites to convey their stories and significance. We also talked about different forms of visitor engagement from signage and tours to events and workshops.

🏛️ The entire afternoon was spent inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture. With six enormous floors full of engaging and interactive exhibits, we stayed inside the museum until it closed and still felt like we had barely scratched the surface!

✨ Finally, to close out a wonderful week and launch what is sure to be an amazing summer for our interns, we hosted an IEP Meet & Greet! We were joined by IEP Alumni, program donors and supporters, and members of the World Heritage USA Board who had the opportunity to meet this year’s cohort and continue some of the poignant discussions we’d touched upon during our meetings and tours.

🔗 To see more content from Washington DC, check out our IEP 2025 highlight on Instagram! If you would like to support the activities of World Heritage USA and International Exchange Program, you can make a donation at this link: https://usicomos.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/usicomos/donation.jsp?campaign=7&

#IEP2025 #worldheritageusa #icomos #culturalheritage #historicpreservation #heritageconservationImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
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