Monuments Toolkit

Over the last several years, the intersection of heritage, governance, and how citizens interact with pieces of the past has been present in the public eye. Americans all across the nation are beginning to question the history around them, and many are noticing that the monuments and historic fixtures in their communities are unsolicited reminders of a darker time in our nation’s history.

In September 2021, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded the United States Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS-USA) a grant to support the development of the Monuments Toolkit, a website and app aimed at answering questions about monuments of oppression. World Heritage USA now carries out the programs of ICOMOS-USA and oversees the administration of the Monuments Toolkit Project.

Upon completion of this project we will have interactive maps, resources pages, decision guides, blogs, podcasts, and all of the other fantastic features at your fingertips. Creating accessible spaces to learn about the past puts society’s best foot forward for safeguarding our future.

Recent Toolkit Blog Posts

Introducing New Monuments Toolkit Staff

World Heritage USA is happy to introduce our two newest staff members: Madeline (Maddy) Bonner and Noah Price, who have recently begun work on the Monument Relocation, Removal, and Reinterpretation Toolkit, also known as the Monuments Toolkit program. The Monuments Toolkit program has been funded by grants from the Mellon…

President Biden Designates 1908 Springfield Race Riot Site a National Monument

Washington, D.C., August 16, 2024 – On the 116th anniversary of one of the most notorious acts of violence against the African American community in Springfield, Illinois, President Joseph R. Biden has signed a proclamation establishing the 1908 Springfield Race Riot Site as a National Monument. This designation recognizes the historical…

Apply Now: Monuments Toolkit Associate Positions

We’re happy to announce that ICOMOS-USA has received a grant to expand and implement our Monument Relocation, Removal, and Reinterpretation Toolkit (“Monuments Toolkit”). Background During Phase One of the Monuments Toolkit Project, implemented with a 3-year grant from The Mellon Foundation, ICOMOS-USA held conversations with experts on how to best…

ICOMOS-USA Receives $1.5 Million Grant from the Mellon Foundation to Expand and Implement the Monument Relocation, Removal, and Reinterpretation Toolkit

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 2, 2024 — The United States National Committee of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS-USA) has been awarded a three-year, $1.5 million grant by the Mellon Foundation’s Monuments Project initiative to expand and implement the Monument Relocation, Removal, and Reinterpretation Toolkit (“Monuments Toolkit”). During Phase…

Celebrate Black History

Every February, the United States celebrates Black History Month as a time to highlight activities happening now and year round as we journey towards social justice and equitable inclusion for Black Americans and people of color. Cultural heritage and preservation organizations–including ICOMOS, ICOMOS-USA, and World Heritage USA–are striving for positive…

“Representation: the Crux of Public Space” – A Year Later 

  A year has passed since the thought-provoking webinar, “Representation: the Crux of Public Space,” captivated audiences with its exploration of public art’s role in reshaping our communities. Panelists James Dinh, founder of Studiofolia, and Omaid Sharifi, President of ArtLords, delved into the intersection of identity, culture, and public spaces.…

Monuments Toolkit News January 2024

Judson McCranie, Wikipedia Commons   As we start the new year, we look back on the growth of the Monuments Toolkit Project and look forward to the year ahead.  For the past two years, we delved into the collective pulse of communities grappling with contested and oppressive monuments. This project…

President’s Message: Innovation and Increasing Engagement in 2024

A Message from ICOMOS-USA President Douglas C. Comer, Ph.D. 2024 will see critical changes for our national committee, changes driven by our increasing attention to the roles that culture plays in the dominant issues of our day: social justice and climate change. In 2023, we changed the name of our…
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