2025 Annual Symposium: 60 Years of World Heritage
2025 Annual Symposium: 60 Years of World Heritage As ICOMOS-USA marks its 60th anniversary, we invite you to celebrate six decades of heritage preservation and look ahead to the future of cultural conservation in the U.S. This year’s Annual Symposium, held June 4-6 at Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA—home to our…
Roundabout to the Women Who Fight!
By Gilbert C. Correa, Community Engagement Associate Over the course of the past three years, the Monuments Toolkit Team has been analyzing and documenting monuments, as well as proactive approaches that have been used by stakeholders. An anti-monument is one method often met with success. This blog post highlights Mexico…
The International Charter and Guidance on Sites with Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICICH)
The International Charter and Guidance on Sites with Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICICH) was developed by the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage and formally approved at the ICOMOS General Assembly in Brazil in 2024. This Charter serves as a foundational framework for integrating intangible cultural heritage into site-based…
Proposed Cuts to National Park Service Funding Raise Concerns
Proposals emerging from the House Ways and Means Committee could significantly impact the National Park Service (NPS) and its efforts to address climate change and protect public lands. Among the proposed measures are plans to “sell federal lands” and rescind $132 million authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act. This funding…
The Stumbling Stones: An International Monument of Reconciliation
By Noah Price, Media & Marketing Program Associate This International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks 80 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp. Since then, artists have created numerous types of memorials to recognize the more than six million Jews and several million other people killed in the Holocaust.…
Monuments Toolkit Receives NEA Grant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ICOMOS-USA to Receive $20,000 Award from the National Endowment for the Arts for World Heritage USA Monuments Toolkit Project 13 January 2025, Washington DC ICOMOS-USA is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Research Grants in the…
In Solidarity with Communities Devastated by Wildfires
World Heritage USA and ICOMOS-USA stand in solidarity with the communities, first responders, and organizations impacted by the recent devastating California wildfires. These fires threaten not only lives and landscapes but also irreplaceable cultural and natural heritage. We are committed to supporting efforts that safeguard these treasures and address the…
A New Year Message from President Douglas C. Comer
In 2025 and the years just beyond there will be strong efforts from powerful quarters in the federal government to roll back protection for heritage sites, curtail the celebration of intangible heritage values, and to halt the recent reevaluation of heritage values. The World Heritage Convention is best known as…
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to be Nominated to the World Heritage List
We are excited to share that the U.S. Department of the Interior announced on 20 December 2024 that Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge will be nominated to join the UNESCO World Heritage List. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, consists of more than 400,000 acres…
New Book on Monuments of Oppression
Cequyna Moore, Director of the Monuments Toolkit project, recently authored a chapter in the new book, “Grappling with Monuments of Oppression: Moving from Analysis to Activism.” Synopsis “Grappling with Monuments of Oppression“ provides a timely analysis of the diverse approaches being used around the world to confront colonial and imperial…
Designation of the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
By Madeline Bonner, Monuments Toolkit Research & Publications Program Associate On December 9, 2024, President Joseph Biden issued a proclamation establishing the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. An Ongoing Fight for Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Nations John Echohawk, Executive Director of the Native American Rights…
Introducing “Bridging the Gap” Webinar Series for Emerging Professionals
We’re happy to announce the 2025 launch of a new webinar series funded by a grant from the Historic Preservation Education Foundation (HPEF). This series, entitled Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice, will provide specialized preservation training to emerging professionals entering the heritage field. Many believe that there is…
Beware and Report Scams Mentioning ICOMOS
It has come to our attention that fraudulent “phishing” emails have been sent to ICOMOS leaders and members under the guise of a request for funds from Teresa Patricio, ICOMOS President. Phishing is defined as “the fraudulent practice of sending emails or other messages purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals…
We’re Hiring: Communications Coordinator Sought
ICOMOS-USA is offering a part-time position as Communications Coordinator. The Communications Coordinator will work approximately 15 hours per week, and will be responsible for social media content and distribution, website maintenance, and our monthly newsletter. Responsibilities The Communications Coordinator will report to the COO and will work alongside our administrative…
Catching Up with the Jefferson Davis Statue
By Noah Price, Media & Marketing Program Associate The Jefferson Davis Statue of Richmond, Virginia’s Monument Avenue is one of the most notorious monuments of oppression. It came into widespread public focus during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. However, for several years before those protests, museums and archives around…
2024 Annual Meeting: 16 December 2024. Register Now!
Register now to join us for the ICOMOS-USA 2024 Virtual Annual Meeting. We will meet at 12 pm Eastern Time on Monday, 16 December to elect new trustees and review the year’s accomplishments. Please note that only members may vote but all are welcome to attend! Meeting Agenda Welcome and Introductory Remarks Slate of Candidates and Voting…
Symposium and Celebration 2024: Event Map and Last Chance to Register!
Hopefully by now you know all about our upcoming Symposium and Gala Celebration of World Heritage and have even purchased tickets. Where will the 2024 Symposium and Conference be held? Where is the Gala Celebration of World Heritage being held on the 22nd? This downloadable event map provides the answers.…
2024 Celebration of World Heritage Honorees and Speakers
Our 14th Annual Gala Celebration of World Heritage will be held the evening of Friday, 22 November 2024 from 6-10 pm at the Anderson House in Washington, DC. Please join us for a festive evening in a convivial and historic setting to celebrate World Heritage in the United States, honor…
ICOMOS Annual General Assembly 2024 in Images
Many thanks to ICOMOS-USA President Douglas C. Comer, PhD for sharing the following photos of the 2024 ICOMOS General Assembly in Ouro Preto, Brazil.