How to Save a Place

GET THE WORD OUT

Craft a communications strategy. Identify and target a specific audience with key messages about your

preservation project. Publicly presenting an issue through the media

can also help attract the attention of policy and other decision makers

who could ultimately decide the outcome of your project.

Pitch your story to the media.Pitch your preservation story to a reporter and alert them to all the

good work you’re doing. When you’re in front of the camera, be sure

to know your story inside and out, target the right media outlets, and

make your message stand out. Remember to follow up later on the

progress you’re making!

Write an op-ed or letter to the editor.If you have a pressing

preservation issue, consider

writing an op-ed or letter to the

editor. These allow you to

express your opinion quickly

while still reaching a large

audience. Be sure to include

relevant evidence to bolster your

credibility.

Create a social media plan.Set goals, define your audience,

and list resources (human,

financial, etc.) that can support

your work. Most importantly, don’t

feel like you have to be

everywhere. Pick the channels

that will work best for you and

your cause.

Manage the social media time crunch.Build and maintain an engaging social media presence with just a

small window of time each day. Participate regularly, talk about what

you’re already doing, and make it simple for people to connect with

you.

Use photo-sharing to your advantage.In a time of short tweets and status updates, pictures have become

essential to providing additional context. Take pictures often, share on

sites like Instagram and Flickr, and include captions and hashtags to

help spotlight endangered places. (Check out #SavingPlaces,

#preservation, and #ThisPlaceMatters to start!)

 

Nominate a site as a National Treasure.This signature program of the National Trust takes direct, on-the-

ground action to save diverse places and promote their history and

significance. Consider nominating a threatened historic resource in

your area.

Nominate your site to the 11 Most list.The annual list of American’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places has

been one of the most effective tools in the fight to preserve our

country’s irreplaceable architectural, cultural, and natural heritage.

Think your historic site has a strong case?

Complete a nomination form during the next submission round.

Create a pop-up shop.The pop-up shop concept is simple: Insert yourself into a temporary

space that puts new eyes on your mission and see what you can

accomplish. This case study can help you think through if setting up a

physical presence around your issue would be valuable and feasible.

Organize a community tour.Set up a walking tour for people

in your neighborhood. These

kinds of outings are great ways

for local history-lovers and

preservation groups to bring a

community together around

beloved places.

Capture the community’s thoughts on video.One of the best ways to get your

message out there is to create

and share video interviews with

community members who

support your goals. You’ll build

their confidence while compiling

lots of compelling footage.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation works to save America’s

historic places. Preservation Tips & Tools helps others do the same

in their own communities.

For more information, visit blog.preservationnation.org.

Photos Courtesy: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Flickr; Pete O’Shea, Flickr; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wikimedia Commons; Minesh Bacrania; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Flickr; Pete O’Shea, Flickr; Kevin Dooley, Flickr; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wikimedia Commons; FirmBee, Pixabay; MusikAnimal, Wikimedia Commons; OliverZena, Wikimedia Commons; Landor Associates; Instagram user candicane82; The Rik Pics, Flickr.