News Release

February 11, 1998

National Trust for Historic Preservation
Joins Forces with the White House to
Preserve the Best of Our Past for the New Millennium

WASHINGTON, D.C. — At a White House briefing today, First Lady Hillary Clinton announced that the National Trust for Historic Preservation will be a key partner with the White House in the Millennium Program, a new initiative to keep our nation’s rich heritage alive.

"So much of our heritage is at risk — buildings, battlefields and landmarks as well as documents, artifacts and other objects that are also a significant part of our history and express who we are as a people," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust. "We commend the President and the First Lady for making our heritage the focus of the Save America’s Treasures Millennium Program. As we prepare for the new millennium, how appropriate it is to recognize our heritage and find ways to preserve it so that it serves the future."

The National Trust is pleased to help the White House translate the vision of the Millennium Program into reality. As the leader of the historic preservation movement, the nonprofit organization will help coordinate a public education campaign and establish a private committee that will direct funds to the most urgent preservation needs identified at the national level and by the states.

The Save America’s Treasures Millennium Program aims to keep our heritage alive, not just the landmark buildings and documents that tell the stories of the famous, but the streets and older neighborhoods that are part of every community and tell all of our stories.

"This program has the potential to be the most significant public/private effort to preserve our heritage in the nation’s history," said Moe. "The First Lady has challenged Americans to embrace their past as they imagine their future. We are confident that Americans will accept the challenge as an opportunity to build a better nation for the new millennium. We are honored to be a key partner in this marvelous effort."

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, chartered by Congress in 1949, is a nonprofit organization with more than 270,000 members. As the leader of the preservation movement, it provides leadership, education and advocacy to save America’s diverse historic places and revitalize our communities. It has six regional offices, owns 19 historic sites and works with thousands of local community groups in all 50 states.

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