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The Preservation History Database is the first-stop encyclopedic resource for those interested in topics related to the history of preservation.
This educational tool is meant to function as an encyclopedia of New York City’s preservation history, a gateway for academic researchers, and a resource for contemporary preservationists. Entries in the database are not in-depth explorations and analyses; their purpose is to provide comprehensive, accurate, and succinct facts that direct visitors to other available resources. To make the Preservation History Database a useful research tool, the Archive Project aims to identify archival collections, oral histories, and digital resources that are relevant to each entry and make information on their locations and accessibility easily available. The database is continuously updated with new topics and new information. Contact us with any questions, comments, or suggestions.
You can view records organized by: People, Places, Organizations, and Public Policy Explore This Collection >
1893 World’s Columbian Exposition
Also known as the Chicago World's Fair
The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition gave rise to the City Beautiful movement and led to the creation of numerous art societies seeking to obtain legislative means for aesthetic regulation in New York City.
1961 New York City Zoning Resolution
The 1961 Zoning Resolution divided New York City into residential, commercial, and manufacturing areas and introduced incentives that forever changed the design of City buildings.
2 Columbus Circle
Designed in 1964 by Edward Durell Stone, 2 Columbus Circle was the center of a heated preservation battle when the building was converted into the Museum of Arts and Design in 2006.
African Burial Ground
Also known as African Burial Ground and the Commons Historic District
The African Burial Ground is one of the largest and earliest sites associated with 18th-century slavery in the United States.
Action Group for Better Architecture in New York
Also known as AGBANY
The Action Group for Better Architecture in New York is best known for protesting the demolition of Pennsylvania Station.
Eric Allison
An advocate for both historic preservation and livable cities, Eric Allison served as the President of the Historic Districts Council from 1990–2000.
The American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society
Also known as ASHPS, Trustees of Scenic and Historic Places and Objects in the State of New York, and The Society for the Preservation of Scenic and Historic Places and Objects
The American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society, formed in March of 1895, was New York’s first organized preservation lobby.
Association Residence for Respectable Aged Indigent Females
Association Residence for Respectable Aged Indigent Females, a philanthropic war building built in 1883, saved from demolition in the 1970s by a lively preservation effort led by graduate students from a renowned university in the City, now housing the Hostelling International New York City.
Brooke Astor
Brooke Astor contributed funding from the Vincent Astor Foundation to a wide variety of preservation-related projects.
Audubon Ballroom
Also known as the William Fox Audubon Theater, Beverly Hills Theater, or San Juan Theater
Significant to several underrepresented communities in New York City, the Audubon Ballroom is an interesting example of preservation without official designation as a NYC Landmark.