Every year in May, local preservation groups, state historical societies, and business and civic organizations across the country observe Preservation Month. These events promote historic places and heritage tourism while demonstrating the vital social and economic benefits of historic preservation.
Preservation Month began as National Preservation Week in 1973. In 2005, the National Trust for Historic Preservation extended the celebration to the entire month of May to provide a greater opportunity to celebrate the diverse and unique heritage of our country’s cities and states.
This year, Preservation Month takes on a new meaning. As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we’re looking to the places that bring its most powerful promise to life, that “all people are created equal,” and to the preservationists making sure those places endure. The National Trust and Preservation Raleigh invite you to help us consider the historic sites, neighborhoods, and landmarks that tell the full American story.
Raleigh Places in Peril 2026
Preservation Raleigh is proud to promote this month through our educational awareness program, Places in Peril. Our mission is to sustain Raleigh’s architectural inheritance for everyone’s benefit, and one way to do that is to to showcase significant buildings that are currently in danger.
Since the program’s debut, we have highlighted a range of threatened sites to act as a catalyst for their preservation:
- 2024: We highlighted eight Raleigh places and have continued to advocate for them.
- 2025: We featured six additional threatened sites.
- 2026: This May, we will introduce five new Places in Peril.
You are invited to learn more about these significant buildings and their history as we showcase them each week throughout May. We will kick off this year’s series by highlighting the Wright-McMillan House, a 1914 stone masterpiece in Forest Park.
How to Participate
Preservation Month is your moment to share how the places you protect spark joy and connect communities to our shared history.
- Join the National Conversation: You can join preservationists across the country by posting in the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s LinkedIn Group.
- Support Local Efforts: Follow our weekly updates to learn about our city’s history and how you can join a growing community of citizens committed to the mission of Preservation Raleigh.
Preservation Resources
Preservation Raleigh Places in Peril
National Trust Preservation Month Stories