America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places: A Look Back (Part II)
Take a tour of three sites that were previously listed, understand the threats they face, and how you can help.
Since 1988, the National Trust has used its list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places to highlight the threats facing some of the nation's greatest treasures. This list, which has identified more than 300 places to date, has been so successful in galvanizing preservation efforts that only a handful of listed places have been lost.
Each of the three sites on this tour are in a different place in their preservation journey. Hear from advocates about the status of each of these places.
Tap to explore
Olivewood Cemetery
Houston, Texas
Listed in 2022.
Incorporated in 1875, Olivewood is one of the oldest-known platted African American cemeteries in Houston, with more than 4,000 burials on its 7.5-acre site. Today, extreme weather events due to climate change are eroding and damaging the cemetery.
The nonprofit Descendants of Olivewood, Inc., the cemetery’s legal guardian, has undertaken a comprehensive study to clarify the extent of the threat and identify specific protection and mitigation measures,
but advocates need partnerships and funding in order to implement these plans.
A local news report shares the story of Olivewood Cemetery.
Olivewood Cemetery-Wide View (2021-11-20) by Descendants of OlivewoodNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Jasmine Lee, Olivewood Cemetery
For a small organization like us, being selected as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust helps bring much-needed awareness to Olivewood Cemetery.
Jasmine Lee
"Understanding the challenges of these historic sites is one of the most essential steps in building a community dedicated to preservation.
The 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list is necessary to help the public understand the urgency needed to maintain our historic sites."
Current Status
The Descendants of Olivewood continue to need volunteers to help with projects such as grounds maintenance, historical research, wildlife identification, and fundraising.
Through past volunteer efforts, the cemetery is in better condition than it has been in decades, but the ongoing impact of water and flooding continues to severely impact the cemetery.
Tap to explore
Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Memorial Hospital
Walthill, Nebraska
Listed in 2018.
Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte of the Omaha Tribe was the first Native American to earn a medical degree. After graduating from the Woman’s Medical College in Pennsylvania in 1880 at the top of her class,
Picotte worked to realize her longtime dream of opening a local hospital in her community to treat the Omaha people and others who needed medical care.
The facility served rural Thurston County from its opening in 1913 until the 1940s, but by 2018, the Memorial hospital—which was the first hospital built on an Indian reservation without federal funding—was unoccupied and facing an uncertain future.
A brief glimpse into the history and legacy of Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte.
Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center (2022-07-12) by Dana DamewoodNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Vida Stabler
Member of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, and Board Member, Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center
The Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center would like to thank the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This proclamation brought national attention to help save Dr. Susan’s hospital.
Vida Stabler
"We will create a center for our community. For this we are so thankful. We thank you all."
Current Status
Since its inclusion on the 11 Most Endangered list, a group of community members formed the Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center and acquired the building with the goal of restoring it as a community center and museum.
The center secured grants and additional funds to conduct an assessment and create architectural, engineering, and programming plans. One of these projects, the center’s Tribal Youth Voices Matter Project, will engage the youth of the Omaha tribe in restoration efforts and more. Full restoration of the building will be completed in 2023.
Tap to explore
Camp Naco
Naco, Arizona
Camp Naco (1919) by Bisbee Mining and Historical MuseumNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Listed in 2022.
Camp Naco is a touchstone for the history of the Buffalo Soldiers and the proud tradition of Black military regiments after the Civil War.
Constructed by the U.S. Army beginning in 1919, these adobe buildings are the only ones remaining from the 35 permanent camps built during that time along the U.S.-Mexico border.
After the camp was decommissioned in 1923, the site passed through multiple owners and has suffered from vandalism, exposure, erosion, and fire.
Since the site was listed, the City of Bisbee, who now owns Camp Naco, and the Naco Heritage Alliance have been working together to identify critical funding and partnerships to restore the historic camp buildings and revive them for community, tourism, and educational uses.
Learn more in this short segment about the full history of Camp Naco.
Camp Naco Adobe Buildings (2022) by Jim PetersNational Trust for Historic Preservation
R. Brooks Jeffery, Start Up Executive Director, Camp Naco
The history of the preservation of Camp Naco has really been a 22-year overnight success, and it could not have been done without the volunteer efforts of a variety of people." But it wasn’t until the 11 Most Endangered listing..."
R. Brooks Jeffery
" ...that really became the watershed moment that raised awareness at the national level about the significance of the site and its need for preservation which then led to federal funding through the Governor’s office as well as through the Mellon Foundation."
Current Status
Since its inclusion on the 11 Most Endangered list in May of 2022, Camp Naco has secured over $8 million in grants for the site’s rehabilitation and community programs. These funds, from the Arizona Governor’s Office (ARPA funds) and the Mellon Foundation, will allow the preservation of the site to move forward in a significant way through preservation and public programming efforts that engage the local community.
Take Action
Sign up for the National Trust's email and be the first to know about America's 11 Most Endangered Places for 2023.
Read about three more past sites—Mount Vernon, Chicano/a/x Murals of Colorado, and Rassawek—in Part I of this series.
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