Heritage Preservation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the United States. By identifying risks, developing innovative programs, and providing broad public access to expert advice, Heritage Preservation assists museums, libraries, archives, historic preservation and other organizations, as well as individuals, in caring for our endangered heritage.

Heritage Preservation helps museums, libraries, and individuals with the best preservation advice from professional conservators through our series of Caring books. The Conservation Assessment Program helps small and mid-sized museums get the advice of professional conservators for their collections and historic buildings. The Heritage Health Index survey is the first attempt to paint a national picture of the state of collections in all kinds of institutions—museums, libraries, archives, historical societies, and scientific organizations. Save Outdoor Sculpture! and Rescue Public Murals help communities discover and protect their local cultural icons.

There is a lot of advice out there about how to care for your family treasures—grandma’s quilt, an old scrapbook, an antique grandfather clock. But how much of this advice follows the best practices of conservation? Heritage Preservation is spreading the word about the best way to handle heirlooms and collections, and we also try to correct bad advice when we see it. Advice we distribute is approved by some of the country’s most respected professionals at institutions such as the National Gallery of Art and the Library of Congress. Our sculpture conservation advice is the product of over 10 years of experience helping communities learn about and rescue their local monuments.

In addition to slow decay, sudden disaster can have devastating effects on collections in both homes and institutions. Heritage Preservation co-sponsors with FEMA the Heritage Emergency National Task Force to help institutions and individuals learn how to protect their valuables from disasters of all types and how best to respond if the worst happens. The Alliance for Response project helps bring cultural institutions and emergency workers together to build effective disaster response networks.

The scope of the nation’s preservation needs is becoming clear with the Heritage Health Index survey. There’s no time to lose! Help us make a difference today for tomorrow. There are two ways you can get involved:

Become a member. The institutions and professionals who are Heritage Preservation members know we are the only national advocate for preservation of collections in public and private hands. For over 30 years we have worked to further our cause, partnering with organizations such as the American Library Association, the American Association of Museums, and the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. As a member, you will receive Heritage Hotline, an e-newsletter keeping you up to date on news in the conservation field and Heritage Preservation’s work. You will also receive discounts and special offers on our publications.

Become a Preservation Partner. Are you concerned about preserving our heritage for future generations? Join others around the country who care about and support our work. We will keep you posted on our progess with our quarterly electronic newsletter, the Heritage Preservation Update. Heritage Preservation is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is fully tax-deductible.

To preserve the nation's heritage for future generations through innovative leadership, education, and programs.