The House That Hutchinson Built: Preserving a Touchstone to Edisto Island's Black History

On Arlene Hutchinson’s deathbed, Gretchen Smith, director of the Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society in South Carolina, made her friend a promise: to save and restore Hutchinson’s generations-old, dilapidated family home. Built by Arlene's great-grandfather, a freedperson born into slavery, the Folk Victorian-style house remains one of the only 19th-century freedperson’s homes still standing on the island. Learn how the National Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund helped Smith keep her promise, and how the home’s renovation provided unexpected insight into Edisto Island's Black history.

Demolition Underway at the
Sun-n-Sand Motor Hotel

The Sun-n-Sand Motor Hotel, a site included on the National Trust’s list of 2020 America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, is being demolished. A fixture in downtown Jackson, Mississippi, the former gathering place for Civil Rights activists will be knocked down to create a parking lot. Read more about its history, and get an update on other places from 2020’s 11 Most Endangered list.

Feedback Needed: Help Transform
Washington, D.C.’s Tidal Basin

The Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., holds a storied place in the national imagination, but its future is under threat. Landscape architects have reimagined the design of the Tidal Basin and National Mall, not only to save the iconic landmark, but to tell the full story of the American people. Provide your feedback on the future of America’s front yard and share your memories of the Tidal Basin.

Renewing an Outdoor Gem in
Prospect Park, Brooklyn

The Endale Arch in New York City provides a dramatic transition from a bustling city to the peaceful green space of Prospect Park. Originally completed in the 1860s, the arch recently underwent a five-year restoration to stabilize the structure and restore its original architectural details. Find out more about the renovation process and see the showstopping results.

Stay Connected with Mobile Alerts
from the National Trust

With text alerts from the National Trust, you will stay connected to local and national advocacy news, receive action updates, and learn other ways to support the Trust’s work. Sign up to receive mobile alerts and help save America’s historic places.