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About
Maine Preservation
Maine
Preservation, founded in 1971, is a 501(c)3 private nonprofit member-based
statewide preservation organization. We are proud to be recognized
as a Statewide Partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Click here
for our bylaws.
Our
mission is to promote the preservation, protection and vitality of Maine's
historic places and to encourage quality design that contributes to the
livability of our communities.
Over 1,100 individuals, families,
businesses and organizations are members of Maine Preservation, and we
have a growing statewide constituency representing over 3,750 preservationists,
historical societies, libraries, groups, agencies and elected officials.
Our primary programs and activites
include:
About Our
Programs and Events
Heritage
Education
- We sponsor the annual Maine Preservation Conference and Resource
Forum each year, which provides an exciting forum for citizens to gather,
learn, and discuss current and emerging preservation issues.
- We host workshops and training seminars, including the “My Old
House” series, an adult continuing education program.
- Through our Poliquin Heritage Education grant program we provide small
grants ($500-750) annually for curricula development to K-12 teachers
to encourage use of the historic built environment at a teaching tool
for the 21st century.
- We assist the Maine Historic Preservation Commission in their on-going
training programs for Historic District Commissions and Certified Local
Governments.
Preservation Outreach
- We publish the annual list of Maine's
Most Endangered Historic Properties, a program now in its 10th year,
and now includes over 67 sites and structures, plus six thematic endangered
property types statewide.
- We provide small matching grants for Building Condition Assessments
through our Preserve Maine Fund.
- We provide rapid response assistance for any preservation-related
need by connecting people to answers.
- We maintain a reference resource library in our office, staffed by
our Executive Director who is professionally trained in historic preservation,
and assisted by our volunteer Board members, professional trained in
many aspects of historic preservation.
Advocacy
- We actively work to help shape preservation-favorable public policy
at the local, state, and federal levels, and testify on bills in Augusta
as needed. Recently, seven preservation-related bills have been passed,
including the local option property
tax incentive for historic and scenic properties, the state rehab
tax credit, the New Century Community Program, and the Smart Growth
bill that established the Maine
Downtown Center.
- We provide local advocacy assistance in collaboration with individuals,
groups, organizations and municipalities across Maine seeking help and
leadership to preserve their heritage. Maine Preservation is represented
on numerous state boards and task force committees involved in downtown
revitalization, heritage tourism, and arts and cultural affairs. We
annually host the"Preservation Roundtable" meeting, which
provides a discussion and networking opportunity for state, regional
and local interests related to emerging preservation issues.
Easements
- Preservation easements are
an excellent tool to help protect a significant historic resource in
perpetuity. We currently hold easements on five properties in Belfast,
Cape Elizabeth, Harrison, Yarmouth and Sanford. We are currently
working with a remarkable partnership of 11 organizations and agencies
to protect and preserve the world's last active Shaker community, Sabbathday
Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester, Maine, a National Historic Landmark.
Periodicals and Publications
- Our newsletter, Maine
Preservation News, (circulation 3,000+) is a benefit of membership.
It won the first place award for design at the 2000 Maine Graphic Arts
Association contest. Limited space for advertising is available to members.
- Eight books on architectural
history have been published or sponsored to date by Maine Preservation
in partnership with the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and others.
- We maintain the complete collection of the Biographical Dictionary
of Architects in Maine, which are provided free to members upon request.
Special Events
- Check our Calendar page for upcoming
events, tours, auction galas and receptions where members and friends
meet, shop and celebrate successes in historic preservation!
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For
36 years, Maine Preservation has encouraged the recognition and preservation
of Maine's historic buildings, neighborhoods, landscapes, downtowns
and communities.
We were
formed in 1971 and incorporated in 1972 as Maine Citizens for Historic
Preservation with the initial purpose of advocating for legislation
to establish the State Historic Preservation Office (Maine
Historic
Preservation Commission) in order to properly channel Federal pass-down
funding for historic preservation as a result of the National Preservation
Act.
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