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:

• Advocating for public policy to protect historic resources and prioritize historic preservation policies and funding. 
• Educating communities, historic homeowners, and officials, and provide grants to educators to introduce preservation in the schools
• Sponsoring conferences, workshops and events
• Providing outreach assistance and help rescue threatened and endangered historic properties
• Protecting significant historic properties with preservation easements
• Connecting people with professional resources and technical assistance
• Providing leadership, encouragement and inspiration for people working hard to protect and preserve their cultural heritage
• Celebrating successes! Learn about our Honor Award Recipients
• Publishing Maine Preservation News and books ( shop our online book store , and learn how you can sweet on historic preservation - NEW!)

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!