Heritage Preservation
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA former American nonprofit organization that coordinated conservation research, education, emergency preparedness, and preservation programs for cultural heritage.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Heritage Preservation was an American nonprofit organization devoted to protecting the nation's cultural heritage through leadership, education, research, assessment programs, and partnerships. Its work addressed the preservation of collections, historic structures, outdoor sculpture, public murals, archival materials, and other forms of cultural property held by museums, libraries, historical societies, universities, government bodies, and community organizations. The organization originated in 1973 as the National Conservation Advisory Council, which was established in November with support associated with the National Museum Act and the Smithsonian Institution. Its early role was to assess conservation needs in the United States and help develop a coordinated national response to the vulnerability of cultural collections. In 1982, the council became the National Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property. In 1997, it adopted the name Heritage Preservation, reflecting a broadening of its public-facing preservation mission. Heritage Preservation operated primarily as a convening and program organization rather than as a commercial brand. It connected cultural institutions with conservators, federal agencies, professional associations, funders, and local communities. Its programs often emphasized practical assessment and public participation. The Conservation Assessment Program, administered by Heritage Preservation and funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, enabled museums to obtain professional evaluations of collection conditions and historic facilities. Since 1990, the program had involved approximately 2,600 museums across all 50 states and U.S. territories, according to the organization's reference material. The organization also developed or supported several nationally visible initiatives. Save Outdoor Sculpture!, begun in 1989, encouraged communities to identify, document, and advocate for the care of outdoor sculpture throughout the United States. The initiative worked with the Smithsonian American Art Museum's inventories of American paintings and sculpture and anticipated later models of community-generated cultural documentation. Rescue Public Murals similarly sought to document American murals, increase public awareness of their artistic and historical importance, and connect endangered works with conservation expertise and support. A major research contribution was the Heritage Health Index, released in 2005 with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Drawing information from more than 3,000 cultural institutions, the index assessed the condition and preparedness of collections across museums, archives, libraries, historical organizations, scientific institutions, and universities. Its findings indicated that roughly 612 million artifacts, including photographs, paintings, pottery, and natural-history specimens, were at risk of deterioration because of inadequate care or preservation conditions. The report helped frame collections preservation as a national infrastructure and public-policy concern. Emergency preparedness was another central area of activity. In 1995, Heritage Preservation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency co-sponsored the Heritage Emergency Task Force, a partnership involving 41 national service organizations and federal agencies. The task force promoted coordinated planning and response for cultural heritage threatened by disasters and other emergencies. Heritage Preservation also recognized achievements in conservation through annual awards, including the Ross Merrill Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Preservation and Care of Collections, presented jointly with the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, and the CAA-Heritage Preservation Joint Award for Distinction in Scholarship and Conservation. These awards highlighted institutional commitment and scholarly contributions to conservation. The organization remained active through 2014. Its board dissolved Heritage Preservation effective June 30, 2015. Several programs and resources were subsequently absorbed by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation. Records documenting the organization's development from the National Conservation Advisory Council onward, including an archive of its website, were accessioned by the Smithsonian Institution Archives. Heritage Preservation therefore survives principally through its archival record, published research, continuing successor activities, and the preservation infrastructure it helped build.
History
Heritage Preservation developed from a national effort to coordinate conservation policy and practice in the United States. The National Conservation Advisory Council was organized in November 1973 with funding connected to the National Museum Act and the Smithsonian Institution. Its initial purpose was to survey conservation needs and help establish a stronger national framework for caring for cultural property. In 1982, the organization changed its name to the National Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property. Under this identity, it continued to work across institutional and professional boundaries, addressing the preservation of museum collections, archival holdings, historic resources, and other cultural materials. Its work combined research, education, technical assistance, advocacy, and cooperation with federal agencies and professional organizations. The organization launched Save Outdoor Sculpture! in 1989. This community-oriented initiative encouraged participants to locate and document outdoor sculpture and to promote appropriate care for works displayed in public spaces. The program brought preservation into local communities and created a substantial body of information about American outdoor art. The Smithsonian American Art Museum became an active partner through its inventories of American paintings and sculpture. The initiative is often understood as an early example of broad public participation in cultural-resource documentation. Beginning in 1990, Heritage Preservation administered the Conservation Assessment Program. With funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the program provided museums with access to professional conservators who evaluated collection conditions and historic structures. By the time described in the organization's reference material, approximately 2,600 museums in every U.S. state and territory had participated. The program represented Heritage Preservation's practical emphasis: identifying risks, setting priorities, and helping institutions make informed preservation decisions. Emergency planning became another important part of the organization's history. In 1995, Heritage Preservation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency co-sponsored the Heritage Emergency Task Force. The task force brought together 41 national service organizations and federal agencies to improve protection of cultural heritage during floods, fires, storms, earthquakes, and other emergencies. Its partnership model reflected the reality that disaster response for cultural property requires cooperation among emergency managers, conservators, cultural institutions, and government agencies. In 1997, the organization adopted the name Heritage Preservation. The new name presented conservation as a broad public responsibility rather than a narrowly technical museum function. During this period, it also supported initiatives such as Rescue Public Murals, which sought to document murals and mobilize expertise and assistance for threatened works of public art. The Heritage Health Index became the organization's most prominent research project. Published in 2005 with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the report collected information from more than 3,000 institutions, including museums, libraries, archives, historical societies, universities, scientific organizations, and government repositories. It concluded that approximately 612 million artifacts were at risk of deterioration because they lacked adequate care. The report helped quantify the scale of the preservation challenge and provided a national basis for institutional planning and advocacy. Heritage Preservation also used recognition programs to encourage high standards. Its awards included the Ross Merrill Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Preservation and Care of Collections, presented jointly with the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, and the CAA-Heritage Preservation Joint Award for Distinction in Scholarship and Conservation. These programs recognized both institutional commitment and contributions linking conservation with scholarship and art history. The organization continued operating through 2014. Its board dissolved it effective June 30, 2015. The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation absorbed several programs and resources, while the Smithsonian Institution Archives received records documenting Heritage Preservation's institutional history, including archived website material. Although the organization no longer operates independently, its reports, programs, partnerships, and archival collections remain part of the history of organized cultural-heritage preservation in the United States.
- 2015
Heritage Preservation dissolved
[1]The board dissolved the organization effective June 30, 2015; successor organizations and archives retained parts of its work and records.
- 2005
Heritage Health Index published
[1]The index synthesized data from more than 3,000 institutions and highlighted the vulnerability of approximately 612 million artifacts.
- 1997
Organization adopts the Heritage Preservation name
[1]The National Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property changed its name to Heritage Preservation.
- 1995
Heritage Emergency Task Force founded
[1]Heritage Preservation and FEMA co-sponsored a partnership of 41 national service organizations and federal agencies focused on protecting cultural heritage during emergencies.
- 1990
Conservation Assessment Program begins
[1]Heritage Preservation began administering a program that provided museums with professional assessments of collections and historic structures.
- 1989
Save Outdoor Sculpture! initiated
[1]The community-based program began documenting outdoor sculpture and promoting public awareness and proper care of works across the United States.
- 1982
Renamed National Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property
[1]The council adopted a new name as its national conservation and cultural-property work developed.
- 1973
National Conservation Advisory Council organized
[1]The organization was established in November to survey conservation needs in the United States, with support associated with the National Museum Act and the Smithsonian Institution.
Products and positioning
A national nonprofit convener and program operator focused on practical, collaborative preservation of cultural collections, historic structures, public art, and heritage resources.
Cultural heritage documentation and conservation · 1989
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Initiated in 1989, Save Outdoor Sculpture! was a nationwide community-based effort to identify, document, and encourage the conservation of outdoor sculpture. It promoted public appreciation of outdoor artworks as a shared cultural resource and worked with Smithsonian-related inventories of American paintings and sculpture. The program helped establish a broad information base about outdoor sculpture and anticipated later participatory approaches to cultural documentation.
Museum conservation assessment · 1990
Conservation Assessment Program
The Conservation Assessment Program provided museums with professional evaluations of the condition of their collections and historic structures. Administered by Heritage Preservation and funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, it helped participating institutions identify preservation risks, establish priorities, and plan improvements. Approximately 2,600 museums in all 50 states and U.S. territories participated from the program's inception in 1990.
Preservation research and reporting · 2005
Heritage Health Index
The Heritage Health Index was a national survey and report examining the condition and care of cultural collections. It drew responses from more than 3,000 museums, historical societies, archives, libraries, scientific organizations, universities, and related institutions. Published in 2005, it estimated that approximately 612 million artifacts were at risk of deterioration because of inadequate care, making preservation capacity a visible national concern.
Public art preservation
Rescue Public Murals
Rescue Public Murals sought to draw attention to murals in the United States, document their artistic and historical significance, and connect threatened works with conservation knowledge and support. The initiative treated public murals as important cultural assets requiring both community advocacy and specialized preservation expertise.
Emergency preparedness and response · 1995
Heritage Emergency Task Force
The Heritage Emergency Task Force was a coalition created to improve protection of cultural heritage during natural disasters and other emergencies. Co-sponsored with FEMA, it brought together 41 national service organizations and federal agencies to encourage coordinated planning, preparedness, and response for museums, archives, libraries, historic sites, and other cultural repositories.
Marketing campaigns
- 1989Save Outdoor Sculpture!
United States
A public-participation initiative to locate, document, and promote the care of outdoor sculpture across the country.
Outcome. The initiative became a significant national documentation effort and is now a discontinued program with related resources available through successor conservation organizations.
- Rescue Public Murals
United States
A campaign focused on public awareness, documentation, and conservation support for American murals.
Outcome. The program's resources and institutional legacy continued in part through successor preservation organizations.
Brand decisions
2015
Board approved dissolutionOtherBackground
After operating through 2014, the organization ended its independent institutional existence.
Action taken
The board dissolved Heritage Preservation effective June 30, 2015.
Aftermath
Several programs and resources were absorbed by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, and organizational records were accessioned by the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
1997
Adopted the Heritage Preservation identityStrategyBackground
The organization had evolved from a council focused on national conservation needs into a broader program and public-education institution.
Action taken
It changed its name from the National Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property to Heritage Preservation.
Aftermath
The new identity accompanied work spanning collections, historic structures, public art, emergency preparedness, research, and education.
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