Join Preserve Louisiana in welcoming Brian Davis from the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation.

We’ve all seen them in our cities and towns and on the edge of fields - abandoned historic buildings covered in vines and broken windows. With little hope of improvement, they often deteriorate to the point of collapse or are demolished, leaving voids in our history.

The Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation (LTHP) a statewide revolving fund program in 2015 to save endangered historic buildings and sites. The nation’s first revolving fund program began in 1958 when Historic Charleston Foundation began an effort to save six blocks of that historic city. That program helped transform Charleston into a vibrant city with one of the strongest tourism industries in the nation.

Today, approximately 65 preservation organizations operate similar programs on a local and state-wide level. Collectively, these programs have saved thousands of historic buildings, increased surrounding property values and revitalized communities.

Preservation organizations like LTHP use their revolving funds to acquire historic buildings through donations, purchase or options. These distressed properties are stabilized, marketed and sold with protective covenants, which will insure their historic character is maintained for generations to come. The new owners then rehabilitate the buildings so they may be used and appreciated once again.

Refreshments at 6 pm, lecture begins at 6:30 pm.