For 38 years, the National Trust’s annual list of America’s Most Endangered Historic Places has highlighted threatened national treasures. The 2025 list showcases places where preservation efforts are creating new opportunities through adaptive reuse and community revitalization. From storm-damaged coastal towns to historic hotels and Indigenous cultural centres, these sites tell compelling stories of America’s past while fighting for their future. Consider planning your next getaway to experience these remarkable places while supporting preservation efforts that strengthen local economies.

Explore the old Florida charm of Cedar Key before climate change claims it

Cedar Key’s archipelago along Florida’s Gulf Coast represents a vanishing slice of “Old Florida” with its fishing heritage, quaint local businesses and affordable coastal charm. Hurricane Helene’s record storm surge in 2024 devastated this historic community of 700 residents, washing homes into the Gulf and decimating the waterfront district. With rising sea levels threatening the area’s future, now is the time to experience Cedar Key’s distinctive character. Book a weekend at one of the surviving waterfront accommodations to enjoy world-class clamming, fresh seafood restaurants and a laid-back atmosphere that harkens back to Florida’s pre-development era. Your visit supports recovery efforts while experiencing a coastal gem that may look very different in coming decades.

Western North Carolina’s river towns rebuild after historic flooding

Once considered climate havens, the historic communities along North Carolina’s French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers faced devastating damage when Tropical Storm Helene brought record-breaking floods in September 2024. The vibrant River Arts District and charming Biltmore Village in Asheville, along with nearby towns like Marshall, Swannanoa and Chimney Rock, are now rebuilding. These distinctive communities blend mountain culture, artistic heritage and scenic beauty that continues to define the region. Book your stay in one of Asheville’s historic boutique hotels and spend days exploring recovering riverside galleries, studios and shops. Your tourism dollars directly contribute to the preservation of this unique cultural landscape while experiencing the resilience of mountain communities.

Experience Black history at Michigan’s Hotel Casa Blanca

Discover the cultural significance of Hotel Casa Blanca in Idlewild, Michigan, once known as “Black Eden” during segregation. Designed by Black architect Woolsey Coombs in 1949, this historic landmark welcomed African American travellers, entertainers and thought leaders, hosting legends like Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and Aretha Franklin. After 30 years of vacancy, this Green Book-listed property is undergoing exciting restoration by Black woman-led 1st Neighbor LLC. While full rehabilitation continues, visitors can explore Idlewild’s remarkable heritage that attracted thousands of annual visitors in its 1950s heyday. Consider supporting preservation efforts for this vital piece of African American history as your future visit will help revitalize both the hotel and community.

Visit the home of Arizona’s flag creator before it relocates from historic Route 66

The May Hicks Curtis House represents a unique opportunity to connect with Arizona’s state heritage along the original 1920s alignment of Route 66. Curtis, known as Arizona’s “Betsy Ross,” sewed the first state flag in 1911 and lived in this 1913 home for decades. Located near boarding houses that served early Route 66 travellers, the house embodies her remarkable contributions to Flagstaff’s development and Arizona history. With development threatening its original site, the City of Flagstaff has taken ownership but must relocate this historic treasure. Plan your Route 66 journey soon to witness preservation in action as this significant landmark begins its next chapter. Your visit supports efforts to establish its permanent home.

Discover the desert wonderland of Phoenix’s enchanting, but threatened, Mystery Castle

Phoenix’s extraordinary Mystery Castle stands as a testament to one father’s devotion and artistic vision. Built by hand between 1934-1945 by Boyce Luther Gulley for his daughter Mary Lou, this 18-room folk art marvel blends organic architecture with Sonoran Desert materials and Indigenous influences. Featured in LIFE magazine, the castle has survived nearly a century in harsh conditions but now faces vandalism, disrepair and encroaching suburban development. With demolition temporarily halted, preservation groups are racing to save this national treasure. Make Mystery Castle a must-see on your Phoenix itinerary and discover its whimsical rooms filled with recycled objects and creative flourishes. Your admission fees support urgent preservation efforts for this irreplaceable desert landmark.

Stay at Oregon’s historic “Parkitecture” masterpiece when the Caves Chateau reopens

The Oregon Caves Chateau represents the pinnacle of rustic National Park architecture, serving visitors within the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve since 1934. This National Historic Landmark showcases spectacular integration of natural elements, including a dining room with a stream running through it and America’s largest public collection of historic Monterey furniture. Currently closed for extensive restoration addressing structural and seismic upgrades, this economic lifeline for rural Cave Junction urgently needs support to complete restoration and reopen. Add this remarkable destination to your future travel plans when it is completed, as your stay will support jobs in this underserved region while experiencing authentic heritage tourism in a truly unique accommodation within Oregon’s spectacular wilderness.

Support climate resilience efforts at America’s oldest tribal reservation in Virginia

The Pamunkey Indian Reservation in Virginia represents 15,000 years of continuous Indigenous presence and stands as America’s oldest existing reservation. This 1,600-acre peninsula, home to descendants of Chief Powhatan and Pocahontas, faces existential threats from sea level rise, increasing storms and land subsidence. Scientists project most reservation land will be underwater within 75 years, endangering historic buildings, archaeological sites and traditional cultural practices like pottery making and fishing. Visit now to experience the Tribe’s living heritage and witness innovative climate resilience measures including shoreline stabilization with native plantings. Your respectful tourism supports preservation efforts for this irreplaceable cultural landscape where Indigenous people have never ceded their ancestral connection to the land.

Experience Texas border history at the Mission revival San Juan Hotel

The striking Mission Revival-style San Juan Hotel stands as one of the Rio Grande Valley’s most recognizable landmarks and few remaining historic structures. Built in 1920 and refaced in 1928, this Texas state landmark holds complex history from the era historians call “La Matanza,” when anti-Mexican violence swept the region. Now vacant and deteriorating, the hotel faces potential demolition as the City of San Juan develops its downtown master plan. Local advocates envision transforming this site into a centre for truth-telling and reconciliation while celebrating community heritage. When visiting the culturally rich Rio Grande Valley, include San Juan in your itinerary to witness preservation advocacy in action and support community efforts to save this important landmark.

Discover the last remnants of Japanese American history on Los Angeles’ Terminal Island

The Nanka Shoten (1918) and A. Nakamura Co. (1923) buildings represent the final physical connection to Terminal Island’s once-thriving Japanese American fishing village of 3,000 residents. After Pearl Harbor, this entire community faced forced removal and incarceration at Manzanar, while their neighbourhood was razed by the government. Today, these deteriorating structures stand as powerful reminders of this dark chapter in American history amid one of the nation’s busiest container ports. When visiting Los Angeles, take time to understand this significant cultural landscape before potential demolition erases these last tangible links. Explore nearby Japanese American cultural sites and support advocacy efforts to preserve these buildings as meaningful monuments to resilience and remembrance.

Reconnect with Indigenous heritage at Niagara Falls’ iconic Turtle Cultural Centre

The distinctive turtle-shaped Native American Centre for the Living Arts in Niagara Falls stands as a powerful architectural symbol of Indigenous heritage and cultural reclamation. Designed by Arapaho architect Dennis Sun Rhodes in 1981, “The Turtle” draws inspiration from the Haudenosaunee creation story and once served as the largest centre for Indigenous arts in the Eastern United States. After sitting vacant for nearly 30 years and facing demolition threats, a coalition of Indigenous and non-Indigenous advocates envisions revitalizing this landmark as a vibrant cultural hub. When planning your Niagara Falls adventure, include this remarkable structure in your itinerary. Your interest supports the “reawakening” of this significant cultural resource that celebrates Native American languages, identity and artistic traditions.

Experience Catskills tourism history at The Wellington Hotel in Pine Hill, New York

The magnificent Wellington Hotel in Pine Hill represents one of the few surviving examples of the grand wooden resorts that defined Catskills tourism in the late 19th century. Built in 1882 and originally named The Ulster House Hotel, this historic landmark recalls an era when the region bustled with fourteen hotels in this small hamlet alone. Today, a remarkable community effort is underway as twenty local residents formed Wellington Blueberry LLC to purchase and rehabilitate the deteriorating structure. Their vision includes a much-needed grocery store, café and workforce housing. When exploring the Catskills’ natural beauty, make Pine Hill a destination to witness this inspiring preservation story. Your visit supports revitalization efforts in a community of just 339 residents committed to saving their heritage.