The National Trust for Historic Preservation has announced it’s 2009 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places ®. The NTHP’s 22nd annual list of places that are at risk of destruction or irreparable damage includes the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, The Manhattan Project’s Enola Gay Hangar at Wendover Airfield in Utah, and the Miami Marine Stadium. 

The NTHP announcement itself was made near the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel - one of the most iconic and historic hotels in Los Angeles.  The 726 room, 19-story Century Plaza was designed by Minoru Yamasaki (who also designed the World Trade Center’s twin towers), and is slated to be razed. 

The Hotel’s new developer Michael Rosenfeld wants to replace the 600 ft long current structure with a $2 billion complex with two 50-story towers housing shops, restaurants, condos and a new hotel.

The NTHP announcement was made by Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and actress Diane Keaton, who is also a trustee of the organization.

Diane Keaton added her voice to the debate, saying that “All over Los Angeles, too many of our great modern buildings have already fallen to the wrecking ball. We need to lead by example and show the rest of the country that buildings are renewable, and we shouldn’t be throwing them away. We should be recycling them just like we recycle newspapers.”

The 11 endangered places named by The National Trust for Historic Preservation are listed below.

1.   Ames Shovel Shops, Easton, Mass.
2.   Cast-Iron Architecture in Galveston, TX (in the 12-block Strand, damaged by Hurricane Ike)
3.   Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles, Calif
4.   Dorchester Academy, Midway, Ga
5.   Human Services Center, Yankton, S.D.
6.   Lana’i City, Hawai’i
7.   The Manhattan Project’s Enola Gay Hangar, Wendover Airfield, Utah
8.   Memorial Bridge, Portsmouth, N.H. to Kittery, Maine
9.   Miami Marine Stadium, Virginia Key, Fla.
10. Mount Taylor, near Grants, N.M.
11. Unity Temple, Oak Park, Ill.

For more details about each place and it’s history, and about the National Trust for Historic Preservation, visit  - www.preservationnation.org/issues/11-most-endangered/. Photo by Lizy Moromisato. 

Related Links:-
2008 11 Most Endangered Historic Places
Dozen Distinctive Destinations from National Trust for Historic Preservation

Posted on April 28th, 2009 by PLing
Filed under: Travel News