Dear Preservation Supporter,

At the National Trust, we focus on saving places but, as we look for comfort and inspiration in these unsettled times, I am reminded that places can help to sustain us as well. With our historic sites closed and our staff working remotely in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), we’re realizing anew how historic places can provide critical ways to connect with each other and our shared history at a time that our other connections are so limited.

Using technology to experience historic places can bring us much needed escape and perspective. Over the last week, our historic sites have quickly taken their experiences digital and are developing innovative new ways to engage with these places—from Virtual Game Night at President Lincoln’s Cottage to online versions of our annual plein air competition at the Shadows on the Teche and our needlework show at Woodlawn. With just a click or two, you can watch a joyful behind-the-scenes view of installing Yayoi Kusama’s Dots Obsession at the Glass House or take in the details of Luftwerk’s incredible light installation at the Farnsworth House.

Please connect with us on Instagram (@savingplaces), where we will be highlighting a range of ways to experience our historic sites. But rest assured that, while we are taking this opportunity to prototype and build more robust online experiences at National Trust Historic Sites, we are also continuing to steward these remarkable places so that they will be ready to welcome you back when this period of social distancing ends. Our historic sites—and thousands of others around the country—are community touchstones and they will be even more important when this crisis abates.

Old places and their stories are also inspiring as we work to meet the challenges before us. If you are looking for both diversion and inspiration, make a virtual visit to Villa Lewaro, the estate of Madam C.J. Walker overlooking the Hudson River in Irvington, New York. You might have seen the new Netflix series about this remarkable woman, who was born in rural Louisiana two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and through her intellect, perseverance, and ingenuity, built a cosmetics and hair care empire and became America’s first self-made female millionaire, while also empowering scores of African American women as sales representatives. She celebrated and engaged others with this success by building Villa Lewaro, which she called her “dream of dreams.” As a part of our African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, the National Trust is working to secure a bright future for this place—and many others that represent the strength of the human spirit.

In the days and weeks ahead, we’ll continue sharing stories, resources, and updates to connect you with historic places to help navigate this unprecedented moment. And I hope you will share with us the places that are helping you get through these challenging times with us—you can contact us by email or use #savingplaces on social media.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the National Trust and the historic places around the country that sustain us.

Warm regards,

Paul Edmondson President and CEO