About
Definition of Asian and Pacific Islander American Historic Preservation
(a working definition of API historic preservation was approved by the API National Historic Preservation Forum in SF in 2010)
Historic preservation in the United States is an evolving movement that, for much of its history, focused primarily on buildings and sites reflecting events and people associated with wealth and power. More recently, definitions of historic significance have been expanded to include a broader and more inclusive narrative of American culture and heritage, thus opening the door for Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) communities to define what historic preservation means and to change the very face of preservation.
In APIA ethnic communities, historic preservation includes a broad scope of efforts that seek to protect buildings, landscapes and places of historical significance to this diverse group of peoples. As well, preservation efforts must seek to understand and conserve related tangible and intangible cultural resources, such as the contributions, values and beliefs of a people. It incorporates the various cultural art forms, traditions, language, associations, businesses, stories, food, festivals, and all the other activities that help to define these place-based ethnic communities.
For some APIA communities, historic preservation may mean working to preserve ethnic identity for neighborhoods dealing with demographic changes or the forces of gentrification. It also encompasses discovering and protecting places whose historic meaning for APIA communities has been veiled by time, but can be revealed by new efforts to document and educate about our heritage and contributions. For newer APIA communities, historic preservation may mean the recognition and awareness that places where significant events occurred or businesses and cultural institutions have been established may some day achieve significance which needs to be shared with the nation, and remembered by succeeding generations.
An Understanding:
Historic Preservation Made Relevant to Asian & Pacific Islander American Communities
by ~Bill Watanabe, Little Tokyo Service Center, Los Angeles,
APIHiP Steering Committee President
Historic preservation in the United States is an evolving
movement that, for much of its history, focused primarily on
buildings and sites reflecting events and people associated
with wealth and power. More recently, definitions of historic
significance have been expanded to include a broader and
more inclusive narrative of American culture and heritage, thus
opening the door for Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA)
communities to define what historic preservation means and to
change the very face of preservation.
In APIA ethnic communities, historic preservation, or heritage
conservation as it is called in many parts of the world, includes a
broad scope of efforts that seek to protect buildings, landscapes
and places of historical significance to this diverse group of
peoples. As well, preservationists seek to understand and
conserve related tangible and intangible cultural resources,
such as the contributions, values and beliefs of a people. It
incorporates the various cultural art forms, traditions, language,
associations, businesses, stories, food, festivals, and all the
other activities that help to define these place-based ethnic
communities.
For some APIA communities, historic preservation may mean
working to preserve ethnic identity for neighborhoods dealing
with demographic changes or the forces of gentrification. It also
encompasses discovering and protecting places whose historic
meaning for APIA communities has been veiled by time, but
can be revealed by new efforts to document and educate about
our heritage and contributions. For newer APIA communities,
historic preservation may mean the recognition and awareness
that places where significant events occurred or businesses and
cultural institutions have been established may someday achieve
significance which needs to be shared with the nation, and
remembered by succeeding generations.
(a working definition of API historic preservation was approved by the API National Historic Preservation Forum in SF in 2010)
Historic preservation in the United States is an evolving movement that, for much of its history, focused primarily on buildings and sites reflecting events and people associated with wealth and power. More recently, definitions of historic significance have been expanded to include a broader and more inclusive narrative of American culture and heritage, thus opening the door for Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) communities to define what historic preservation means and to change the very face of preservation.
In APIA ethnic communities, historic preservation includes a broad scope of efforts that seek to protect buildings, landscapes and places of historical significance to this diverse group of peoples. As well, preservation efforts must seek to understand and conserve related tangible and intangible cultural resources, such as the contributions, values and beliefs of a people. It incorporates the various cultural art forms, traditions, language, associations, businesses, stories, food, festivals, and all the other activities that help to define these place-based ethnic communities.
For some APIA communities, historic preservation may mean working to preserve ethnic identity for neighborhoods dealing with demographic changes or the forces of gentrification. It also encompasses discovering and protecting places whose historic meaning for APIA communities has been veiled by time, but can be revealed by new efforts to document and educate about our heritage and contributions. For newer APIA communities, historic preservation may mean the recognition and awareness that places where significant events occurred or businesses and cultural institutions have been established may some day achieve significance which needs to be shared with the nation, and remembered by succeeding generations.
An Understanding:
Historic Preservation Made Relevant to Asian & Pacific Islander American Communities
by ~Bill Watanabe, Little Tokyo Service Center, Los Angeles,
APIHiP Steering Committee President
Historic preservation in the United States is an evolving
movement that, for much of its history, focused primarily on
buildings and sites reflecting events and people associated
with wealth and power. More recently, definitions of historic
significance have been expanded to include a broader and
more inclusive narrative of American culture and heritage, thus
opening the door for Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA)
communities to define what historic preservation means and to
change the very face of preservation.
In APIA ethnic communities, historic preservation, or heritage
conservation as it is called in many parts of the world, includes a
broad scope of efforts that seek to protect buildings, landscapes
and places of historical significance to this diverse group of
peoples. As well, preservationists seek to understand and
conserve related tangible and intangible cultural resources,
such as the contributions, values and beliefs of a people. It
incorporates the various cultural art forms, traditions, language,
associations, businesses, stories, food, festivals, and all the
other activities that help to define these place-based ethnic
communities.
For some APIA communities, historic preservation may mean
working to preserve ethnic identity for neighborhoods dealing
with demographic changes or the forces of gentrification. It also
encompasses discovering and protecting places whose historic
meaning for APIA communities has been veiled by time, but
can be revealed by new efforts to document and educate about
our heritage and contributions. For newer APIA communities,
historic preservation may mean the recognition and awareness
that places where significant events occurred or businesses and
cultural institutions have been established may someday achieve
significance which needs to be shared with the nation, and
remembered by succeeding generations.
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