The National Trust for Historic Preservation has been at the forefront of efforts to preserve our nation’s cultural heritage since 1949, when it was chartered by Congress to “receive donations of sites, buildings and objects significant in American history and culture, to preserve and administer them for public benefit…” The National Trust believes that historic places create connections to our heritage that help us understand our past, appreciate our triumphs, and learn from our mistakes.
Historic places help define and distinguish our communities by building a strong sense of identity. To ensure that their stories remain a part of our lives today, the National Trust protects and promotes historic places, including a diverse collection of 27 sites. Since 1963, the National Trust has opened the doors of the President Wilson House to the public, examining the impact of his consequential presidency and, more recently, taking an honest appraisal of Wilson’s triumphs and shortcomings. Today, we are proud to steward this site as a vibrant community resource and a model of preservation and presentation of collections.