These 20 places rich in women’s history are competing for $2M in preservation grants

On the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is partnering with American Express and Main Street America to celebrate women’s contributions to the development of our cities, buildings, and public spaces.

As part of the Partners in Preservation: Main Streets competition, 20 sites across the country are vying for your vote to win a grant that will go toward preserving these places steeped in women’s history.

The public can pad the proverbial ballot and cast up to five votes per day until October 29 (the winner will be announced on October 30). Each site automatically gets $10,000 to raise awareness and make its case, but the sites with the most votes at the end of the contest will receive a share of $2 million in grants.

The contenders, which are all historic sites in need of new signage, facade work, or other updates, include the Odd Fellows Building in Astoria, Oregon, which local women transformed into a space for women-led businesses; the Downtown Women’s Center in Los Angeles, a community space for helping homeless women; and Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low’s birthplace in Savannah, Georgia. You can check out the rest of the projects and all of their fascinating backstories here.

Partners in Preservation

Partners in Preservation

Partners in Preservation

Partners in Preservation

Partners in Preservation