The National Trust for Historic Preservation commends President Obama’s upcoming designation of the Pullman Historic District as a National Monument. The following is a statement from Stephanie Meeks, president and chief executive officer of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

“We applaud President Obama for this decisive action on behalf of one of America’s most important historic places,” said Stephanie Meeks, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “By exercising his authority under the Antiquities Act, President Obama will permanently protect Pullman, a place that has played an outsize role in several key chapters of our nation’s history. From industrialization to the labor and civil rights movements, Pullman played a significant role in American history during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Once Pullman becomes a unit of the National Park Service, this history will be accessible to a wider audience of visitors. The Trust stands ready to collaborate with the National Park Service and other partners to ensure the future success of Pullman.”

The Trust has long been involved in efforts to preserve and celebrate the Pullman Historic District. In 1999, after a fire badly damaged the administration building, the Trust raised awareness of the threat to the Pullman Historic District by naming it to the list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. In 2014, the Trust added the Pullman Historic District to its portfolio of National Treasures to highlight its national significance and its continued need for preservation.