On this National Day of Mourning, we at the National Trust honor President Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States as a dedicated public servant, humanitarian, and conservationist.

President Carter devoted his life to serving the public good. “I have one life and one chance to make it count for something,” he said. “My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can.”

President Carter helped to safeguard millions of acres through legislation and executive actions supporting preservation. As Governor of Georgia, he signed the Heritage Act of 1975, establishing the Georgia Heritage Land Trust, which focuses on preserving sites in Georgia that hold unique natural characteristics, significant historical value, or notable recreational potential.

In 1978, President Carter signed legislation enhancing the federal tax incentives program and creating the first income tax credit, which has become one of the most effective tools for historic preservation in the United States. This landmark incentive has since generated billions in private investment, preserving cultural heritage while creating thousands of jobs, supporting sustainable development, and driving economic investment in communities nationwide.

As we reflect on his remarkable journey, we see in him a preservation ethic—an abiding respect for history, for community, and for the shared responsibility to safeguard the ideals that bind us as a nation.

Born in Plains, Georgia, Carter’s deep connection to his rural roots shaped a presidency and post-presidential life dedicated to justice, equity, and the stewardship of human and natural resources. His advocacy for human rights and his efforts to broker peace—most notably the Camp David Accords—stand as defining moments in global diplomacy. Yet it is his commitment to the less heralded, everyday acts of service that truly define his character.

As a volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, President Carter and his wife Rosalynn personally built homes and helped lead a global movement for safe and affordable housing. Their commitment restored hope to families around the world, and they leave a powerful legacy. President Carter’s stewardship of the environment, embodied in policies protecting millions of acres of wilderness, will long echo in every preserved landscape and historic site that fosters connection and reflection. His passion for conservation was never about places first, but the role they can play in improving people’s lives.

At the National Trust, President Carter’s life resonates deeply. He understood that places—a home, a church, a landscape, national monuments—hold stories that connect to the past, to each other, and to a shared sense of purpose. His boyhood home in Plains, Georgia, a component of the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, reflects his roots and his belief in living simply and with purpose. It reminds us that preservation is not merely about bricks and mortar but about ensuring that the stories embodied in those places endure. President Carter believed in the promise of a more equitable future, protecting what matters, and creating spaces where every voice is heard.