Place Matters

The Place Matters project was created to promote the conservation of the places that are culturally or historically significant to New York City. The significance of these places can arise from their contribution to the historical record, from memories involving them, or traditions that were started at them and can be important on an individual or a community level. Place Matters works to recognize all types of significance and their roles in telling a complete history of the city.

History

In 1998, the Place Matters project was founded by City Lore, a cultural organization dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of New York and other cities, and the Municipal Art Society (MAS), a non-profit organization committed to enriching the culture, neighborhoods, and physical design of New York City. Place Matters initially developed from City Lore's Endangered Spaces project in addition to the work of a committee on historical and cultural landmarks led by the former MAS Associate Director of Issues, Ned Kaufman. Many New York City organizations contributed to the committee, and following the success of its 1996 report, City Lore and the Municipal Art Society hosted a conference called History Happened Here at the Museum of the City of New York in 1997. The result of the conference was the joint collaboration between City Lore and the Municipal Art Society to create a project that promoted and protected the valuable places within the city that were rapidly disappearing—places similar to those featured at the conference. The next year, the two organizations launched the Place Matters project to further this end.

Projects

Current/Ongoing

Past

Publications

External links

Coordinates: 40°43′24″N 73°59′19″W / 40.72340°N 73.98860°W