History

 
We’ve been saving places for over four decades.

Preservation Connecticut is a nonprofit organization, originally named Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, established by special acts of the State Legislature in 1975 and 1985 to preserve, protect, and promote the buildings, sites, and landscapes that contribute to the heritage and vitality of Connecticut communities.  Since then, the organization has become a successful champion of remarkable community assets across the state. 

In 1975, Harlan H. Griswold of Woodbury, Barbara S. Delaney of Chester, and John F. Reynolds III of Middletown incorporated the organization.  Over time, interest in the organization grew, and the board was expanded. Today, Preservation Connecticut has 3 gubernatorial appointments and up to 30 additional board members.  The longest-serving executive director was Helen Higgins, and the current executive director is Jane Montanaro.  Preservation Connecticut has been headquartered since 1989 at the Eli Whitney Boarding House in Hamden.  It changed its name to Preservation Connecticut in 2019.  

Help us keep making history, preserving history.

And we’re still making history.  Over the years, we have:

Each year, we provide preservation assistance to 250 sites through our Circuit Rider program, catalog an average of 750 places through our surveys (on barns, mills, and artists’ sites), educate at least 1,000 people through our trainings and programs, and steward 42 permanent preservation easements on properties all over the state. 

Most importantly, we have helped people like you find their voice to advocate for and protect the places you care about most.  For this work, Preservation Connecticut is recognized as the first and finest voice for preservation in Connecticut.

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