FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Missing from the Map: LHC Launches National Equity Study on Latinx Historic Sites

New findings show only 0.65% of National Register sites reflect Latinx history, with just 7% of federal funding directed to projects between 2014 and 2025.

Austin, TX — April 10, 2025 — Latinos in Heritage Conservation (LHC) has published the results of Phase I of its Equity Study, a nationwide effort to examine how Latinx heritage sites remain largely invisible in the National Register of Historic Places and related efforts to formally recognize and preserve historic sites. This study launches a three-phase effort to document disparities in the field and inform more equitable approaches to conservation.

The first phase examined federal designations and funding patterns over the past decade. Nearly one in five Americans identify as Latinx, yet their histories remain largely absent from the nation’s preservation priorities. Of approximately 99,000 sites on the National Register, only 647 — just 0.65% — are tied to Latinx heritage. Between 2014 and 2025, only $696,507 of nearly $10 million in federal National Park Service’s Underrepresented Communities Grant (URC) supported Latinx-focused projects, accounting for less than 7% of total allocations.

“We continue to be treated as an afterthought in the historical record. This study is a call to action: to correct the erasure, to invest in our legacy, and to ensure Latinx history is not just preserved, but honored,” says Sehila Mota Casper, Executive Director of Latinos in Heritage Conservation.

Few states fund Latinx preservation

Phase I of the study surveyed State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) and identified consistent barriers to Latinx representation in preservation efforts:

• 63% of states reported having no dedicated diversity programming;

• 57.9% had never conducted outreach to Latinx communities;

• 89.5% allocated no funding specifically for Latinx-focused initiatives;

• Many described a passive approach to nominations and restrictive guidelines, such as “integrity.”

Next steps: Phase II and III

Phase II will focus on identifying effective outreach strategies, supporting engagement with communities historically excluded from the National Register process, and exploring additional sources of funding. Phase III, expected to conclude by early 2026, will expand outreach to State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), nonprofits, architectural firms, contractors, and community organizations to examine how “integrity” is defined and applied in preservation. Final findings will inform policy recommendations to make the nomination process more inclusive and ensure the inclusion of Latinx heritage sites.

About Latinos in Heritage Conservation

Latinos in Heritage Conservation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation within Latinx communities. Through education, advocacy, and storytelling, LHC works to ensure that Latinx histories are preserved and celebrated across the United States.

Media Contact:
Raffaela Hartman | Communications Manager | 📞 +1 352-630-0640 | ✉️ raffaela@latinoheritage.us

Learn more at: latinoheritage.us