Historic preservation pertains to the practice of protecting, conserving, restoring and preserving buildings, neighborhoods, landscapes or other artifacts of historical value or significance. It can protect from destruction or potentially destructive contemporary development. In some cases, extensive renovations can also be halted to protect the historical integrity of a building or other site. Historic preservation can also refer to the restoration of a site to a specific date or quality. The Historic Preservation movement began in the United States in the 1960s in an attempt to have financial and legal government assistance in an effort to help protect urban neighborhoods and other famous landmarks. Proponents of historic preservation claim that protected and restored communities are given a renewed sense of identity and often benefit from financial gains associated with these restorations.
