United States' most endangered places: Post offices top list

The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced the top 11 most endangered places in the United States. 

Places making the list include the bridges of Yosemite Valley, the village of Zoar and Theodore Roosevelt's Elkhorn Ranch. The number one most endangered American place, however, isn't just one, but many.

The National Trust added post offices to the list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places as a group for the first time.

On their website the trust explained that in 2011 the US Postal Service identified nearly 4,400 post offices that it plans to study for closure. They explained it has become increasingly difficult to save these properties as a path to saving the buildings is unclear. "Unfortunately, city officials and local preservationists who identified new buyers or uses for endangered post offices often find themselves frustrated by a lack of information and guidance from the U.S. Postal Service."

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Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, told the Wall Street Journal that the trust began getting calls more than a year ago about individual post offices. The trust now wants to work with the Postal Service to help foster a process for adapting and reusing the historic buildings.

"This isn't about taking on the post office. Of course we don't quibble with the post office having to do what they have to do to manage their business, but we do want to make sure there's a thoughtful process in place for managing the historic resources," Meeks said. 

The trust has had tremendous success in saving places that are featured on their endangered list. 

 “Over that period of time, we’ve listed 242 places [excluding repeat listings], only 10 of which have been lost,” Meeks told MSNBC. 

Meeks said that this year the trust relisted several sites including Ellis Island, The Sweet Auburn Historic District and Texas courthouses that have yet to be saved. She told MSNBC, “We’d like to see if this year’s list can bring renewed attention and focus to these important places.”

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http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/120606/United-States-most-endangered-places-Post-offices-top-list%20