Historic preservation

Historic Truss Bridges named among Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places

Virginia’s few remaining historic metal truss bridges, with their unique architectural qualities and irreplaceable role in the state’s heritage, is on Preservation Virginia’s list of Most Endangered Historic Places for 2020. Every year since 2005, the organization has released a list of historic features within the Commonwealth that face imminent or sustained threats, in hopes of encouraging citizens, organizations and local and state governments to advocate for their protection and preservation. The organizational released its 2020 list yesterday, as part of National Historic Preservation Month.

The Rapidan River-Clark Mountain Rural Historic District

The Rapidan River-Clark Mountain Rural Historic District

The Rapidan River – Clark Mountain Rural Historic District is a nearly 40,000-acre historic landscape in Orange County and parts of Madison and Culpeper Counties that has been determined eligible for listing on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places for its high concentration of historic resources dating from the prehistoric period through the 1930s.

Comments Requesting Re-evaluation of Statewide Historic Bridge Inventory

Comments Requesting Re-evaluation of Statewide Historic Bridge Inventory

The Commonwealth’s historic bridges create a sense of place and a link to the past. These bridges – versus featureless concrete slabs – are community amenities. They provide not just the physical crossing of a stream or river, but an experience that connects people to both the road and the surrounding landscape. 

Coming Together to Save the Historic Waterloo Bridge

Coming Together to Save the Historic Waterloo Bridge

Last fall, VDOT announced plans to possibly close the Waterloo Bridge to vehicular traffic due to safety concerns. PEC shared the news with local community groups and historic preservation advocates, which sparked overwhelming sup­port for the bridge’s rehabilitation—support that transcended the usual demographics and organization affiliations.

Sacrificing History… For What?

Often environmentalists are told that we just 'say no' to things. To which I would argue — saying 'no' to a bad idea is a very important part of what we do. But it's not all we do. At The Piedmont Environmental Council we also strive to put forward constructive alternatives. That's why it's so frustrating to see the Virginia Department of Transportation, led by Sean Connaughton, make mega-projects like the Outer Beltway and Charlottesville Bypass its highest priority. Despite great arguments against both projects — fiscal, environmental, common sense arguments — and plenty of alternatives, VDOT is charging ahead. This text is from an email alert sent out on September 19, 2013: