World Heritage Initiative Department of History Atlanta, Georgia

Today is World Heritage Day! Celebrate at home, in your community, and beyond.

World Heritage Day is celebrated internationally today, April 18, to raise awareness about the importance of cultural heritage and the need to preserve it for future generations. This year’s theme, Heritage Changes, is intended to promote cultural diversity, heritage conservation, and sustainable development.   Established in 1982 by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), World Heritage Day encourages people around the world to explore and appreciate the cultural treasures that exist in their communities and around the globe.

How to celebrate World Heritage Day?

Participate in a webinar, conference or workshop. Events are planned all over the world, and many are online. ICOMOS has a full list here. Just below are details on the U.S. offerings.

See a local landmark. There's heritage in every community and your local historic sites tell that story. Check with your local historical society or historic preservation group, or search the National Register of Historic Places for listings in your area.

Plan a visit to a World Heritage Site. With 1,157 to choose from in 167 countries, adventure awaits! Just pick your country and see your choices. For domestic travelers, the U.S. has 24 World Heritage Sites, ranging from the natural wonders of Yellowstone and Hawaii's volcanoes to the cultural accomplishments of Frank Lloyd Wright and Chaco Canyon.

WORLD HERITAGE USA offering two Webinars on April 18 and 27 Learn about new ways to recontextualize monuments of oppression in public spaces around the world. "Controversial Monuments on Retrial" is today, April 18, at 3:00 pm ET. Register here. This free Facebook livestream is offered by World Heritage USA in collaboration with The Alliance for the Restoration of Cultural Heritage (ARCH International), and the staff of Memento Park in Budapest, Hungary. Click here to learn more about the Monuments Toolkit program.

On Thursday, April 27, World Heritage USA presents the “Heritage as Driver of Climate Action” webinar at 12:00 pm ET. Register here to learn of indigenous knowledge safeguards cultural landscapes and how the preservation of historic sites increasingly requires the implementation of climate mitigation strategies. Click here for more information on World Heritage USA and links to other programs.

In addition to support from Georgia State University, this project is funded in part by: The African American Civil Rights program of the Historic Preservation Fund, National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not constitute endorsement or necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior or U.S. Government. Additional funding from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Questions? Comments?  Visit: worldheritage.gsu.edu. Project Director Glenn T. Eskew: gteskew@gsu.edu or 404.413.6354 Project Manager Anne H. Farrisee: afarrisee@gsu.edu or 404.413.6353