World Heritage USA

09/03/2026

Today's IEP update comes from Margaret!

Margaret’s internship brought her to New Delhi, India. At the end of her 10-week placement, she was able to present her work on the 2 Year Proposal for the Qutub Saheb ki Baoli in Mehrauli. She is excited to see how this proposal is used in the future for heritage preservation and revitalisation in Mehrauli!

Margaret was also fortunate to be able to see how traditional water systems are being preserved in the Mehrauli Archaeological park, Humayun's Tomb, and The Red Fort complex, as well as take a look at the Qutub Minar World Heritage Site before having a final farewell dinner with the CRCI team.

Margaret shared, “I am so grateful for the experiences I had with this program, the new perspectives on heritage preservation I was exposed to, and the knowledgeable heritage experts that I was able to learn from during my time in India. I am looking forward to how I can apply what I learned this summer to my career in heritage and historic preservation here in the United States!”

09/02/2026

Today's IEP update comes from Jatani!

With the team from NCPTT and Northwest State University, Louisiana, Jatani is conducting survey work on missions of the San Antonio Mission Irrigation System as part of the project “Preserving History Through Engineering: Ongoing Survey of the San Antonio Mission Irrigation System”.

Jatani explains, “We are scanning the historic canals and irrigation structures to support their preservation for future generations. The project focuses on documenting the old acequia system and helping protect its cultural and engineering heritage. Preservation remains the main purpose and driving force of this work.”

Even though his IEP host site is NCPTT in Natchitoches, Louisiana, Jatani spent the first 2-3 weeks of his placement at the San Antonio Missions during the survey, which he described as “a great opportunity and valuable experience”

https://worldheritageusa.org/internship/

08/31/2026

Our next IEP update comes from Aseel!

Aseel is honored to share that she is spending the summer at Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, with The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. World Heritage USA shares Aseel’s gratitude to Modernism Week for their sponsorship.

Throughout the summer, Aseel will have opportunities to engage in preservation documentation, observation, archival research, and hands-on learning with The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, while at one of the world's most significant historic landmarks, Fallingwater.
Aseel shares, “As someone passionate about architectural history, historic preservation, historic houses and architecture, and the relationship between people and place, I can't imagine a more inspiring environment for learning and growth.”

Her first week at the site was filled with exploring, touring, and immersing herself in Fallingwater and its surrounding grounds and facilities. She is truly thrilled to experience the site and to be among a great group of professionals. https://worldheritageusa.org/

08/27/2026

Our first IEP update comes from Eric! Eric is grateful to be spending his summer with the Kosovo Council for Cultural Heritage, documenting Kosovo’s 93 permanently protected cultural heritage assets. This documentation will be used to promote Kosovo’s cultural heritage in the form of a heritage catalog that is also developing during his time there.

Eric writes that “One of the most meaningful lessons from this experience has been realizing that, while there is much to learn from working in different parts of the world, the principles and practices we use to preserve our shared cultural heritage are remarkably similar. I have found that very encouraging.”

Pictured are just a few of the remarkable sites Eric has visited with his team, including the Ethnological Museum of Kosovo, where they were fortunate to receive an impromptu tour from the museum staff.

08/26/2026

The latest episode of The Monumental Project, "The Music of Monuments with Sadie Woods: The Chicago Monuments Response Project, Part 2" is out now! Listen wherever you listen to podcasts.

08/24/2026

It has been a busy summer as another cohort of International Exchange Program participants have traveled to their host sites for the season! In June, the group gathered in Washington, DC for a three-day orientation. You can read about our orientation activities below!

Day 1 began with introductions at SmithGroup with 2022 IEP alumna Allison Huchko of MTFA Design and Preservation, and Luka Nedzbala of our Emerging Professionals Committee and EPWG. This was followed by speakers Jaime Loichinger, Director of the Office of Federal Agency Programs with the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation, and Michelle Prior, Senior Program Officer with the US Department of State’s Cultural Heritage Center/US Ambassador’s Fund. Later in the day, participants visited the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s National Portrait Gallery and the Luce Foundation. In the evening, everyone got to know each other better at a group dinner.

Day 2 started with a special tour of the Capitol Building by Jayashree Shamanna of the Architect of the Capitol’s office, as well as a visit to the Library of Congress. In the afternoon, the group enjoyed a walking tour of DC area architectural conservation projects, led by Amanda Edwards, Senior Architectural Conservator with MTFA Design and Preservation.

Day 3, our final day of orientation, featured a workshop focused on preservation technology with Roy Ingraffia and Mike Mulligan of the International Masonry Institute, as well as Chirstine Reynolds, PE of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. The afternoon included a visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the day was concluded with a meet-and-greet reception on the SmithGroup Terrace, which provided great views of the city.

These orientation activities were a way to create connections between IEP participants, as well as to expand their professional circles and introduce them to leaders in preservation in the US. We are so thankful to all of the professionals who took the time to join us as speakers and tour leaders. If you would like to support the activities of World Heritage USA, get involved! https://worldheritageusa.org/emerging-professionals/epn/

08/20/2026

‼️Thanks to Our Donors: Special $35 Student Tickets Now Available‼️

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and supporters, ICOMOS-USA is making our October 2 Celebration in Boston more accessible to students and nonprofit professionals.

Join us at The Liberty Hotel for Shared Heritage, Shared Future, featuring keynote speaker HRH Princess Dana Firas, a global leader in cultural heritage preservation and longtime advocate for the protection of Petra.

Special ticket opportunities include:

Students: $35 — reduced from the $550 general admission price

Nonprofit professionals: Half-price tickets available

These special rates are made possible by our generous donors and reflect our commitment to bringing more students, emerging professionals, and nonprofit colleagues into the conversation about the future of heritage.

October 2, 2026 | The Liberty Hotel | Boston

https://usicomos.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F48882

08/19/2026

Read the latest blog post from the Monuments Toolkit, "What if Odysseus Had a Monuments in America?" at https://worldheritageusa.org/what-if-odysseus-had-a-monument-in-america/

08/13/2026

International heritage leader and Vice President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Arab States Regional Group to headline the October 2 celebration in Boston. Tickets available now!
Read more:

International heritage leader and Vice President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Arab States Regional Group to headline October 2 celebration in Boston BOSTON, Mass. — ICOMOS-USA is honored to announce that Her Royal Highness Princess Dana Firas of Jordan will deliver...

08/12/2026

The Monumental Project returns today with its fifth season. Listen to “Monuments as Healing Spaces with Sonja Henderson: The Chicago Monuments Response Project, Part 1” at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1949299/episodes/19593721.