October 13, 2015: Executive Director of the World Heritage Coalition, Brittany Lavelle Tulla, joined us as guest speaker. Brittany is an architectural historian, adjunct professor at the College of Charleston and has UNESCO world heritage site experience.
There are 23 World Heritage sites in United States. Sites such as the Alamo, Statue of Liberty, Paris, Havanna, Galapagos Islands are all included on the list. World Heritage sites are historically or culturally significant to all of humanity, world history, and cultures.
History: WWII UNESCO developed a list of sites considered endangered and special to humanity. In 1970, World Heritage site classification was established.
New sites are voted on once a year. There are currently 1031 sites across the world. They can be natural sites or cultural sites.
In 2007, the City of Charleston developed the Preservation Plan. The City outlined goals to nominate Charleston for designation as World Heritage site.
In 2012 Charleston World Heritage Coalition was established. Charleston has global significance. The Advisory council meets once a month to discuss Charleston’s national and global significance. Charleston, which was once the 4th largest city in United States, has retained its historical setting more than any other city.
The global significance of Charleston also needs to be further studied. The importance of African / slave trade in building Charleston is significant. Cultures still represented in the buildings in the city. Charleston World Heritage Coalition invited world historians to the city for a symposium….they agreed it was worthy of the designation. Relationship between the natural sites (cotton plantations and agricultural areas) and urban sites (buildings downtown) is what is unlike any other place. The Charleston World Heritage Coalition is working with National Park Service to put together the nomination.
Questions:
Are there plans for a specific museum? No, not really. Probably sites will all be marketed for tourism, etc.
How long does it take after National Park site? Only nominates once every10 years…2016 will develop a ““tentative” list for one year prior to main presentation.
Any other cities in US? Have been in the past. Savannah & Newport have tried it. Currently none in US. Alamo started in 2006…. Actually San Antonio Missions are what is World Heritage site.
— Steve Coe, Keyway Committee