ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the emergence of the American preservation movement in the context of the similar movements in Europe. Europeans pursued both national origin stories and regional heritage, in which the regional might be refracted through national identity, but often started with deep local rootedness that could be at odds with nationalism. The European story varied from country to country, and NGOs arose both to advocate for and to supplement governmental action. In the UK, vocal and strong private organizations, such as the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings, represented a common Anglo-American tradition of privatism. National identity could be fostered not only through grand narratives but also through the non-narrative vehicle of folk culture, and preservation could contribute through attention to domestic and vernacular structures. The French Revolution turned royal properties into public assets, leading to the first serious attempt at a comprehensive listing of heritage properties for the purpose of managing them.
