The American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society was created in 1895 as New York’s first organized preservation lobby. The Society operated as a national organization to protect the natural scenery and the preservation of historic landmarks; to preserve landmarks and records of the past or present; to erect memorials and promote appreciation of the scenic beauty of America. There is no information about when the Society dissolved but there are no records of their activities after 1979.

Projects

The Society's primary purpose was to protect historic and/or scenic sites. In many cases, it acted as custodian for these properties, purchasing them, providing maintenance, and keeping them open to the public. Examples include: * Battle Island Park * Fort Brewerton *

Hamilton Grange Hamilton Grange National Memorial, also known as The Grange or the Hamilton Grange Mansion, is a National Park Service site in St. Nicholas Park, Manhattan, New York City, that preserves the relocated home of U.S. Founding Father Alexander Hamil ...

* John Boyd Thacher Park * John William Draper Memorial Park, Hastings-on-Hudson * Letchworth Park *

Philipse Manor Hall Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site is a historic house museum located in the Getty Square neighborhood of Yonkers, New York. Originally the family seat of Philipse Manor, it is Westchester County's second oldest standing building after th ...

* Stony Point Battlefield Reservation * Watkins Glen

Awards

The Society had responsibility for selecting the recipients of a number of Awards, the most prestigious being the

Pugsley Medal The Pugsley Medal was created by Cornelius Amory Pugsley in 1928. The award honors champions of parks and conservation. Responsibility for selecting the recipients has shifted from the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society to the Na ...

, created by

Cornelius Amory Pugsley Cornelius Amory Pugsley Sr. (July 17, 1850 – September 10, 1936) was the Democratic Congressman from New York's 16th congressional district from 1901 to 1903. He was also President of the New York State Bankers Association in 1913. He crea ...

in 1928. The award honors champions of parks and conservation. After the dissolution of the Society, the Pugsley Medal was awarded by the

National Park Foundation The National Park Foundation (NPF) is the official charity of the National Park Service (NPS) and its national park sites. The NPF was chartered by Congress in 1967 with a charge to "further the conservation of natural, scenic, historic, scientif ...

. In recent years, the Award has been presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration.

Officers

* 1895–1904

Andrew Haswell Green Andrew Haswell Green (October 6, 1820 – November 13, 1903) was a lawyer, New York City planner, and civic leader. He is considered "the Father of Greater New York," and is responsible for Central Park, the New York Public Library, the Bronx ...

* 1905–1906 Walter Seth Logan * 1907–1926

George Frederick Kunz George Frederick Kunz (September 29, 1856 – June 29, 1932) was an American mineralogist and mineral collector. Biography Kunz was born in Manhattan, New York City, USA, and began an interest in minerals at a very young age. By his teens, ...

* 1934–1940 LeRoy Elwood Kimball * 1941

Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757July 12, 1804) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first United States secretary of the treasury from 1789 to 1795. Born out of wedlock in Charlest ...

* 1942–1950 George McAneny * 1951–1965

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society 1895 establishments in New York City 1979 disestablishments in New York (state) Organizations established in 1895 Organizations disestablished in 1979 Historic preservation organizations in the United States Conservation and restoration organizations Historical societies in New York City