250+ Alabama Historic Places

Places in Peril is an annual program that highlights significant endangered properties and brings public awareness of impending threats to these significant historic places. Since 1994, the Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation have joined forces to sponsor Places in Peril. Over the course of 27 years, the program has highlighted more than 250 historic places.

“Places in Peril is an immensely valuable program to elevate and streamline preservation efforts for sites across our state that are under the threat of demolition or deterioration. These campaigns have been successful in saving cherished places for future generations.”
Lisa D. Jones, Executive Director, Alabama Historical Commission and State Historic Preservation Officer

Any type of man-made building, site, or structure is eligible for nomination.

Here are the kinds of places the program has listed over the years:

Theaters
Schools
Caves
Jails
Churches
Cemeteries
Homes

Success Story

A good example of the power of the “Places in Peril” list is the Historic “Pink House” in Homewood, Alabama. The 2019 Places in Peril list brought attention to the imperiled home located in the town’s Edgewood neighborhood. The community rallied to preserve the special place, eventually finding new owners who were able to save the place.

How to Apply

The Places in Peril application requires brief answers to a handful of questions regarding a property’s significance and the threat it faces. A local contact or advocacy group with the capacity to leverage the support and coverage provided by the listing must be designated on the application. Property owner permission is required, and current, good quality photographs must be submitted with the application.

Nomination forms are located on the Places in Peril page on the Alabama Historical Commission’s website: https://ahc.alabama.gov/placesinperil.aspx

The 2022 list will be published in Alabama Heritage Magazine. For questions about Places in Peril and how to nominate a property, contact Hannah Garmon at 334.230.2644 or Hannah.Garmon@ahc.alabama.gov

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