Earlier this summer, the National Trust for Historic Preservation unveiled its 2023 list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, an annual ranking that spotlights significant sites of American history that are at risk of destruction or irreparable damage. “This year's list of the nation's most endangered historic places is a portfolio of sites that are nearly as diverse as the American experience itself,” said Jay Clemens, interim president and CEO of the National Trust. “The places on this list come in all forms, from individual residences to entire neighborhoods, and are located across the country from small communities to urban streetcorners and rural landscapes. The diversity of sites on the 2023 list—and the stories behind them—reflect the complexities and challenges that have always been part of what it means to be American but have not always received the attention they deserve. Losing any of them would diminish us all.” Since first debuting in 1988, the list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places has proven to be a highly effective tool for shining a light on the threats facing our nation's greatest treasures. Due to the efforts of the National Trust and our passionate supporters, the 11 Most list has often provided the decisive force needed to preserve important cultural landmarks. Now in its 36th year, the ongoing initiative has galvanized public support behind more than 350 sites across the country with only a handful lost. Below are the 11 places that make up the list for 2023, sorted alphabetically by state. Osterman Gas Station, Peach Springs, Arizona Built in 1929, the Osterman Gas Station along Route 66 has been a focal point of the Hualapai Tribal community for generations. Extreme weather has damaged the already deteriorated building, and it needs stabilization and rehabilitation in order to continue to serve its community and the next generation of travelers. In consultation with experts, the Tribe is developing a preservation and reuse plan and raising funds to save the Hualapai-owned gas station. Little Santo Domingo, Miami, Florida Aerial view of Miami, Florida by Ashley Satanosky - Unsplash Little Santo Domingo, the cultural heart of Allapattah, is a key commercial corridor in one of Miami's oldest neighborhoods. Growing development interest in Little Santo Domingo is leading to displacement, demolition, and rising rents. The Allapattah Collaborative hopes to encourage a more balanced approach to development and preservation while protecting the neighborhood's heritage and culture. Pierce Chapel African Cemetery, Midland, Georgia Pierce Chapel African Cemetery, established circa 1828, is one of the oldest burial grounds for Africans enslaved at several plantations in Harris County, Georgia, and their descendants. However, the cemetery has deteriorated over time and suffered damage due to recent use of heavy construction equipment. The descendant-led Hamilton Hood Foundation is leading efforts to raise awareness about this significant place and preserve Pierce Chapel and its stories for future generations. Century and Consumers Buildings, Chicago, Illinois View of the Chicago skyline by Dylan Lapierre - Unsplash As two iconic early skyscrapers along Chicago's historic State Street, the Century and Consumers Buildings contribute to the architectural significance of the area known as “the Loop.” Yet they have sat vacant since the General Services Administration bought them in 2005 and are now being considered for demolition. Advocates are urging reuse options that could meet security needs of the adjacent federal courthouse while avoiding the buildings' wasteful demolition. West Bank of St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana This 11-mile stretch along the Mississippi River in St. John the Baptist Parish includes historic villages, agricultural fields, and two plantations where the lives of enslaved people are studied and interpreted. But now port facility Greenfield Louisiana LLC has applied to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a permit to build one of the largest grain elevators in the world amid the area's nationally significant cultural resources. A coalition of local and national advocates, including many descendants of people enslaved in the area, is advocating for the Army Corps to deny the permit or for the developer not to build the terminal. Holy Aid and Comfort Spiritual Church (aka Perseverance Benevolent and Mutual Aid Society Hall), New Orleans, Louisiana Built circa 1880 in New Orleans' 7th Ward, this building was first home to the Perseverance Benevolent and Mutual Aid Society, with its main hall doubling as a jazz venue, and later, the Holy Aid and Comfort Spiritual Church of Eternal Life. Impacted by repeated hurricane damage, the remaining portions of the building are threatened with collapse. Working in partnership, the pastor and congregation of Holy Aid and Comfort and the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans are seeking funding and support to stabilize the remaining historic fabric and reconstruct the rest of the building for congregational and community use. L.V. Hull Home and Studio, Kosciusko, Mississippi African American artist L.V. Hull transformed her Kosciusko, Mississippi, home into a creative wonderland that attracted visitors from around the world. Though her artwork was relocated after her death in 2008 and recently conserved by the Kohler Foundation, her unoccupied house suffers from neglect, vandalism, and weather exposure. Filmmaker and Hull's friend Yaphet Smith has purchased the house and is partnering with other advocates with a vision to create an arts campus celebrating Hull's legacy. However, they need partners and funding to restore and revive the home as the heart of this broader project, where it will tell a unique, overlooked story of a Black woman in the South who claimed a space to pursue her full artistic vision. Henry Ossawa Tanner House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Built in 1871, this North Philadelphia rowhouse was home to Henry Ossawa Tanner, an internationally recognized African American painter, along with many other Tanner family members with significant achievements. But gentrification is putting the neighborhood's Black cultural legacy and heritage landmarks such as the Tanner House—already seriously deteriorated—at risk of demolition or erasure. The Friends of the Tanner House and its partners are creating a long-term stewardship plan to reimagine the house's future. Philadelphia Chinatown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Storefront in Philadelphia's Chinatown by Ryan Favinger - Unsplash As one of the oldest remaining active Chinatowns in the United States, Philadelphia Chinatown has been a vibrant community since 1871. But with the 76ers basketball team proposing to build an arena abutting Chinatown, advocates—including the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation—are concerned that the development could further disconnect the neighborhood, discourage visitors, impact the local economy, displace residents and businesses, and ultimately contribute to the erasure of the area's cultural heritage. Neighborhood residents and leaders are encouraging arena supporters to listen to and invest in protecting the Chinatown community as they consider their options. Charleston's Historic Neighborhoods, Charleston, South Carolina Union Pier, a 65-acre waterfront site along the Cooper River in downtown Charleston, is former marshland that has been used for maritime shipping, industrial production, and port operations since the early 18th century. The pier's current owner, South Carolina Ports Authority, has proposed selling the land to a private developer for a new mixed-use district that could threaten the area's historic character, viewsheds, and climate resilience. Advocates and residents are encouraging the city government to start with a community-led vision for the site before the formal review of a specific development plan. Seattle Chinatown-International District, Seattle, Washington Storefront in the Chinatown-International District in Seattle by Jimmy Woo - Unsplash As one of the oldest Asian American neighborhoods on the West Coast, the Seattle Chinatown-International District (CID) has been a center of the city's Asian American life for more than a century. However, Seattle's Sound Transit is considering several transit expansion options that could impact transportation access and cultural preservation in the CID. Transit Equity for All, the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Wing Luke Museum are part of a coalition advocating for a more transparent, equitable process that reflects careful decision-making, centers the voices of the CID, keeps the community connected to transit, and protects the neighborhood's vitality and cultural heritage for future generations. —To learn more about the places on this year's list and find out what you can do to help preserve them, go to www.SavingPlaces.org/11Most.
Best travel date predictions for the 2023 Holiday Travel Season, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Nearly 43% of American adults planned to travel to a vacation destination or holiday gathering last year. With travel fully recovered, the 2023 holiday season is looking to be extremely busy, with many people flying for the first time in a few years. There are a limited number of flights available for Christmas and New Year’s, so it is important to book as early as possible for the best prices (ideally you have already booked your holiday travel). Additionally, some days are much better than others to fly when it comes to crowds and cost. How Far in Advance to Book Holiday Travel Ideally, you should book your Thanksgiving and Christmas flights many months in advance. As a rule, we suggest booking domestic flights at least one to three months in advance. For international flights, you should book at least two to eight months in advance, but the earlier the better. For the holidays, you should book even earlier if possible to guarantee a desirable route, time, seat, and price. Here are our recommended cutoff dates for booking Thanksgiving and December flights for the 2023 holiday season. Thanksgiving (book before Halloween) I recommend booking your Thanksgiving flight by late August or early September for the best price. If possible, book in June or July. Book international flights even earlier. If you wait too long, you should aim to book by Halloween at the latest. While it is possible to get a decent deal after Halloween, your chances dramatically decrease. Your odds of finding a desirable flight time also go down when booking after Halloween. Here is a ranking of our recommended times. June, July, and August – Best combination of inventory and cheap pricesEarly through Middle September – Still a great timeEarly October – Deals are still available but desirable flights may be limitedHalloween – Book Thanksgiving flights by Halloween at the latestNovember – High prices and poor flights (connections, middle seats, bad times, etc.) Christmas (book before Thanksgiving) The best deals on Christmas flights are usually available through late August and early September. If possible, book even earlier in June or July. At the latest, you should book by Thanksgiving, but the earlier the better. If it is December and you still do not have a flight, you should expect to pay a premium. Additionally, you will likely only have undesirable flight times to choose from with the potential for one or more connections. Here is a ranking of our recommended booking times. June, July, and August – Best combination of inventory and cheap pricesEarly through Middle September – Still a great timeEarly October – Google’s recommendation. Cheap prices but lower inventoryThanksgiving – Book Christmas flights by Thanksgiving at the latestDecember – High prices and poor flights (connections, middle seats, bad times, etc.) Best & Worst Days to Fly for the Holidays Being on a Thursday every year, the best and worst days to fly for Thanksgiving are predictable. Christmas is a little more difficult since it does not fall on the same day of the week every year. Here are the days you should target and the days you should avoid this holiday season. To come up with our best and worst dates forecast, we sampled hundreds of flight prices around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our sample included numerous departure and arrival cities around the United States. Thanksgiving (best departure and return dates) More than 43% of American adults intended to travel to a vacation destination or holiday gathering last year. That means tens of millions of people fought over seats for a very limited number of flights. Best Thanksgiving Travel Dates for 2023 BEST DEPARTURE DATES: Monday, November 20, Tuesday, November 21 & Thursday, November 23 (Thanksgiving Day) BEST RETURN DATES: Friday, November 24 (Black Friday), Monday, November 27 & Tuesday, November 28 You want to depart early during the week. If possible, Sunday is even better than Monday. While not ideal, Thanksgiving Day is a great day to fly. Black Friday is also a good day to fly if you can swing a shorter trip. Most people return home the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so aim to fly back on the Friday or Monday after Turkey Day. If you can wait another day, Tuesday is even better than Monday. Worst Thanksgiving Travel Dates for 2023 WORST DEPARTURE DATE: Wednesday, November 22 WORST RETURN DATE: Sunday, November 26 Avoid the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at all costs. It is one of the most popular days of the year to fly, and it is expensive. Additionally, airports are always packed, so it is an extra stressful experience. Avoid the Sunday after Thanksgiving for your return flight. Most people fly that day to get home before the workweek. I recommend flying home on Friday or Monday or Tuesday. Christmas (best departure and return dates) Nearly 43% of American adults plan to travel to a vacation destination or gathering. Since Christmas falls on a different day every year, the best days to fly change. Other things such as school and business closures affect the dates too. Christmas can fall on a weekend (as it did in 2022), which further complicates things. Generally, the worst day to fly for Christmas is December 23, but that is not a hard rule. Best Christmas Travel Dates for 2023 BEST DEPARTURE DATES: Monday, December 18, Tuesday December 19, Wednesday December 20 & Christmas Eve or Christmas Day BEST RETURN DATES: Thursday, December 28 & Friday, December 29 The earlier you depart the week before Christmas the better. Americans will look to get a few days of work in before flying out. If possible, fly on Monday, December 18, or Tuesday, December 19. Sunday, December 17 is even better if you can swing it. Flying on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is ideal for cheaper prices and fewer crowds too, but you may not want to travel on a holiday. Christmas falls on a Monday this year, so many people will fly home the day after. Tuesday, December 26 and Wednesday, December 27 will be popular travel days, so try and wait until Thursday or Friday. Worst Christmas Travel Dates for 2023 WORST DEPARTURE DATES: Thursday, December 21, Friday, December 22 & Saturday, December 23 WORST RETURN DATES: Tuesday, December 26 & Wednesday, December 27 The three days before Christmas Eve, the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, are going to be busy travel days. I recommend avoiding them and departing earlier in the week if you can. Avoid the Tuesday and Wednesday after Christmas for your return flight. Despite being the day after Christmas, many people will fly home on Tuesday or Wednesday so they can return to work for a few days before the weekend. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Travel Tips We recommend flying out for New Year’s on Thursday, December 28 or Friday, December 29. Fly home on Wednesday January 3 or Thursday January 4. While it is not ideal, flying out on the night of New Year’s Eve or the morning of New Year’s Day is generally cheap. Unfortunately, you will probably miss New Year’s Eve activities if you opt for an evening flight. An early New Year’s Day flight is not optimal either unless you can go bed very early on New Year’s Eve. Avoid flying out on Saturday, December 30 and the morning of December 31. Average Holiday Flight Prices for 2023 – Thanksgiving ($300) and Christmas ($400) With September here, flight prices are increasing for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Expect to pay on average $300 for a roundtrip Flight for Thanksgiving. For Christmas, expect to pay on average $400 for a roundtrip flight. Those prices will vary by your destination and dates of travel, so we recommend doing your homework before booking. If possible, travel on our recommended days and avoid the worst days. We’ve found many domestic Thanksgiving and Christmas flights for under $200. We’ve also found various international Thanksgiving and Christmas flights for under $500. Flexibility is the key to finding the absolute cheapest holiday flights. Use the Google Flights Explore map to find the best flight deals from your home airport or city around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Travel is Recovering for the 2023 Holiday Season On most days, hundreds of thousands more travelers are going through TSA checkpoints compared to the same day as last year. For 2023, we expect holiday travel numbers to resemble or surpass 2019, which is the most recent pre-pandemic year. Other Tips For Scoring a Cheap Holiday Flight Deal A few of the major tips may not be applicable with holiday travel (being very flexible on dates and destinations), but other guidelines can help. Here are a few of them. Do: Start With Google FlightsDo: Be Open to Different Nearby Departure and Arrival AirportsDo: Be Open to All AirlinesDo: Be Open to Flights With ConnectionsDon’t: Waste Your Time Clearing CookiesDon’t: Waste Your Time Browsing in Incognito For more travel tips visit the Vacationer.