America's 11 most endangered historic places

One of the United States' most famous natural wonders, the Grand Canyon is on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 2015 list of <a href="http://www.preservationnation.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank">America's 11 most endangered historic places</a>. The trust says<a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-grand-canyon-20140706-story.html#page=1" target="_blank" target="_blank"> the proposed Escalade tourist development</a> includes an aerial tramway that would transport 10,000 visitors a day to the site where the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers meet, a site that is sacred to several American Indian tribes. Park officials and the Navajo, who are leading the development, disagree about where each side has jurisdiction in the area.

The Grand Canyon, Arizona —

One of the United States' most famous natural wonders, the Grand Canyon is on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 2015 list of America's 11 most endangered historic places. The trust says the proposed Escalade tourist development includes an aerial tramway that would transport 10,000 visitors a day to the site where the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers meet, a site that is sacred to several American Indian tribes. Park officials and the Navajo, who are leading the development, disagree about where each side has jurisdiction in the area.

Alan English

<a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article17795366.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">Miami's Little Havana</a> neighborhood, the heart of the city's post-Castro Cuban immigrant population, is now a mix of Latin American cultures. But the neighborhood could be altered by zoning changes and a lack of protection for many important buildings.

Little Havana, Miami —

Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, the heart of the city's post-Castro Cuban immigrant population, is now a mix of Latin American cultures. But the neighborhood could be altered by zoning changes and a lack of protection for many important buildings.

National Trust for Historic Preservation

A.G. Gaston Motel, Birmingham, Alabama —

The A.G. Gaston Motel in Birmingham, Alabama, which was built to welcome African-American guests during segregation, once hosted Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders. It's now vacant and in need of serious repair, and the city wants to make a restored structure part of an urban renewal plan for the area.

City of Birmingham

The Factory, West Hollywood, California —

Built in 1929 to house a camera company, the Factory in West Hollywood, California, became most famous in 1974 when it opened as Studio One, a gay disco. The venue featured celebrity performers and became a hub of AIDS activism. A new development threatens to demolish the historic site.

Hunter Kerhart

Before the city of Carrollton was annexed by New Orleans in 1874, <a href="http://www.nola.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2015/05/whats_the_future_for_the_carro.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">the Carrollton Courthouse</a> served Jefferson Parish. Later used as a school building, it is a significant landmark -- but sits vacant and for sale, with no protection to preserve its character.

Carrollton Courthouse, New Orleans —

Before the city of Carrollton was annexed by New Orleans in 1874, the Carrollton Courthouse served Jefferson Parish. Later used as a school building, it is a significant landmark -- but sits vacant and for sale, with no protection to preserve its character.

National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Chautauqua Amphitheater, Chautauqua, New York —

A beloved National Historic Landmark that has welcomed spectators for well over 100 years, the "Amp" is threatened by the Chautauqua Institution's plans to demolish it. A vote on the plan has been delayed from February to August.

Dick Jensen

Though the <a href="http://www.fortworthstockyards.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Fort Worth Stockyards</a> has real cowboys, real cattle and lots of visitors who want to experience the American livestock industry and shop and dine there, the trust says<a href="http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article20989791.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"> a $175 million redevelopment project</a> would alter the district's character.

Fort Worth Stockyards, Fort Worth, Texas —

Though the Fort Worth Stockyards has real cowboys, real cattle and lots of visitors who want to experience the American livestock industry and shop and dine there, the trust says a $175 million redevelopment project would alter the district's character.

National Trust for Historic Preservation

East Point Historic Civic Block, East Point, Georgia —

The heart of downtown East Point since the 1930s, the East Point Historic Civic Block includes a city hall, library, auditorium and park that form a contiguous block that may be lost by neglect. The East Point Preservation Alliance is fighting to preserve the block and has convinced state preservation officials to list it on the Georgia Trust's "Places in Peril" list.

Halston Pitman

Oak Flat, Superior, Arizona —

A site sacred to the San Carlos Apache and other Native American nations, Oak Flat had been protected for decades until last year. Members of Congress tucked a land swap into the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015 that gives Resolution Copper Mining 2,400 acres of copper-filled land in exchange for the U.S. Forest Service getting 5,300 acres of the company's private land elsewhere. Though Resolution Copper is expected to start construction on the site by mid-2020, the San Carlos Apache have been protesting there to stop the plans.

Kevin Cassadore

Old U.S. Mint, San Francisco —

Constructed in 1874, the Old U.S. Mint is one of a few buildings in San Francisco to survive the devastating 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire. It's a National Historic Landmark, and the federal government transferred ownership of the building to the city in 2003, but a nonprofit failed in its 11-year effort to develop a history museum at the site. The mint's historic structure is at risk due to neglect.

Sanfranman59

Home of Manhattan's early maritime industry, the <a href="http://www.southstreetseaport.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">South Street Seaport</a> today features shops, dining and events tucked into some of the city's finest historic architecture.<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/17/nyregion/despite-blandishments-south-street-seaport-redevelopment-plans-stall-over-a-high-rise.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"> But local preservation groups are fighting a tower</a> and other development proposals that would change the neighborhood's character.

South Street Seaport, New York —

Home of Manhattan's early maritime industry, the South Street Seaport today features shops, dining and events tucked into some of the city's finest historic architecture. But local preservation groups are fighting a tower and other development proposals that would change the neighborhood's character.

Library of Congress

Story highlights

The 2015 list includes spots affected by natural resource extraction

Urbanization may be squeezing out some historic spots

Other sites are important to the nation's immigrant, LGBT and civil rights movements

CNN —

The Grand Canyon, a “war room” of the civil rights movement, the Factory gay disco and Miami’s Little Havana have all been named “endangered” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The trust’s 28th annual list of America’s 11 most endangered historic places highlights some of the nation’s most important natural, cultural and architectural places and structures at risk of destruction due to neglect, development or other causes.

“This year’s list is our most diverse ever, and reflects our commitment to recognizing and preserving all the facets of our diverse history,” said Stephanie Meeks, president and CEO of the nonprofit trust.

“From the LGBTQ history of the Factory in California to the Cuban-American heritage of Miami’s Little Havana to the civil rights legacy of the A.G. Gaston Motel in Birmingham, these sites tell American stories that have been overlooked for too long.”

More than 260 significant sites have been listed as endangered since the list was launched in 1988, and just 12 sites have been lost through 2014, Meeks said. “The list is a great tool for shining a spotlight on places of significant architecture or historical importance.”

Though nominations can come from anyone, Meeks said it helps if nominees have local organizations able to use the national spotlight to explain the value of their sites. Trust employees pick the final list, looking for national significance, the urgency of the threat and the likelihood of success in preserving the site.

Here are the 11 most endangered places for 2015 (in alphabetical order):

1. A.G. Gaston Motel, Birmingham, Alabama

2. Carrollton Courthouse, New Orleans

3. Chautauqua Amphitheater, Chautauqua, New York

4. East Point Historic Civic Block, East Point, Georgia

5. Fort Worth Stockyards, Fort Worth, Texas

6. The Grand Canyon, Arizona

7. Little Havana, Miami

8. Oak Flat, Superior, Arizona

9. Old U.S. Mint, San Francisco

10. South Street Seaport, New York

11. The Factory, West Hollywood, California