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Every two years, the World Monuments Fund (WMF) displays a list of historic sites that face major challenges. This “Watch List” is part of an advocacy initiative to safeguard sites culturally threatened by threats such as climate change, tourism, conflict, and natural disasters. The 2025 list includes 25 places in 29 countries, adding two in the United States.
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Maine’s iconic lighthouses, which have guided mariners along the state’s rugged coastline for centuries, have been included this year. These structures are increasingly imperiled by climate change, with the Gulf of Maine warming three times faster than the global average. Rising sea levels and intensified storm surges pose a grave risk to lighthouses purposefully built on low-lying peninsulas and islands. The inclusion of these treasured landmarks highlights the broader challenges facing coastal heritage worldwide.
Another gateway to the US is the North Carolina Great Trade Route, also known as the Occaneechi Route. This historic route was once an important address for trade, cultural exchange, and connections between Native communities in the southeastern United States. Today, the route remains a cornerstone. of the cultural identity of their descendants. However, the limited popularity of its former significance and the inadequate inclusion of Indigenous voices in preservation efforts make the site vulnerable. WMF’s focus on the trail highlights the desire to maintain historic trails for connections between communities and their ancestral lands.
Since its inception just 30 years ago, the WMF has allocated more than $120 million to protect approximately 350 watchlist sites. The organization is leveraging the list to help communities secure another $300 million in external funding. For Watch 2025, the WMF received more than two hundred nominations.
Discover the full Watch 2025 sites here.
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