Idaho Heritage Trust Incorporated

The Idaho Heritage Trust needs your help as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).  The Act has transformed the face of communities all across Idaho and America as it established the standards and incentives to preserve historic buildings, landscapes, and archaeology. 

The legacy of our physical buildings, landscapes, and artifacts are an important part of Idaho's history.  They draw people in and give them a literal way of touching and connecting with our memories, our stories, and our past.  Understanding the past and it's connection with the present helps us understand who we are and what is important to us as a collective society, as Idahoans.   

Community leaders devoted to historic preservation founded the Idaho Heritage Trust to preserve our legacy inherited from past generations and bestowed for the benefit of our children and grandchildren.

We provide restoration assistance and brick and mortar grants to organizations working to restore the historic buildings, artifacts, and collections important to their communities.  We have helped support projects in every county, with almost 60% of our assistance to Idaho’s rural communities, where most of our state’s earliest history remains intact.  The funds we grant are generally $1000 to $5000 but have been as high as $15,000.  They are matched dollar for dollar by the recipient.  The projects themselves are essential repairs and modest preservation needs such as stabilizing foundations, roofing, repointing and repairing stone, addressing site drainage problems, restoring wood and stained glass windows, digitizing critical records, conserving artifacts, restoring paintings and photographs, and radio-carbon dating archaeological artifacts.  

Each year the needs and requests from communities grow larger. There are very few options for brick and mortar type funding available. It is only by working together with community leaders, volunteers, and donors, that we can preserve Idaho’s historic buildings, landscape, and artifacts for our future generations.

Please join us as a partner in our mission.  Any pledge you make will be matched dollar-for-dollar.  Special recognition will be given for your contribution.   Thank you!