Preservation North Dakota, the state's private, non-profit, grassroots coalition for historic preservation, is seeking nominations for its annual "3 Most Endangered Places” list. The Most Endangered List is intended to draw public attention to irreplaceable historic, architectural, cultural, and archaeological resources in North Dakota that are in imminent danger of being lost. The list also sparks debate about cultural and architectural heritage preservation and sometimes attracts a new owner or developer to a historic site in desperate need of a new and creative solution. Preservation North Dakota works throughout the year to develop programs to raise public awareness about the plight of historic prairie churches, school buildings, rural farm sites, historic barns, storefronts, and other buildings to develop possible preservation solutions to save and re-use them.

To qualify for the “3 Most Endangered Places” list, a site must be a resource having historical, architectural, or cultural significance that is in danger of demolition, substantial alteration, or deterioration through neglect or vandalism. Places selected normally have local grassroots supporters trying to preserve them.

Preservation North Dakota initiated its "3 Most Endangered Places” list in the spring of 2000. Past sites listed as Most Endangered Places include: Backhaus Farm-site, rural Emmons County; Old Main, MSU-Bottineau Campus; Pleasant Valley Church, rural Park River; Coghlan Castle near St. John in Rolette County; Hutmacher Farmstead near Manning in Dunn County; and the Plaza Community Museum, Plaza, ND. Four statewide listings include: historic bridges of ND, historic city halls, barns of ND, and North Dakota grain elevators.

Preservation North Dakota also presents its annual success story award for historic preservation at the same event. Past recipients have been: Historic Webster School Restoration in Webster, Brick Studio in Minot and the NDSU Downtown Art and Architecture Building in Fargo.

Nominations may be submitted to Preservation North Dakota using our online forms at www.prairieplaces.org. The deadline is April 3, 2009, and the list will be announced at the annual North Dakota Historic Preservation Conference held May 1-3, 2009 in Bismarck, ND.