The National Trust for Historic Preservation is accepting nominations for the 2005 America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list until January 19, 2005. Each year.... The National Trust for Historic Preservation is accepting nominations for the 2005 America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list until January 19, 2005. Each year, the National Trust issues this list to identify and raise awareness of historic sites at risk from neglect, deterioration, lack of maintenance, insufficient funds, inappropriate development or insensitive public policy. Since 1988, the list has been one of the most successful tools in the fight to save America's irreplaceable architectural, cultural, and natural heritage. The 2005 list will be announced in May.

Among the many sites that have been listed are the tobacco barns of Southern Maryland, Vieux Carré in New Orleans, Ellis Island in New York Harbor, the Kennecott Copper Mines in Alaska, the Bethlehem Steel Plant in Pennsylvania, and the village of East Aurora, New York. Each represents preservation challenges facing thousands of communities.

To ensure that the most threatened sites are chosen, the National Trust uses three primary criteria to determine the 11 finalists: significance, urgency, and potential solutions. For more information about the application process and to download the application, visit the web site or call 202-588-6141. Completed nominations must be postmarked by January 19, 2005.