A major preservation group has warned that Latino heritage landmarks across the United States are in danger of disappearing forever. The newly published “Endangered Latinx Landmarks” list highlights 13 historic and cultural sites facing threats ranging from neglect to gentrification. The announcement coincides with Hispanic Heritage Month and comes amid Donald Trump’s drastic plans to slash federal preservation funding.
Historic Landmarks in Peril
Latinos in Heritage Conservation, a leading preservation group, has released its first study naming 13 endangered sites. These include historic neighborhoods, churches, cemeteries, street markets, and wall art. Many have suffered from years of disrepair due to a lack of resources and are now at risk of vanishing entirely. According to the group, such landmarks have been “left outside of the mainstream narratives of preservation.”
Silver Platter’s Legacy
Among the featured sites is the Silver Platter, a Los Angeles bar established in 1963 that became a safe space for Latinx LGBTQ+ communities. The group described it as “a site of activism, mutual aid and survival through decades of homophobia, transphobia and white-dominated gay spaces.” However, redevelopment pressures, discriminatory preservation standards, rising rents, and immigration enforcement now endanger its future.
Federal Funding Cuts
The warning comes during Donald Trump’s second presidency. His proposed 2026 budget slashes the federal Historic Preservation Fund from $169 million to only $11 million. Such drastic reductions, preservationists argue, would devastate efforts to save endangered sites across the nation. The Latino heritage group warns that without immediate action, many of these culturally significant places may not survive.
Overlooked Heritage Struggles
Sehila Mota Casper, the executive director of Latinos in Heritage Conservation, emphasized the neglect of Latino landmarks. “These stories are incredible, and yet they are at risk of being erased,” she said. She added that these places hold “generations of memory” but are too often “demolished, neglected, or left outside of the mainstream narratives of preservation.”
Urgent Call to Action
According to Mota Casper, the list is more than a warning; it is a direct appeal for recognition and support. She stressed, “The places on our list are sacred and significant, holding generations of memory. Too often, however, they are demolished, neglected, or left outside of the mainstream narratives of preservation.” She called for these sites to be treated “with the same urgency and respect as any other part of our shared history.”
Nationwide Assessment
A commission of preservationists, historians, and community leaders reviewed nearly 30 nominations before finalizing the 13 endangered sites. These included locations across the continental United States and Puerto Rico. The group pointed out that “across the country, cities have overlooked the value of these sites and the stories they carry,” noting that Latinx heritage has never been prioritized in federal preservation efforts.
Cultural Identity at Stake
The organization warns that losing these landmarks would erase vital chapters of American history and Latinx identity. “We see it in the way resources are distributed, in which buildings are rehabilitated, and in which sites are celebrated by local and federal officials. The data makes it clear: Latinx heritage has not been prioritized,” Mota Casper said.