The Monumental Project

As this year comes to a close, we would like to take the opportunity to reflect on some of the highlights of The Monumental Project.  We have 8 exceptional episodes under our belt, speaking to people from all over the country on a variety of different topics inside the umbrella of cultural heritage and monuments of oppression.  We can't wait to see what 2023 brings! Tune in next year as we si...

When it comes to cultural roots, the west coast is rich with relevance for so many groups of people. One group in particular is Native Americans. New Mexico is no different, with 23 Native American tribes that are federally recognized in the state. Native American history is celebrated today in museums, the arts, festivals and many other forms of cultural significance.  However, one controversial...

US/ICOMOS prides itself on connecting with outstanding leaders in the field of historic preservation and racial justice. Collaboration is a central value to the Monuments Toolkit, and we believe that the more we learn, the better we can serve the American people and our listeners around the world! A prime example of this comes this month, as we spoke with Bonnie McDonald from Landmarks Illinois. ...

Up to this point, the Monuments Toolkit has sat down with leaders in the academic community, activism community and even politics to gather different approaches to the conversation around monuments of oppression. This month we’ll be speaking to an organization in the artistic community for a different point of view.  To many, these monuments are nothing more than representations of dark times in o...

While there are countless examples of controversial monuments around the country, very few have garnered the attention that Richmond has created with Monument Avenue, a fourteen-block-long, tree-lined residential boulevard cutting across central Richmond The reason for its controversy? Well for over 100 years, the street was riddled with Confederate monuments. Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, M...

After the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, citizens of Richmond, Virginia took to the streets to address their problematic statues of confederate figures. Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, J.E.B. Stuart, Matthew Fontaine and later Robert E. Lee all came down, some from the hands of protesters themselves. To many individuals in Richmond and spectators around the world, this was a wake-u...

“We've all seen videos of citizens around the country taking matters into their own hands when it comes to monuments of oppression. However, rarely do we hear from these individuals and the communities or organizations they represent.  Additionally, what is the history of altering monuments?  Is this a new phenomenon, or is this just the latest iteration of a common response to changing times...

Here at US/ICOMOS we are intentional about highlighting the current events and statues that are filling the cultural preservation discourse of today. It is our role to provide listeners with stories and narratives that show them what is really happening with monuments of oppression. This won’t stop for as long as we’re around.  However, we also understand that there are amazing nonprofits and comm...

What does US/ICOMOS even mean? What exactly are we saying when we say “monuments of oppression”? What is re-contextualization? Knowing these answers are crucial for joining us on this experience. Think of these questions as a compass rose, providing the cardinal directions for the journey ahead. To help answer these questions, I want to introduce the Program Director for the Monuments Toolkit, Ceq...

Welcome to the Monumental Project! As the official trailer for the podcast, take a sneak peek into who we are, the work we are doing this season and why this subject matter is so important. Enjoy!