The National Trust for Historic Preservation unveiled its annual list of America’s “11 Most Endangered Historic Places,” which includes a fishing village in Florida.
The listings began in 1988 and the latest was released May 7. The recognition doesn’t come with funding but often garners attention and support for the sites, according to USA TODAY.
“Across the United States, compelling, meaningful historic sites are at risk, whether from natural disasters, underutilization, neglect, or lack of awareness,” Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation said in a statement.
“Each site on this year’s list has inspired passionate supporters from their surrounding communities to work together to save these cherished landmarks and repurpose them for the public, now and into the future. Their leadership shows the power of preservation to create stronger communities, energized local economies, and a healthier environment for everyone.”
Where is Cedar Key?
Cedar Key is an island city in Levy County, off the northwest coast of Florida in the Gulf of America (the former Gulf of Mexico, as renamed by President Trump executive order).
Why was Cedar Key added to the endangered historical sites list?
The National Trust for Historic Preservation included Cedar Key in its most recent list, saying it is “increasingly threatened by rising sea levels and severe storm events,” including a record storm surge brought by Hurricane Helene in 2024.
“As Cedar Key recovers and plans for the future, support and funding are needed to implement preservation-sensitive resilience plans, ensuring that this historic community representative of ‘Old Florida’ can continue to thrive,” the National Trust for Historic Preservation wrote.
The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation in its release offered a variety of solutions to the problem, and noted that it worked with the University of Florida on a “Resilient Cedar Key Adaptation Plan.”
Ideas developed from the plan include “elevating and wet-proofing historic buildings, improving drainage to protect a historic cemetery, and using nature-based “living shoreline” approaches to reduce the impacts of storm surges.”
How badly was Cedar Key damaged by Hurricane Helene?
The popular weekend destination and fishing village was heavily damaged by Hurricane Helene’s 84-mph wind gusts and 10-foot storm surge on Sept. 26, 2024. Its surge topped the previous record set by Idalia’s 7-foot storm surge in 2023, according to the Florida Climate Center.
Helene was responsible for roughly 250 fatalities in the United States, including 34 in Florida.
While the exact damage figures are still being determined, an estimate from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information said the storm was responsible for an estimated $78.7 billion in damage.
What are the other ‘Most Endangered Historic Places’ on the list?
The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2025 list of endangered historic places also includes:
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Hotel Casa Blanca, Idlewild, Michigan, served as a premier lodging site for African American travelers, entertainers, and thought leaders during segregation. However, after integration, like many formerly segregated Black resorts, Idlewild experienced lower visitation and economic disinvestment, and Hotel Casa Blanca has now been vacant for over 30 years.
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French Broad and Swannanoa River Corridors, Western North Carolina, including the city of Asheville and other communities damaged by Hurricane Helene in late September 2024.
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May Hicks Curtis House, Flagstaff, Arizona, commemorates May Hicks Curtis, who sewed the first Arizona state flag in 1911. The house where she lived and worked for decades must be relocated and the city of Flagstaff is working to restore it for community use.
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Mystery Castle, Phoenix, Arizona, constructed between 1934 and 1945 by Boyce Luther Gulley, who built the complex by hand for his daughter Mary Lou without plans, permits, or formal architectural or engineering training. Mary Lou and her mother Frances transformed the castle into a nationally known tourist attraction from the 1950s-2000s, but it is now in a state of disrepair.
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Oregon Caves Chateau, Caves Junction, Oregon, closed in 2018 because of its need for extensive repairs, served an important economic role in its rural region for 91 years and could again if revitalized.
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Pamunkey Indian Reservation, King William County, Virginia, the Pamunkey people have lived in Tsennacommacah, on and around the lands now known as the Pamunkey Indian Reservation in Virginia, for at least 15,000 years. However, tribal lands are now at risk, as sea level rise and increasing storm frequency and severity could cause most of the Reservation to become inaccessible within 75 years.
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Terminal Island Japanese American Tuna Street Buildings, Los Angeles, California, with only two buildings remaining on Tuna Street, a community that was forcibly removed and incarcerated during World War II. The buildings are now owned by the Port of Los Angeles, which is considering demolition.
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San Juan Hotel, San Juan, Texas, built in 1920, has long been one of the area’s most recognizable landmarks.
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The Turtle, Niagara Falls, New York, completed in 1981 by Arapaho architect Dennis Sun Rhodes, the building, which has been vacant for three decades, stands as a powerful symbol of Indigenous heritage.
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The Wellington, Pine Hill, New York, is one of few surviving large-scale wood-frame resorts built in the Catskills in the late 1800s. Community members have purchased the building to serve as a food market, cafe, and affordable housing, but need additional funding to bring it to reality.
The Gainesville Sun contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Cedar Key Florida’s Most Endangered Historical Sites on 2025 list