The American Cultural Resources Association (ACRA) is extremely concerned regarding the continued actions of the Montpelier Foundation (Foundation) regarding the involvement of the Montpelier Descendants Committee (MDC), and we are additionally dismayed at the seemingly retaliatory treatment of the Foundation’s staff who have spoken in support of the MDC.
The framework approved in 2021 by the board of the Foundation regarding collaboration with the MDC was an important step toward equity and reckoning with the ethnic and cultural history at our nation’s historical sites. Resolving imbalances in decision making, power, and authority is essential to interpretations of history that are more inclusive and truthful.
ACRA stands in solidarity with those that continue to fight for equality and fairness in historic preservation and urges the larger preservation community to continue to monitor and speak out about the situation. We encourage all parties to come together to honor the Foundation’s 2021 framework and find a positive solution.