Mission:
To preserve historic art and architecture worldwide.

Background:
The World Monuments Fund is a nonprofit organization devoted to onsite conservation of historic monuments and sites worldwide. The sites are imperiled due to exposure to the elements, neglect, natural disasters, war, uncontrolled tourism, or destruction in the name of progress. Since its founding in 1965, WMF has helped save more than 430 sites in eighty-three countries. Projects have ranged from the stone carvings of Easter Island to the dome of the Invalides in Paris; from a historic synagogue in Krakow, Poland, to Cambodia's jungle temples. WMF brings together public and private resources to carry out a comprehensive conservation program of fieldwork, advocacy, grantmaking, education, and training.

American Express Company, founding sponsor of the WMF World Monuments Watch, a global program launched in 1995, has committed $10 million over ten years to help preserve the sites on the Watch's List of 100 Most Endangered Sites. To date, only one site nominated for the list has been lost (due to flooding); many others, including the Taj Mahal and Hagia Sophia, are now off the endangered list. The European Preservation Program, founded by WMF in 1987 with the sponsorship of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, supports research, restoration, and publications related to damaged European cultural monuments, many of them in former Soviet-bloc countries. The Jewish Heritage Grant Program, established by WMF and Ronald S. Lauder in 1988 with major funding from the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, identifies and preserves historic Jewish sites, especially those abandoned during World War II.

Outstanding Feature:
The highlight of the Web site is the List of 100 Most Endangered Sites, organized alphabetically by region and including a link with description and photo for each site.