Jeremy C. Wells, Ph.D.
@magic-old-places.bsky.social
Author and expert in human-centered public historic preservation policy, the psychological value of place, and collaborative governance.
Did you know that, in the UK, it's still legal to use lead paint for historic buildings, but not other building types?
historicengland.org.uk/advice/techn...
historicengland.org.uk/advice/techn...
Sourcing Lead Paint | Historic England
The process you need to follow for use and supply of lead paint in England.
historicengland.org.uk
November 20, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Did you know that, in the UK, it's still legal to use lead paint for historic buildings, but not other building types?
historicengland.org.uk/advice/techn...
historicengland.org.uk/advice/techn...
Public historic preservation policy at the local, state, and federal levels doesn't represent Americans.
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places: Crafting Public Policies for Human-Centered Historic Preservation (University of Tennessee Press), out now.
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places: Crafting Public Policies for Human-Centered Historic Preservation (University of Tennessee Press), out now.
November 18, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Public historic preservation policy at the local, state, and federal levels doesn't represent Americans.
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places: Crafting Public Policies for Human-Centered Historic Preservation (University of Tennessee Press), out now.
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places: Crafting Public Policies for Human-Centered Historic Preservation (University of Tennessee Press), out now.
70% of historic preservation is driven by regulations that impact millions of Americans, each day. A core rule, "historical significance" validates the historicity of places bc of the requirements of small group of long-dead men & ignores values of most Americans.
youtube.com/shorts/d_E1C...
youtube.com/shorts/d_E1C...
Why Americans let long-dead men choose historic places for them
YouTube video by Magic of Old Places
youtube.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:04 PM
70% of historic preservation is driven by regulations that impact millions of Americans, each day. A core rule, "historical significance" validates the historicity of places bc of the requirements of small group of long-dead men & ignores values of most Americans.
youtube.com/shorts/d_E1C...
youtube.com/shorts/d_E1C...
Historical significance wants to convince long-dead men that a place is historic.
Historical significance is a fundamental part of local, state, and federal public historic preservation policy & only represents the values of 95 long-dead people, not the public.
youtu.be/4u_1Dv5aYuo
Historical significance is a fundamental part of local, state, and federal public historic preservation policy & only represents the values of 95 long-dead people, not the public.
youtu.be/4u_1Dv5aYuo
Historical significance: Convincing long-dead men that a place is historic
YouTube video by Magic of Old Places
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Historical significance wants to convince long-dead men that a place is historic.
Historical significance is a fundamental part of local, state, and federal public historic preservation policy & only represents the values of 95 long-dead people, not the public.
youtu.be/4u_1Dv5aYuo
Historical significance is a fundamental part of local, state, and federal public historic preservation policy & only represents the values of 95 long-dead people, not the public.
youtu.be/4u_1Dv5aYuo
Historic preservationists aren't so willing to take on advocating for preservation independently of historical significance.
They should.
www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
They should.
www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Preserving older properties drives housing affordability, population growth, and investment, says study by historic preservation group
The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia commissioned its most comprehensive analysis on how historic preservation affects the city’s economy and housing.
www.inquirer.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Historic preservationists aren't so willing to take on advocating for preservation independently of historical significance.
They should.
www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
They should.
www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
In the US, historic preservation—defined by the majority of its paid work—is synonymous with public policy. And, public preservation policy ignores people when it should, instead, center their values & experiences. Historic preservation is much more than things.
youtube.com/shorts/4ILCA...
youtube.com/shorts/4ILCA...
Historic preservation is about people, not things.
YouTube video by Magic of Old Places
youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:53 PM
In the US, historic preservation—defined by the majority of its paid work—is synonymous with public policy. And, public preservation policy ignores people when it should, instead, center their values & experiences. Historic preservation is much more than things.
youtube.com/shorts/4ILCA...
youtube.com/shorts/4ILCA...
The creation of US federal historic preservation policy was a racist act, rooted in the Jim Crow south and upholding the "Lost Cause."
Read more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (University of Tennessee Press), out now.
youtube.com/shorts/Qq2mU...
Read more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (University of Tennessee Press), out now.
youtube.com/shorts/Qq2mU...
Gordon & Rains: Two Godfathers of historic preservation
YouTube video by Magic of Old Places
youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The creation of US federal historic preservation policy was a racist act, rooted in the Jim Crow south and upholding the "Lost Cause."
Read more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (University of Tennessee Press), out now.
youtube.com/shorts/Qq2mU...
Read more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (University of Tennessee Press), out now.
youtube.com/shorts/Qq2mU...
William Sumner Appleton (1874-1947), an American who founded Historic New England, helped develop today's US historic preservation policies.
By preserving the bldgs of New England, he believed he was preserving the superiority of the white people associated with them.
youtube.com/shorts/z6vz0...
By preserving the bldgs of New England, he believed he was preserving the superiority of the white people associated with them.
youtube.com/shorts/z6vz0...
William Sumner Appleton: A Godfather of historic preservation
YouTube video by Magic of Old Places
youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:23 PM
William Sumner Appleton (1874-1947), an American who founded Historic New England, helped develop today's US historic preservation policies.
By preserving the bldgs of New England, he believed he was preserving the superiority of the white people associated with them.
youtube.com/shorts/z6vz0...
By preserving the bldgs of New England, he believed he was preserving the superiority of the white people associated with them.
youtube.com/shorts/z6vz0...
Old (or "historic") places are fundamentally significant because of the emotions they instill in us.
Public historic preservation/built heritage policy is irrelevant to most people bc it can't recognize this "magic."
For more info, see my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places, out now.
Public historic preservation/built heritage policy is irrelevant to most people bc it can't recognize this "magic."
For more info, see my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places, out now.
November 8, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Old (or "historic") places are fundamentally significant because of the emotions they instill in us.
Public historic preservation/built heritage policy is irrelevant to most people bc it can't recognize this "magic."
For more info, see my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places, out now.
Public historic preservation/built heritage policy is irrelevant to most people bc it can't recognize this "magic."
For more info, see my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places, out now.
Old (or "historic") places are fundamentally significant because of the emotions they instill in us.
Public historic preservation/built heritage policy is irrelevant to most people bc it can't recognize this "magic."
For more info, see my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places, out now.
Public historic preservation/built heritage policy is irrelevant to most people bc it can't recognize this "magic."
For more info, see my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places, out now.
November 8, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Old (or "historic") places are fundamentally significant because of the emotions they instill in us.
Public historic preservation/built heritage policy is irrelevant to most people bc it can't recognize this "magic."
For more info, see my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places, out now.
Public historic preservation/built heritage policy is irrelevant to most people bc it can't recognize this "magic."
For more info, see my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places, out now.
Camillo Boito (1836-1914) was an Italian architect whose scientism began the multi-decade path of elite white, male Europeans (and later Americans) devising increasingly more complicated ways to sideline the values that the public held for the historic built environment.
youtube.com/shorts/0x0o2...
youtube.com/shorts/0x0o2...
Camillo Boito: A Godfather of historic preservation
YouTube video by Magic of Old Places
youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Camillo Boito (1836-1914) was an Italian architect whose scientism began the multi-decade path of elite white, male Europeans (and later Americans) devising increasingly more complicated ways to sideline the values that the public held for the historic built environment.
youtube.com/shorts/0x0o2...
youtube.com/shorts/0x0o2...
William Morris is well acknowledged as one of the "godfathers" of historic preservation.
He believed that the material culture of other peoples in the world was inherently inferior to his own.
Learn more in Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), out now.
He believed that the material culture of other peoples in the world was inherently inferior to his own.
Learn more in Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), out now.
November 6, 2025 at 7:06 PM
William Morris is well acknowledged as one of the "godfathers" of historic preservation.
He believed that the material culture of other peoples in the world was inherently inferior to his own.
Learn more in Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), out now.
He believed that the material culture of other peoples in the world was inherently inferior to his own.
Learn more in Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), out now.
John Ruskin is THE acknowledged Godfather of historic preservation.
He was also well-documented racist.
Learn more in Managing the Magic of Old Places: Crafting Public Policies for Human-Centered Historic Preservation (University of Tennessee Press), out now.
youtube.com/shorts/p4kbw...
He was also well-documented racist.
Learn more in Managing the Magic of Old Places: Crafting Public Policies for Human-Centered Historic Preservation (University of Tennessee Press), out now.
youtube.com/shorts/p4kbw...
John Ruskin: THE Godfather of Historic Preservation
YouTube video by Magic of Old Places
youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:32 AM
John Ruskin is THE acknowledged Godfather of historic preservation.
He was also well-documented racist.
Learn more in Managing the Magic of Old Places: Crafting Public Policies for Human-Centered Historic Preservation (University of Tennessee Press), out now.
youtube.com/shorts/p4kbw...
He was also well-documented racist.
Learn more in Managing the Magic of Old Places: Crafting Public Policies for Human-Centered Historic Preservation (University of Tennessee Press), out now.
youtube.com/shorts/p4kbw...
While you might be familiar with some aspects of historic preservation law and regulations, do you know what the differences and similarities are between a historic preservation law, a regulation, or a guideline?
Here's a video that explains it all.
youtu.be/WpdWrqGqFjk
Here's a video that explains it all.
youtu.be/WpdWrqGqFjk
Historic preservation laws, regulations, and guidelines: A needed functional description
YouTube video by Magic of Old Places
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
While you might be familiar with some aspects of historic preservation law and regulations, do you know what the differences and similarities are between a historic preservation law, a regulation, or a guideline?
Here's a video that explains it all.
youtu.be/WpdWrqGqFjk
Here's a video that explains it all.
youtu.be/WpdWrqGqFjk
Historic preservation policy at the local, state, and fed levels embodies the ideas of many fascists, racists, and eugenicists.
These individual’s ideas are still alive and well in today’s preservation policies.
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), out now.
These individual’s ideas are still alive and well in today’s preservation policies.
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), out now.
November 4, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Historic preservation policy at the local, state, and fed levels embodies the ideas of many fascists, racists, and eugenicists.
These individual’s ideas are still alive and well in today’s preservation policies.
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), out now.
These individual’s ideas are still alive and well in today’s preservation policies.
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), out now.
Public historic preservation policy is a BIG DEAL.
HP employment is not in architecture or the construction industry, museums, or advocacy; it’s in government or cultural resource management.
See, Managing the Magic of Old Places (University of Tennessee Press)
youtube.com/shorts/a1V4x...
HP employment is not in architecture or the construction industry, museums, or advocacy; it’s in government or cultural resource management.
See, Managing the Magic of Old Places (University of Tennessee Press)
youtube.com/shorts/a1V4x...
Historic Preservation Policy is a BIG DEAL
YouTube video by Magic of Old Places
youtube.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Public historic preservation policy is a BIG DEAL.
HP employment is not in architecture or the construction industry, museums, or advocacy; it’s in government or cultural resource management.
See, Managing the Magic of Old Places (University of Tennessee Press)
youtube.com/shorts/a1V4x...
HP employment is not in architecture or the construction industry, museums, or advocacy; it’s in government or cultural resource management.
See, Managing the Magic of Old Places (University of Tennessee Press)
youtube.com/shorts/a1V4x...
If you were born after WWII, your values and perspectives are not represented in US public historic preservation policy at the local, state, and federal levels.
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), which is out now.
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), which is out now.
November 3, 2025 at 3:58 PM
If you were born after WWII, your values and perspectives are not represented in US public historic preservation policy at the local, state, and federal levels.
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), which is out now.
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), which is out now.
Public historic preservation policy in the US is a big deal, but not enough people know what it is, what it does, and how it is inherently exclusionary. This video fills this gap.
Governmental agencies can make preservation more people-centered without new legislation.
youtu.be/-VkOgwLfeBE
Governmental agencies can make preservation more people-centered without new legislation.
youtu.be/-VkOgwLfeBE
Why public historic preservation policy is a big deal
YouTube video by Magic of Old Places
youtu.be
November 2, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Public historic preservation policy in the US is a big deal, but not enough people know what it is, what it does, and how it is inherently exclusionary. This video fills this gap.
Governmental agencies can make preservation more people-centered without new legislation.
youtu.be/-VkOgwLfeBE
Governmental agencies can make preservation more people-centered without new legislation.
youtu.be/-VkOgwLfeBE
If you don’t have a degree from a place like Columbia or Harvard, your perspective and lived experience isn't represented in US public preservation policy. (Lucky you, if it is.)
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), which is out now.
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), which is out now.
November 1, 2025 at 4:07 PM
If you don’t have a degree from a place like Columbia or Harvard, your perspective and lived experience isn't represented in US public preservation policy. (Lucky you, if it is.)
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), which is out now.
Learn more in my book, Managing the Magic of Old Places (U of TN Press), which is out now.
If you missed it, the US Senate's hearing on Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act on Oct 30 is now available as a video. Lots of interesting takeaways here, especially the consensus that change is needed. www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/202...
Full Committee Hearing to Examine the Section 106 Consultation Process Under the National Historic Preservation Act
www.energy.senate.gov
October 31, 2025 at 3:36 PM
If you missed it, the US Senate's hearing on Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act on Oct 30 is now available as a video. Lots of interesting takeaways here, especially the consensus that change is needed. www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/202...
An introduction to what public historic preservation policy at the local, state, and federal levels emphasizes and what it misses: the "magic" that comes from the emotional experience human beings have to old or "historic" places. youtu.be/cZ8tWCTUk3E
Historic preservation's desperate need for magic
YouTube video by Magic of Old Places
youtu.be
October 31, 2025 at 1:29 AM
An introduction to what public historic preservation policy at the local, state, and federal levels emphasizes and what it misses: the "magic" that comes from the emotional experience human beings have to old or "historic" places. youtu.be/cZ8tWCTUk3E
Colonial Williamsburg has new anti "woke" challenges incorporating fuller stories of slavery, women, and African Americans. The Atlantic explores the tension between presenting an "uplifting" American heritage and offering a complete, complex historical education. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
What Is Colonial Williamsburg For?
Telling the full story of the town’s past is an easy way to make a lot of people mad.
www.theatlantic.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Colonial Williamsburg has new anti "woke" challenges incorporating fuller stories of slavery, women, and African Americans. The Atlantic explores the tension between presenting an "uplifting" American heritage and offering a complete, complex historical education. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
For those interested in what Congress is considering for changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, you might want this meeting on your calendar for October 29.
www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/202...
www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/202...
Full Committee Hearing to Examine the Section 106 Consultation Process Under the National Historic Preservation Act
www.energy.senate.gov
October 28, 2025 at 12:02 AM
For those interested in what Congress is considering for changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, you might want this meeting on your calendar for October 29.
www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/202...
www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/202...
Most people don't realize 70% of all full-time, paid historic preservation work is in regulatory compliance (about 60% of this w/ local planning depts--i.e., preservation commissions). HP jobs aren't in architecture or construction, they're in environmental review and local planning.
October 27, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Most people don't realize 70% of all full-time, paid historic preservation work is in regulatory compliance (about 60% of this w/ local planning depts--i.e., preservation commissions). HP jobs aren't in architecture or construction, they're in environmental review and local planning.
A very good summary of issues and potential actions for anyone who wants to know more about the historic preservation issues with the demolition of the east wing of the White House. (@sarabronin.bsky.social is a law professor and former Chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.)
The East Wing demolition has raised alarms beyond the American preservation community: the world is watching. Today @abc-news.bsky.social (Australia) released "Is Trump allowed to demolish the White House's East Wing?" I'm at minute 14:00: www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
Is Trump allowed to demolish the White House's East Wing? | Planet America
YouTube video by ABC News In-depth
www.youtube.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:23 PM
A very good summary of issues and potential actions for anyone who wants to know more about the historic preservation issues with the demolition of the east wing of the White House. (@sarabronin.bsky.social is a law professor and former Chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.)