I like the general idea. But we have to be aware of the time period as well, as migration is of all ages, and Ellis Island had its heyday in a very specific period "when, after 1880, larger steam-powered oceangoing ships replaced sailing ships, which resulted in lower fares and greater immigrant mobility." and "In the last quarter of the 19th century, Europe underwent a serious demographic crisis, which resulted in increased emigration" -> if you mix in more continents of origin and more destinations, it can weaken the narrative.

I really want to add more on Asian sites as the current list is mainly European and American points, but I don't think any well-preserved old ports in Japan that used in Japanese/Chinese emigration. There is almost nothing old in Hong Kong, Taishan, Kobe and Yokohama Ports. If I remember correctly, I visit a museum in Yokohama about Oversea Japanese, but that building is very new. Few place I can recall in China that still has old buildings would be Guangzhou Huangpu ancient port and the Bund in Shanghai for Chinese emigration.

Just taking that point and refocussing on the American side of this emmigration (Not the intention to stymie that thread, I think it is very useful and the Bund in Shanghai always seems to scream out as a future WHS so this would be a good hook), perhaps this provides a useful mirror on the opposite side of the Pacific with the creation of various Chinatowns on the American West coast, with Vancouver, San Franciso and LA being the ones that spring to mind.
These would be directly related to migration in the last quarter of the 19th century (a useful focus and limit for a coherent site) and provide something perhaps a little more tangible and creative beyond just various admisinistartion points.

Following the Annual Meeting for World Heritage USA (ICOMOS) a quick update is perhaps useful for World Heritage travelers visiting the United States. There are no current plans to modify the U.S. Tentative List, therefore any updates in the coming years will likely be few and specific. This might also mean we should NOT expect a new US Tentative List in 2026-27 as we saw in 2008 and 2017. Everything listed here was mentioned or discussed in the Annual Meeting at the end of 2023.

US Tentative List 18 properties

2024 Nomination *confirmed
- Moravian Church Settlements (2022)

2025 Nomination *upstream process
- Civil Rights Movement Sites (2008)

2026 Nomination *decision made to draft nomination file
- Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (2008)

*Note: 2025/2026 nominations have not been confirmed, 2025 could be skipped altogether, or Okefenokee could even move ahead of the more complex Civil Rights Movement dossier

Candidate Nominations to Watch:

- Dayton Aviation Sites (2008) *indication of pursuing an expanded Aviation nomination in the future, unsure if this would include international sites

- Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (2017) *indication of pursuing a marine world heritage property following the existing queued nominations, the Pacific Remote Islands was specifically mentioned

- Big Bend National Park (2017) *indication of pursuing an expanded bi-national nomination with Mexico

Remaining Tentative List Sites: 12
- Thomas Jefferson Buildings (2008)
- Mount Vernon (2008)
- Serpent Mound (2008)
- Petrified Forest National Park (2008)
- White Sands National Monument (2008)
- Brooklyn Bridge (2017)
- Ellis Island (2017)
- Central Park (2017)
- Early Chicago Skyscrapers (2017)
- California Current Conservation Complex (2017)
- Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (2017)
- Marine Protected Areas of American Samoa (2017)

Potential-Specific Additions to the U.S. Tentative List: 4
- Grand Canyon National Park [expanded criteria to include cultural values]
- El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro [US/Mexico Extension - Chihuahua State & New Mexico]
- El Camino Real de las Californias [US/Mexico Nomination - Baja California & California]
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge [Extension of Mexico's El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar National Biosphere Reserve]

Not that exciting. Do we know the exact spots in el Camino Real de las Californias nomination?

Such a proposed nomination would take a lot more work than the already established El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, which is a clearly defined National Historic Trail (see link). Since the El Camino Real de las Californias is not a National trail and considering that the Missions in California, the Presidio's, and relevant Ranchos/Haciendas total about 20 National Historic Landmarks, this may require additional designations by the Department of Interior.

El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (National Historic Trail)

National Historic Landmarks that would likely be a part of the El Camino Real de las Californias

Presidios: 3 National Historic Landmarks
- Presidio of San Francisco
- San Diego Presidio (including Mission San Diego de Alcalá)
- Royal Presidio Chapel (only surviving building from the Monterey Presidio)

Missions: 9 National Historic Landmarks
- Carmel Mission
- San Juan Bautista State Historic Park (include Mission San Juan Bautista and Jose Castro House)
- Mission San Diego de Alcalá
- La Purisma Mission
- Mission San Miguel Archangel
- Mission Santa Ines
- San Luis Rey Mission
- Santa Barbara Mission
- Old Mission Dam (part of the Mission Trails Historic Park)

Haciendas and Ranchos: 6 National Historic Landmarks
- Monterey Old Town Historic District (including the Old Custom House)
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park (including Casa de Estudillo)
- Jose Castro House
- Rafael Gonzalez House
- Rancho Guajome Adobe
- Las Flores Estancia

My Flickr Album gives a visual image of many of these locations, including some sites on the National Register of Historic Places which might be included (with additional designation) or the route being declared a National Historic Trail.

Thanks winterkjm, I have already visited some of these landmarks. Visiting the remaining will be so much fun. Very nice photos!

@Els, I saw that you marked all 13 components of Civil Right Movement Sites on map. The coordinates of Ebenezer Baptist Church Atlanta is wrong. Additionally, I am wondering if this update is official. I am not sure if I should tick it right now since I only visited Lincoln Memorial and not any of the 3 original components.

That might be a stretch to count this TWHS based only on the Lincoln Memorial. Yet, this nomination has officially expanded to the identified sites in the map. What might however change will come following the upstream process which finished in the later part of 2023. This is what delayed the official submission, there was not enough time to implement the recommendations. We might expect additional components and yes perhaps even a dropped historic property. So the nomination to some degree is in a process of (minor?) reworking, what is clear; this nomination will be much more than the original 3 churches. I expect more than 13 components following the upstream process, at least that was my impression from communication with the National Park Service.

From communications with NPS Staff:

"Civil Rights - while the ICOMOS upstream process was quite helpful and encouraging, it also raised important questions about some sites included in the proposal as well as others left out which will have to be addressed by the proponents of the nomination. We are in regular contact with them and hope these issues/questions will be addressed soon."

Thanks, winterkjm. I am hoping to visit Birmingham and Atlanta this June. I will wait until I see the churches and bus station to tick this TWHS. I am guessing that there may be some opposition to add Lincoln Memorial to final submission. There are still many racist living in USA and some are in the government. Representing the capital with only a black heritage in UNESCO may be a problematic act for them.

I honestly don't think there would be any opposition to the inclusion of the Lincoln Memorial as a component of the Civil Rights Movement TWHS, at least from a racist viewpoint. If there are any pushback, I'd think it would be from those who aren't fans of UNESCO or international organizations. As far as recognizing Civil Rights history in DC, nearby there is also the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the Tidal Basin, and an excellent African American History Museum on the Mall.

Great to hear that, Colvin. While I'm not an expert in US political dynamics, I've grown accustomed to the surprising levels of stupidity displayed by some individuals and been considering every possibility.

Recently, there has been an encouraging openness by some conservative leaders and communities to embrace 'World Heritage'. There has also been some examples of bipartisan cooperation to secure World Heritage status at the local, state, and federal level.

We have seen this with the Poverty Point (Louisiana), San Antonio Missions (Texas), and the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks (Ohio). Additionally, we are seeing this in Georgia now with the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. I think the days of 'UNESCO' conspiracies in the US is mostly gone or mute when it comes to influence over a potential nomination. One component property which is expected to be included in the Civil Rights Movement Sites nomination is the 'Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument', the status of this historic site was authorized during the Trump Administration and designated as a National Monument on March 12, 2019.


Make sure to use this map to visit all locations within the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. Touring the 16th Street Baptist Church is the key highlight, but the Kelly Ingram Park (statues) and the A. G. Gaston Motel should be visited.

I think we can be certain that as of late 2023, the nomination includes 13 components. Now that the upstream process has concluded a decision has been made to take the appropriate time needed to satisfy the recommendations made by ICOMOS. We do not know the exact recommendations, but I know that involved NPS staff found the suggestions "helpful and encouraging". We do not yet know what components might change. We might see an update on the UNESCO webpage this year that would indicate to us the final iteration of this nomination.

GSU World Heritage Initiative 2023 - UPSTREAM REVIEW

POTENTIAL SERIAL NOMINATION OF U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT SITES

One opportunity the Civil Rights Movement Sites nomination presents is to introduce 'World Heritage' to states that have none, therefore most of these communities have little knowledge of UNESCO. For example, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Washington D.C. all have zero world heritage sites. On-site interpretation of these properties are collaborative efforts with museums like the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (Birmingham), the National Center for Civil and Human Rights (Atlanta), the International Civil Rights Center & Museum (Greensboro), the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel (Memphis) in partnership with the local community; and for this nomination the Georgia State University and the National Park Service. When I spoke with staff at the National Civil Rights museum in Memphis, I was told that some of these museums listed above have met and discussed their participation in the nomination collectively and there is excitement within their organizations to one day achieve world heritage status. Having these established institutions eventually become a conduit for 'World Heritage' would be a huge win in spreading awareness of these historic properties and their significance, both domestically and internationally. For the elderly volunteers and NPS staff (some who lived through the Civil Rights Movement) at places like the 16th Street Baptist Church, the MLK National Historic Park, or the Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic site, inscription would mean so much.

When I visited the majority of these sites in 2021 and a few additional sites since then, there has been visible progress regarding protection and designating sites at the national level. My Flickr album includes 100 photos of 8 components and my comprehensive review can be read here. Since my original visit, the A. G. Gaston Motel is now open for visitors after extensive renovations. Protection, access, and awareness seem to be all increasing.

Based on the upstream process what could be added? In my subjective opinion these would be the 4 strongest additions.

Potential Candidates Add-ons:
▪️Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument *designated in July 2023
- Tallahatchie County Second District Courthouse (Mississippi component)
▪️ Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Selma (Alabama)
▪️ Foster Auditorium (Alabama)
▪️ Clayborn Temple in Memphis (Tennessee) *not designated as a National Historic Landmark

Each of these sites offer interpretation, for example small museums or tours and are in a good state of preservation. Based on the recent restoration work at Clayborn Temple, a National Historic Landmark designation seems more likely than not and its connection to what happened at the Lorraine Motel makes this site a logical addition. The Foster Auditorium was where the infamous words were spoken "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever" by Governor George Wallace and would contribute greatly to the full story of a Civil Rights Movement nomination. The Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Selma is directly associated with the Selma to Montgomery March and not far from the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Tallahatchie Courthouse is directly related to the trial for the murder of Emmett Till, the site includes an interpretive center which elaborates on how a 'not guilty' verdict by an all-white jury became a catalyst for the next phase of the Civil rights Movement.

In review of pointed remarks and a blunt assessment by nfmungard in the past, see here, I wonder how ICOMOS interpreted this serial nomination and its potential OUV. I would like to read their feedback in full. How critical of the collection of sites were they? What additional sites did they propose for inclusion, what if any sites were recommended to be dropped from the proposed nomination? Regardless of its merits or OUV, I have found this nomination to be one of the most interesting proposals on the US Tentative List. Moreover, I suspect relatively soon we will know the final form this nomination takes before being submitted to Paris.

Colvin mentioned the MLK Memorial. I would also highlight the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery. While I'm certain these recent sites of remembrance will not be included in any contemporary World Heritage nomination, I particularly appreciated the design of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which is monumental and a sanctuary for reflection.

Adding the Lincoln Memorial strengthens the nomination in my eyes. Apart from the Mall deserving WHS status itself, the Lincoln Memorial is a center of peaceful democratic protests, including those for Civil Rights.