The World Monuments Watch is a flagship advocacy program of the New York–based private non-profit organization World Monuments Fund (WMF) and American Express to call to action and challenge government authorities responsible for important cultural resources to identify sites immediately at risk, and to stimulate public awareness of the tremendous need to preserve and create sustainable uses for significant heritage made by man.[1] [2]
Every two years, the program publishes a select list known as the Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites that is in urgent need of preservation funding and protection. The sites are nominated by public authorities, local preservation groups, and qualified individuals. An independent panel of international experts then select 100 candidates from these entries to be part of the Watch List, based on the significance of the site's overall significance, the urgency of its situation, the viability of action plans to save it, and the ability of a local constituency to sustainably maintain the site in the future with the means to do so. WMF and American Express award grants to sites included on the Watch List. In addition, the leverage from the listing spurs government agencies and local donors to allocate funds and take an active role in protecting the cultural landmark.
The 1998 World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites was launched on September 8, 1997, by WMF President Bonnie Burnham.
Number | Country/Territory | Site | Location | Period | |
1 | Afghanistan | Herat Old City | Herat | 1100 - 1899 | |
2 | Albania | Butrint Archaeological Site | 8th century BC - 15th century AD | ||
3 | Argentina | Ushuaia Prison | 1902 - 1912 | ||
4 | Belgium | Previous Radio and Television Building | Brussels | 1935 | |
5 | Belgium | Tour and Taxis | Brussels | 1897 - 1907 | |
6 | Belgium | Wortel Colony Estate | 1822 | ||
7 | Benin | Royal Palaces of Abomey | 1645 - 1906 | ||
8 | Bolivia | Arani and Callapa Churches | Arani, Cochabamba & Callapa, La Paz | 1560 and 1745 | |
9 | Bolivia | Rio Lauca Prehistoric Burial Towers | 1200 - 1600 | ||
10 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Village of Pocitelj | Pocitelj | 1444 - Present | |
11 | Bulgaria | Madara Horseman | 8th - 9th century | ||
12 | Cambodia | Banteay Chhmar Temple of Jayavarman VII | Thmar Puok, Oddar Meanchey Province | 1100 - 1199 | |
13 | Canada | Gulf of Georgia Cannery | Richmond, British Columbia | 1894 - 1964 | |
14 | Chile | Alameda Railroad Station | Santiago | 1900 | |
15 | Chile | Tulor Aldea | 5th century BC - 2nd century AD | ||
16 | China | Jufu Hall | 1420 | ||
17 | China | Namseling Manor | 14th century | ||
18 | China | Palpung Tibetan Monastery | 1725 | ||
19 | Croatia | Ducal Palace | 16th century | ||
20 | Croatia | Franciscan Monastery Library | 1667 | ||
21 | Cuba | Reina Cemetery | Cienfuegos | 1839 | |
22 | Czech Republic | Follies and Conservatory in Lednice Park | Lednice and Valtice Villages | 1797 - 1848 | |
23 | Czech Republic | Prague's Historic Center | Prague | 9th century BC - Present | |
24 | Czech Republic | Heavenly Father Chapel | 14th century | ||
25 | Czech Republic | Nebilovy Mansion | 1706 - 1715 | ||
26 | Egypt | Mortuary Temple of King Ahmenhotep III, | 14th century BC | ||
27 | El Salvador | Suchitoto City | Suchitoto, Cuscatlán | 16th century | |
28 | Ethiopia | Mentewab-Qwesqwam Palace | 18th century | ||
29 | Fiji | Levuka Township | Levuka | 1830 - 1925 | |
30 | France | 'Galerie des Actions de Monsieur le Prince' | Chateau of Chantilly, Chantilly | 1560 - 1897 | |
31 | Gambia | James Island | James Island | 460 - 1860 | |
32 | Georgia | Tbilisi Historic District | Tbilisi | 6th century - Present | |
33 | Hungary | Spa Center Historic Ensemble | 1790 - 1880 | ||
34 | India | Ahmedabad Walled City | Ahmedabad | 1411 - Present | |
35 | India | Jaisalmer Fort | Jaisalmer, Rajasthan | 12th century | |
36 | Israel | Gemeindehaus | 1869 | ||
37 | Israel | Ramla White Mosque | Ramle Municipality | 9th century | |
38 | Italy | Ancient Pompeii | 1st century BC - AD 79 | ||
39 | Italy | Arch of Trajan | AD 115 | ||
40 | Italy | Botanical Garden of University of Padua | Padua | 1545 | |
41 | Italy | Etruscan Painted Tombs of Tarquinia | 7th century BC - 2nd century BC | ||
42 | Italy | Limonaia at Boboli Gardens and Gardens of Villa Medici at Castello | Florence | 1777 - 1778 and 1577 | |
43 | Italy | Basilica Neopitagorica | Rome | 1st century | |
44 | Italy | Palazzo Doria Pamphilj | --> | Valmontone | Mid - 17th century |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
45 | Italy | Rupestrian churches of Apulia and the City of Matera | Apulia and City of Matera | 1000 - 1753 | |
46 | Italy | Terra del Sole prison cells | Mid - 16th century | ||
47 | Jamaica | Old Iron Bridge | Spanish Town, St. Catherine | 1800 | |
48 | Jordan | Petra Archaeological Site | Wadi Mousa | 1st - 6th century | |
49 | Laos | Vat Sisaket | 1819 - 25 | ||
50 | Latvia | Abava Valley Cultural Landscape | Kurzeme | 13th - 19th century | |
51 | Lebanon | Enfeh | Enfeh (near Tripoli) | 2nd millennium BC - 13th century AD | |
52 | Lithuania | Vilnius Town Hall | Vilnius | 1503 - 22 | |
53 | Malaysia | Kampung Cina River Frontage | Kuala Terengganu | Late 19th - early 20th century | |
54 | Malta | Mnajdra Prehistoric Temples | Mnajdra | 3600 BC - 2500 BC | |
55 | Mexico | Carolina Hacienda (Main House) | 1896 | ||
56 | Mexico | Madera Cave Dwellings | Madera, Chihuahua | 6th century - 7th century AD | |
57 | Mexico | Metropolitan Cathedral | Mexico City | 1573 - 1813 | |
58 | Mexico | Monasteries of San Juan Bautista Tetela del Volcan and Tlayacapan | Morelos | 16th century | |
59 | Mexico | Palace of Fine Arts | 1904 - 1934 | ||
60 | Mexico | Teotihuacan Archaeological Site | San Juan Teotihuacan | 100 BC - AD 750 | |
61 | Mexico | Vega de la Peña Archaeological Site | Filo-Bobos, Veracruz | Before 1400 | |
62 | Mongolia | Bogd Khan Palace Museum | Ulan Bator Town | 1893 - 1903 | |
63 | Nepal | Gombas of Upper Mustang | Lo Manthang, Mustang | 15th century | |
64 | Norway | Wooden Architecture of Trondheim | Trondheim | 1850 - 1890 | |
65 | Pakistan | Uch Monument Complex | Uch, Bahawalpur District, Punjab Province | ca 2nd millennium BC - mid - 16th century AD | |
66 | Panama | San Lorenzo Castle and San Geronimo Fort | 1595 - 1779 and 1653 - 1760 | ||
67 | Peru | Apurlec Archaeological Site | Motupe, Lambayeque | 7th century AD - 14th century | |
68 | Peru | La Quinta Heeren | Lima | 1888 - 1930 | |
69 | Peru | "Ransom Room" | Cajamarca | 1430 - 1460 | |
70 | Philippines | Kabayan Mummy Caves | 2nd millennium BC - 2nd century AD | ||
71 | Philippines | San Sebastian Basilica | Manila | 1886 - 1891 | |
72 | Poland | Debno Parish Church | 15th century | ||
73 | Poland | Vistulamouth Fortress | 1482 - 1800 | ||
74 | Romania | Constantin Brâncuși's Endless Column | Târgu Jiu | 1937 - 1938 | |
75 | Romania | Roman Catholic Church | Ghelinţa | 13th century | |
76 | Russia | Agate Pavilion of the Catherine Palace | Tsarskoje Selo, St. Petersburg | 1780 - 1787 | |
77 | Russia | Alexander Palace | Tsarskoje Selo, St. Petersburg | 1792 - 1796 | |
78 | Russia | Irkoutsk Historic Center | Irkoutsk | 1770 - 1799 | |
79 | Russia | Paanajarvi Village | Kemi Province | 14th century - Present | |
80 | Russia | Russakov Club | Moscow | 1929 | |
81 | Russia | Yelagin Island Palace and Park Ensemble | St. Petersburg | 1780 - 1826 | |
82 | Slovakia | Hell House | Banska Stiavnica | 1500 - 1850 | |
83 | Spain | Windmills of Mallorca | Balearic Islands | 1600 - 1950 | |
84 | Turkey | Ani Archaeological Site | Ocarli Koyu, Kars | 3rd - 14th century | |
85 | Turkey | Hagia Sophia | Istanbul | AD 532 - 563 | |
86 | Turkey | Patara Archaeological Site | Kas | 3rd millennium BC - AD 1200 | |
87 | Uganda | Masaka Cathedral | Masaka, Kitovu Village | 1927 | |
88 | Ukraine | Ancient Chersonesos | 5th century BC - 15th century AD | ||
89 | United Kingdom | Hadlow Tower | Tonbridge, England | 1838 - 1840 | |
90 | United Kingdom | Mussenden Temple | Castlerock, Northern Ireland | 1760 - 1799 | |
91 | United Kingdom | St Francis Church and Monastery | Manchester, England | 1863 - 1872 | |
92 | United Kingdom | The St Vincent Street Church | Glasgow, Scotland | 1857 - 1859 | |
93 | United States of America | Bodie State Historic Park | California | 1859 - 1896 | |
94 | United States of America | Fort Apache | White Mountain, Apache Tribal Land, Arizona | 1870 - 1922 | |
95 | United States of America | Lancaster County | 1710 - 1945 | ||
96 | United States of America | Mesa Verde National Park | 13th century | ||
97 | United States of America | South Pass Cultural Landscape | Wyoming | Mid - 19th century | |
98 | Venezuela | San Francisco Church | Coro, Falcon | 1720 - 1887 | |
99 | Vietnam | My Son Temple District | Duy Xuyen District | 3rd - 12th century | |
100 | Yemen | Shibam Historic City | Shibam | 5th century |
The following countries/territories have multiple sites entered on the 1998 Watch List, listed by the number of sites:
Number of sites | Country/Territory | |
---|---|---|
9 | Italy | |
7 | Mexico | |
6 | Russia | |
5 | United States of America | |
4 | Czech Republic and United Kingdom | |
3 | Belgium, China, Peru and Turkey | |
2 | Bolivia, Chile, Croatia, India, Israel, Philippines, Poland and Romania |
A. Numbers list only meant as a guide on this article. No official reference numbers have been designated for the sites on the Watch List.
B. Names and spellings used for the sites were based on the official 1998 Watch List as published.
C. The references to the sites' locations were based on the official 1998 Watch List as published.