World Monuments Fund History

WMF was founded in 1965 by a retired American army colonel, James A. Gray (1909-1994), a man with a keen interest in engineering problems and monuments. Surprised to find that there was no formal mechanism for the public to support preservation, Gray formed the International Fund for Monuments (the name was changed to World Monuments Fund in 1985).

WMF’s inaugural project was the restoration of the medieval rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia, followed by a campaign to preserve the extraordinary monuments of Easter Island—an effort that included the transportation of a moai (the famous stone sculptures of Easter Island) to New York City where it attracted large crowds. Through these early projects, WMF learned how to utilize limited international support to leverage significant local funding, and to rely as much as possible on local resources.

In 1966, floodwaters inundated Venice, focusing an international spotlight on the plight of its celebrated buildings and monuments. Col. Gray led the American response to the disaster and began WMF’s involvement in Venice, an effort which continues to this day.

Following its work in Venice, WMF forged a partnership in the early 1970s with the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, under the leadership of President Marilyn Perry, to focus on significant European art in an architectural context... continue reading about WMF's history or a Q&A with WMF President Bonnie Burnham.