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. This affiliation was formalized in 1986 as the Kress Foundation European Preservation Program, a cornerstone WMF program that has launched conservation projects at more than 100 of Europe’s most important cultural monuments.

Col. Gray retired in 1984, and Bonnie Burnham joined WMF as executive director the following year (becoming president in 1996). In the next decade, WMF established offices and affiliates in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. In addition to hands-on management, the affiliates identify projects, negotiate with government agencies, and attract local support for projects to complement funds provided by U.S. donors.

In 1985, a massive earthquake struck Mexico City, leaving more than 10,000 dead and causing substantial damage to the historic center. WMF launched a campaign to preserve Mexico City’s heritage, beginning a long-term commitment that continues to this day.

In the 1980s new opportunities emerged, particularly in Asia. In 1989, the Cambodian government, picking up the pieces in a country ravaged by the Khmer Rouge, invited WMF to survey the temples of Angkor, which were in urgent need of help. WMF stepped up to the challenge and launched a major campaign still underway today.

With the collapse of the former Soviet Union in the late 1980s, the international preservation community was faced with new challenges on an unimaginable scale. The cultural heritage of the Eastern Bloc had suffered decades of destruction and economic decline. The plight of abandoned synagogues—historically important, but now largely without constituencies to support them—was the impetus for WMF’s Jewish Heritage Program.

In response to increasing threats to cultural heritage sites around the globe, WMF established the World Monuments Watch program in 1995, in partnership with founding sponsor American Express. Announced every two years, the World Monuments Watch list of 100 Most Endangered Sites calls international attention to cultural heritage sites around the world threatened by neglect, vandalism, armed conflict, or natural disaster. Through the Watch, WMF fosters community support for the protection of endangered sites and attracts technical and financial resources to assist in their rescue. More than 75% of Watch sites have been saved or are on well on their way, thanks to timely intervention.

In the 21st century, recognizing that such factors as population growth, lack of economic resources, natural disasters, political conflict, and public apathy affect a wide range of communities, WMF developed an array of new initiatives—European Preservation, Iraq Cultural Heritage, Modernism, and Sites in Conflict—to address these challenges.

Since its founding, WMF has completed more than 500 projects in 91 countries. Our mission, however, is far from complete. The world’s cultural heritage continues to be at risk, requiring WMF to be even more vigilant. If our long record of successes is any indication, WMF will continue to successfully meet the challenges ahead.

For more on WMF’s history, read a Q&A with WMF President Bonnie Burnham.