Historic preservation in New York is activity undertaken to conserve forests, buildings, ships, sacred burial grounds, water purity and other objects of cultural importance in New York in ways that allow them to communicate meaningfully about past practices, events, and people.
Governmental programs for historic preservation range from Federal ownership and active operation of sites (such as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in New York Harbor) to grants and subsidies provided by state government, municipal support of museums and interpretative displays (such as roadside plaques and town-history websites).
Private endeavors, such as investment and other choices made by private landowners to conserve historical features of their properties, are significant but less visible and include groups such as the Historic Districts Council, The New York Landmarks Conservancy and the Preservation League of New York State.
Road-construction projects are required to have subcontractors who investigate sites for archeological importance (Indian remains, for example).
[24] The Village of North Syracuse history website claims a U.S. first in its town: "The first plank road in the United States was finished and ready for travel on July 18, 1846.
For an example of the independent type, the Erie Canal Museum "is a private, nonprofit corporation founded in 1962.
There is a museum operated by a town inside a covered bridge in Washington County, New York.
Accessibility by paying guests communicates history on a local scale, and may educate visitors to the area.