Historic buildings are a physical reminder of where a society has come from and how it has changed over time. They reflect the values, the struggles, the advances, the culture, the preferences, the norms, the anomalies, the major historical turning points, and the everyday lives of generations of people. Although progress and change are necessary for the advancement of society, remembering and preserving the origins and achievements of the past are equally as necessary. Of all the historic buildings in American cities, places of worship are among the most representative artifacts of communities, from both the past and present. They are constructed with a desire to celebrate and connect with something greater than the physical world. They evoke emotions, both positive and negative, from those who experience them. They bring skillful art and architecture, as well as a sense of identity to the built environment. They house congregations that in turn serve and foster the well being of the larger community. Whether they are analyzed as living institutions and congregations, purely as historic physical structures of architectural significance, or as a combination of both, they add true and irreplaceable value to American communities. However, like all other elements of the built environment, they are subject to the pressures of time, nature, human behavior, and new development in the name of progress.
Changes in the religious landscape of the United States, movement of populations, and financial burden are putting the historic places of worship in American urban centers, including Cincinnati, Ohio, at risk of being lost to neglect, necessity, or progress. Because of declining support and resources, coupled with the high cost of maintaining historic places of worship, many of these buildings are neglected, abandoned, or sold. They are often demolished in order to make room for new development or are simply left to deteriorate over time. These buildings are important assets to Cincinnati that should be preserved but they are victims of the same trends that have affected the nation as a whole, becoming increasingly costly to maintain and drained of resources as surrounding communities declined and continue to struggle.
This thesis seeks to analyze the value of historic places of worship in the United States, the complex and interconnected issues facing historic places of worship, and the resources available to preserve historic places of worship in America. It finally seeks to develop recommendations based on the preceding analyses and findings. These are the basic research guidelines that have steered the following study. In an effort to illustrate some of the concepts and issues regarding historic places of worship in the U.S. a brief analysis of the Walnut Hills area of Cincinnati, Ohio will be used as well.