Dear Dames,
Many of you have reached out to express concern over the recent demolition of the East Wing of the White House. Like you, I was deeply unsettled to see such a significant alteration to what is, in every sense, the People’s House. As the National President of the NSCDA, an organization devoted to historic preservation, I believe this moment calls for reflection and response.
As Dames, our mission transcends politics. We are committed to protecting the historic places that tell our shared American story. There is perhaps no structure more symbolic of that story than the White House, a home that belongs to all of us and to future generations. My response, therefore, is guided not by partisanship but by principle: a belief that the stewardship of our nation’s landmarks deserves care, transparency, and respect.
The White House, built between 1792 and 1800, stands as both a home and a symbol. Although the White House is exempt from the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, I believe the spirit of that law with its emphasis on public engagement, professional review, and accountability still applies. Generations before us established those safeguards to ensure that our shared heritage would be preserved thoughtfully and with care. To ignore them now diminishes not only the building itself but also the trust we place in the process of preservation.
In the field of preservation, a simple adage: Measure twice, cut once is very apt. Thoughtful planning and expert consultation should always precede irreversible change. By that measure, this demolition was neither transparent nor collaborative. Such actions risk diminishing not only a national landmark but also the civic trust that binds us as stewards of our shared past.
As I reflect on this, I am reminded that stewardship is not about the past alone. It is about honoring those who came before us by ensuring that future generations inherit the best of what remains. As we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, my hope is that decisions affecting our shared national treasures will be made with care, consultation, and respect for both history and the public trust that sustains it. At the end of the day, it’s not about us. It’s about those who will come after us and the history we leave for them to know.
In gratitude for your steadfast dedication to preservation, education, and patriotic service,
Mary Heyward Mundy
President, NSCDA
The Hotel de Paris in Georgetown is a historic house owned by the Colonial Dames.
The Colonial Dames also own the historical McAllister House in Colorado Springs. The Colonial Dames own many historic places all across America. They lovingly take care of these places and keeping them in good condition in the interest of preserving history for Americans.
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