Historic places show us how the past directly affects our lives today. Where we live, the air we breathe, the schools our kids attend, and the opportunities we have—or don’t have—all stem from how our community developed. Historic preservation is a powerful tool for understanding, celebrating, and reconciling our past. In the end, it’s up to us to decide what kind of community we want to be. What do we want to leave future generations? By caring for the places we care about, we can shape the future we want to see.