Our Mission

In developing countries of the world, the primary heritage sites (e.g. Taj Mahal, Pyramids of Giza, etc.) have been well preserved; however, many secondary, but architecturally and historically significant buildings in these same countries are overshadowed by these major monuments and are ignored. They are unprotected and often destroyed by the inhabitants who repurpose the sites for urban use. Thousands of homes, temples, and workplaces, many hundreds of years old have been erased. Albums of Heritage focuses on these sites.

Albums of Heritage’s work is led by local, high school students who work to create a permanent record of each heritage building through developing a set of visually stunning images of the building in its current state, and what it would have looked like if the façade had been preserved. Over time, thousands of such sets of images should be created in Albums of Heritage bringing to life buildings of the past in hundreds of cities around the developing world.

By setting up Albums of Heritage societies in cities across the developing world, we hope to create a self-sustaining, grassroots movement. This movement should, with time, lead to the creation of more albums that capture the visual histories of more heritage sites, in more cities, with more student participants around the world.