Showing Up for Your Small Town: Why Preservation Matters

Original MKT McKittrick Depot

Every small town has a choice. It can protect its heritage, culture, and historic buildings—or let them fade, piece by piece, until what made it special is gone.

Heritage is more than old bricks and wood. It’s the heart of what draws people in. Tourists don’t drive out of their way for sameness; they come for authenticity—for a town that feels alive with history and pride.

Residents First, Always

In every small town, it should begin with the people who call it home. Residents carry the first responsibility to serve on commissions, protect landmarks, and keep the town’s legacy alive. Community care doesn’t come from stipends or convenience—it comes from pride in place.

When Business Owners Step In

But what happens when no one steps forward? Empty seats leave heritage undefended. That’s when committed business owners—who may not live within the limits but who invest their time, money, and trust in the town—should be welcomed to the table. They shouldn’t replace residents, but when locals leave chairs empty, a business owner who loves the town’s history is better than a void.

Once It’s Gone, It’s Gone

Every small town has seen it happen: a historic building comes down because it’s “too expensive to save.” But once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. And with it goes a piece of identity. When history disappears, so does the tourism and vitality it sustains.

Land as Legacy

For any community, the land and its historic fabric are more than property—they are legacy. Protecting them is a matter of honor. Preservation is survival. Once you give up ground, you never get it back.

The Only Way Forward

The survival of a small town depends on unity. Residents and business owners alike must put aside differences and do what’s best for the community as a whole. Heritage isn’t defended by talk—it’s defended by those willing to show up.

And that’s the difference between a town that thrives, and one that disappears from memory.