A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.

The African-American Trust for Historic Preservation announces its latest publication (October 11, 2026): Cultural Listicles Ranking America’s Southern Cities, an illustrated, seven-chapter survey exploring the South’s greatest centers of cultural sophistication from 1750 to 2000. Examining historic architecture, fine arts, literature, universities, social refinement, and African-American institutional achievement, the 46-page booklet ranks influential Southern cities while devoting special chapters to Florida, Texas, and Washington, D.C., and an afterword to the influence of traditional journalism over the pivotal Twentieth Century in these regions.  Blending historical insight with provocative comparisons, this accessible volume invites readers to reconsider cultural greatness, recognize overlooked communities, and appreciate the institutions and built environments that shaped American civilization, advancing ATHP’s mission to preserve our irreplaceable heritage for future generations.

The Cities Featured or Mentioned (48 Total): Annapolis, Maryland; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; Birmingham, Alabama; Charleston, South Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Charlottesville, Virginia; Dallas, Texas; Durham, North Carolina; Eatonville, Florida; El Paso, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; Gainesville, Florida; Galveston, Texas; Greensboro, North Carolina; Houston, Texas; Jackson, Mississippi; Jacksonville, Florida; Key West, Florida; Lexington, Kentucky; Little Rock, Arkansas; Louisville, Kentucky; Marshall, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; Miami, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; Montgomery, Alabama; Nashville, Tennessee; Natchez, Mississippi; New Orleans, Louisiana; Norfolk, Virginia; Orlando, Florida; Oxford, Mississippi; Pensacola, Florida; Prairie View, Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; San Antonio, Texas; Sarasota, Florida; Savannah, Georgia; St. Augustine, Florida; St. Petersburg, Florida; Tallahassee, Florida; Tampa, Florida; Tuskegee, Alabama; and Washington, D.C.