Charles Birnbaum

2020 Historic Preservation Medal

For his work as founder of The Cultural Landscape Foundation and his dedication to saving and cataloging important gardens and landscapes across the United States.

Proposed by: Indianapolis Garden Club, Zone X

Charles Birnbaum founded The Cultural Landscape Foundation in 1998 to inspire local citizens to save the cultural landscapes in their hometowns, as well as to chronicle the accomplishments of significant landscape designers, and to honor accomplished landscape architects. His successes include preserving the 1977 Russell Page garden at the Frick Collection, among many others. Mr. Birnbaum is an inspiration to those who value the arts, landscapes, and history, and his work encourages us to appreciate great public places and works of landscape architecture just as we appreciate great buildings. His passion and charisma drive his work, and it has had a generational impact for the betterment of society.

The Historic Preservation Medal is awarded for outstanding work in the field of preservation and/or restoration of historic gardens or buildings of national importance.

The Historic Preservation Medal was designed in 1973 by Joseph Kiselewski of New York City and presented and endowed by Mrs. John Leddy-Jones, Founders Garden Club of Dallas, and Mrs. Leonard Kirby, Jupiter Island Garden Club. It was the intention of the donors that non-members or groups receive preference in the awarding of this medal.

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