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 endowed by two GCA club members: Elizabeth “Betty” Work Kirby (Mrs. Leonard Kirby: 1910–2007), Jupiter Island Garden Club, Zone VIII, and Erin Bain Leddy Jones (Mrs. John Leddy Jones: 1896–1974), attorney, author, and lay expert on environmental issues, who was a member of Founders Garden Club of Dallas, Zone IX. Originally awarded in 1973, it was the intention of the donors that non-members or groups receive preference in the awarding of this medal.

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