National Trust most commonly refers to an organization dedicated to preserving the cultural or environmental treasures of a particular geographic region. They generally operate as private non-profit organizations, although some receive considerable support from their national government. The first such organization was the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, which is the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, formed in 1895 and operating as a charitable organisation. Other national trusts have largely been modeled on this original example.
Other notable National Trusts include:
- An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, established in 1948.
- Bahamas National Trust
- Barbados National Trust, founded in 1960.
- Bermuda National Trust, established in 1970.
- Din l-Art Helwa, the national trust of Malta
- Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano, the national trust of Italy
- Heritage Canada
- The Land Conservancy of British Columbia, known also as TLC
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- Tantramar Heritage Trust, which operates in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
- Japan National Trust
- Manx National Trust
- Australian Council of National Trusts, federation of six state and two territorial National Trusts.
- National Trust for the Cayman Islands
- National Trust of Fiji
- National Trust of Guernsey
- National Trust for Historic Preservation, founded in 1949 by congressional charter in the United States
- National Trust Community Investment Corporation, a private for-profit subsidiary of the American organisation.
- National Trust for Jersey
- National Trust for Scotland, established in 1931.
- Queen Elizabeth II National Trust — New Zealand (open spaces)
- Saint Helena National Trust
- Saint Lucia National Trust
Famous quotes containing the words national and/or trust:
“The return of the asymmetrical Saturday was one of those small events that were interior, local, almost civic and which, in tranquil lives and closed societies, create a sort of national bond and become the favorite theme of conversation, of jokes and of stories exaggerated with pleasure: it would have been a ready- made seed for a legendary cycle, had any of us leanings toward the epic.”
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922)
“I cannot trust myself to put in words what I feel at this time. Every kind thought that is in your minds and every good wish that is in your hearts for me finds its responsive wish and thought in my mind and heart for each of you. I love this city. It has been my own cherished home. Twice before I have left it to discharge public duties and returned to it with gladness, as I hope to do again.”
—Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901)