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Washington Principles: What's the Point?
What’s the point of having the Washington Principles if museums are simply going to ignore them?
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The Heroes
The Monuments Men and Women were a group of American and British men and women---museum curators, art historians, librarians, architects, even artists---responsible for preserving the artistic and cultural achievements of western civilization from the destruction of war and theft by the Nazis.
Discoveries & Returns:
Join the Hunt!
Despite the success of the Monuments Men and Women, hundreds of thousands of cultural objects remain missing. Many are in the United States. We continue their work by locating and returning these objects to their rightful owners.
The assistance of the general public through tips and other information is vital to the success of our mission. If you have information about a work of art or other cultural item taken during World War II, please contact us.
Awards and Recognitions
The Foundation began operations on June 6, 2007, at a time when no one but a few scholars knew anything about the Monuments Men and Women. Today, “Monuments Men” is a ubiquitous term used all over the world to describe anybody whose efforts go towards the protection of cultural treasures.
The Monuments Men and Women Foundation (then Monuments Men Foundation) is a recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the United States’ highest honor for work in the humanities.
In 2015, United States Congress presented the Monuments Men and Women, of all 14 nations, with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the United States.
“The Foundation’s good work helps commemorate the Monuments Men’s efforts to rescue and preserve priceless artworks during World War II.”
President George W. Bush
Raising Worldwide Awareness
We need your support!
As a nonprofit organization, we rely on the support of the public to continue our important work of keeping the Monuments Men and Women's legacy alive.
Find out about all of the different ways you can help and be a part of our successful stories. Even small contributions make the difference!
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