The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has declared a location beyond Earth as at-risk for the first time. The WMF, an international non-profit organization, identifies 25 cultural heritage sites at risk every two years.
Due to advancements in space technology, the organization has included the Moon on its 2025 Watch List, as there are over 90 historical sites related to human presence on the Moon. These sites include Tranquility Base, where humans first landed on the Moon. The landing site preserves astronaut Neil Armstrong’s footprint and over 100 other artifacts from the Apollo 11 mission.
The organization’s President and CEO, Benedict de Montlaur, stated that for the first time, a location beyond Earth has been included in the list to highlight the urgent need to identify and preserve these artifacts, which stand as testimony to humanity’s first steps beyond Earth.
