Mission Statement

Our mission is to preserve and enhance the visual character and scenic beauty of America.

We are the only national nonprofit that helps citizens safeguard our America’s scenic qualities. We are a 501(c)(3) that advocates for a Scenic America for all people and communities.

Where Scenic America Stands

Seven Principles of Conservation

Scenic America believes all communities possess scenic assets. Scenic conservation occurs with:

  • An educated citizenry
  • A corps of committed scenic activists
  • A business community that understands the economic value of beauty
  • Public policy that defends natural beauty and distinctive character

Scenic America fosters citizen engagement in scenic conservation issues by:

  • Assisting in the formation of state and city affiliate organizations
  • Providing technical assistance on issues such as:
    • Billboard and sign control
    • Scenic byways conservation
    • Tree ordinances
    • Wireless telecommunications towers
    • Context-sensitive road design
    • Utility undergrounding
    • Energy equity

We help preserve American landscapes, cityscapes, and townscapes through demonstration projects that:

  • Enhance local economies
  • Boost citizen involvement
  • Apply insights of planners, landscape architects, and other design professionals
  • Establish best practices in scenic conservation

We raise general public awareness about:

  • Benefits of scenic conservation
  • Threats to natural beauty and community character
  • Success stories and best practices
  • Promotes government policies that encourage local citizen engagement, protect scenic beauty, and limit visual pollution.

A few of Scenic America’s accomplishments include:

  • Shepherded the “Reviving America’s Scenic Byways Act of 2019” from introduction in Congress to its signing into law by the president in September 2019.
  • Secured funding for the National Scenic Byways Program in the 2021 Consolidated Appropriatons Act, its first dedicated funding since 2012.
  • Helped establish state scenic byways programs in GA and OH.
  • Led a coalition to preserve and enhance the Journey Through Hallowed Ground in VA, MD, and PA.
  • Helped remove over 1,000 illegal billboards in Baltimore, MD.
  • Helped stop new billboard construction in Los Angeles, CA and hundreds of other cities nationwide.
  • Engaged business and civic leaders to protect scenic character along a 283-mile stretch of Highway 99 through California’s San Joaquin Valley.

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