Seventeen papers presented at a conference held at Goucher College, Baltimore, Maryland, March 20-22, 1997 co-sponsored by the U.S. National Park Service, Goucher College, and the National Council for Preservation Education, a non-profit organization dedicated to preservation education in acedemia and the general public. The papers address the topic of "historical significance", a factor in the determination of landmarks, historic districts and cultural landscapes in the United States. Sub-topics include how significance is communicated, views of significance from various disciplines, who defines significance, criteria and concepts of significance, taste and values, public policy and silent criteria. Extensive endnotes are included.