Published author, historian, and consultant.

Hi! My name is Alyssa McClanahan. I’m a historian who writes about old places—especially historic cities—and the stories they can tell us.

I especially care about conflicted, misunderstood places.

So, I’ve spent the last 10+ years working in place-making, historic preservation, public incentives, public history, and economic and community development, trying to make cities better. Equitable, green, accessible, preserved, meaningful. 

I’ve executed over 150 collaborative projects with community groups, businesses, and federal, state, and local government officials in different cities. Rehabilitated 50+ historic buildings, won $10M+ in state/federal historic tax credits, and published two books on these topics.

I would love to work together.