Adolf Placzek was an architectural historian and served as a commissioner on the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission from 1984 to 1993. In this interview, originally published in the Village Views, Placzek speaks about the early preservation movement in New York and how architectural historians started to become aware of and value Nineteenth Century American Architecture. A member of the Society of Architectural Historians, he recollects the collective shift towards valuing more mundane styles of buildings such as train stations. He also shares his memories of Talbot F. Hamlin, his list of architectural landmarks and his influence the early members of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.