Twenty-five historic sites in Greater Boston are battling in a public vote for shares of a $1-million grant pie to be doled out through the Partners in Preservation project, The Boston Globe reports.

The American Idol-style grant competition, previously staged in San Francisco, Chicago, and New Orleans, is a joint venture of American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The online balloting began April 14 and closes May 17.

Landmarks ranging from a 17th-century meetinghouse to the 40-year-old New England Aquarium are campaigning for the $100,000 first prize, with the remaining grants to be divided among the runners-up by an advisory committee of local civic and preservation leaders.

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