Preserve
America is a White House initiative that encourages and supports
community efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural
and natural heritage. The goals of the initiative include a
greater shared knowledge about the nation’s past, strengthened
regional identities and local pride, increased local participation
in preserving the country’s cultural and natural heritage
assets, and support for the economic vitality of our communities.
Mrs. Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States, is the Honorary
Chair of Preserve America. Detailed information on all aspects
of this initiative can be found at www.preserveamerica.gov.
Major components of the Preserve America initiative
include:
Preserve America Presidential Awards
Four awards are given annually to organizations, businesses,
government entities, and individuals for exemplary accomplishments
in the sustainable use and preservation of cultural or natural
heritage assets; demonstrated commitment to the protection and
interpretation of America’s cultural or natural heritage
assets; and integration of these assets into contemporary community
life, combining innovative, creative, and responsible approaches
to showcasing historic local resources.
Preserve America Communities
This program recognizes and designates communities that protect
and celebrate their heritage, use their historic assets for
economic development and community revitalization, and encourage
people to experience and appreciate local historic resources
through education and heritage tourism programs. Benefits of
designation include White House recognition; eligibility to
apply for Preserve America grants; a certificate of recognition;
a Preserve America Community road sign; authorization to use
the Preserve America logo on signs, flags, banners, and promotional
materials; listing in a Web-based Preserve America Community
directory; and more. Application
forms are available here.
Preserve America Grants
The program does not fund bricks-and-mortar projects, but rather
complements the Save America’s Treasures grant program
by helping local communities develop sustainable resource management
strategies and sound business practices for the continued preservation
and use of heritage assets. State Historic Preservation Offices,
Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, designated Preserve America
Communities, and Certified Local Governments that have applied
for Preserve America Community designation are eligible to apply
for Preserve America Grants. Further
information is available here.
Executive Order 13287: "Preserve America"
Signed by President Bush on March 3, 2003, this executive order
complements the Preserve America initiative. The order establishes
federal policy to provide leadership in preserving America’s
heritage by actively advancing the protection, enhancement,
and contemporary use of the historic properties owned by the
federal government. The order also encourages agencies to seek
partnerships with state, tribal, and local governments and the
private sector to make more efficient and informed use of these
resources for economic development and other recognized public
benefits. In addition, it directs the Secretary of Commerce,
working with other agencies, to use existing authorities and
resources to assist in the development of local and regional
heritage tourism programs that are a significant feature of
many state and local economies. As required by the order, the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation delivered the first
report on implementation of Section 3 to the President on February
15, 2006. See
the full report here.
In addition to IMLS, the White House is working with the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture,
Commerce, Defense, Education, Housing and Urban Development,
Interior, and Transportation, the General Services Administration,
the National Endowment for the Humanities, the President’s
Council on Environmental Quality, and the President’s
Committee on the Arts and Humanities to implement Preserve America.
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