Preserve America News |September
2008
Apply Now for 2009 Preserve America Presidential Awards
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is accepting nominations for exemplary heritage tourism and historic preservation programs and projects that meet the 2009 Preserve America Presidential Award criteria. Nominations must be postmarked no later than Nov. 1, 2008. Read the criteria and download the nomination materials here. Please note, the Presidential Award is a non-monetary award.
Photo: 2008 Preserve America Presidential Award winner Texas Historic Courthouse Restoration Program, Goliad County Courthouse
Missouri Communities Honored
At a special presentation Aug. 14 at the Busch family’s home at Grant’s Farm outside of St. Louis, seven Missouri communities were honored with Preserve America Community recognition. Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Chairman John L. Nau, III; Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt; and Preserve America Co-Chairman Lynn Scarlett, deputy secretary of the Department of the Interior, honored the communities of Arrow Rock, Cape Girardeau, Florissant, Jefferson City, Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve and Weston. Read more about the presentation here.
Photo: Gov. Matt Blunt, left, and Ken Eftink, director of development services in Cape Girardeau.
Read About Summit Progress
It has been a year since the recommendations from the Preserve America Summit were published and assigned to various federal agencies and partners for implementation. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has posted each recommendation's progress report for public viewing and comment. Click here for more information.
Photo: Mrs. Laura Bush participates in the Preserve America Summit panel discussion of Building a Preservation Ethic and Public Appreciation for History in New Orleans, October 2006.
New Program to Showcase Volunteers
Preserve America Stewards offers recognition for outstanding volunteer efforts to preserve national, regional and local heritage. Read more here. Applications are available here. Look for the first round of designations soon!
Photo: Site steward Ann Felty monitors her site in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument as part of the Southwest Colorado Cultural Site Stewardship Program.
Department of the Interior Offers Award
October 20 is the deadline for applications for the inaugural year of the Secretary of the Interior's preservation award. The award was created to recognize the outstanding contributions of the employees of federal, state and tribal preservation offices and Certified Local Governments in the area of historic preservation. Read more here. Download the application here.
Send Us Your Heritage Tourism Experiences
Preserve America Communities are involved in some exceptionally creative and successful heritage tourism efforts. We want to share information on the most innovative and effective programs and projects and would greatly appreciate feedback from you.
1) What kinds of projects and programs are you most interested in learning about? What sorts of information would be most useful to you? What formats--online case studies, links to sample documents, etc.--would be the most helpful?
2) Do you have a really good project example for which there is already information online? If so, please describe what you would like to share, and point us to the material.
Please e-mail Judy Rodenstein at jrodenstein@achp.gov with your thoughts on these questions.
Preservation Technology & Training Grants Available
The National Center for Preservation Technology & Training is offering grants of up to $25,000 for innovative projects that advance the application of science and technology to historic preservation. Click here for details and application forms. The deadline is Oct. 15, 2008.
Upcoming Conferences
October 15-18 Civic Tourism Conference, Blackstone River Valley, Rhode Island
"Creating and Marketing Your Somewhere"
www.civictourismconference2008.com
October 21-25 National Preservation Conference, Tulsa, Oklahoma
"Preservation in Progress"
www.preservationnation.org/resources/training/npc
November 5-8 Cultural and Heritage Tourism Alliance, Delray Beach, Florida
(including U.S. Cultural and Heritage Tourism Marketing Symposium and discussion of new Discover America Web site)
www.chtalliance.com/conference.html
December 2-4 Western States Tourism Policy Council Gateways Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico
"Gateways Today: Balancing Conservation and Community in an Age of Diversity, Change and Challenge"
www.newmexico.org/WSTPC (full agenda not yet available)
Tell Us How You Are Recovering
We want to remind readers that Galveston (www.galveston.com) and Harris County, Texas (greater Houston) (www.co.harris.tx.us) are among the Preserve America Community family that have been suffering from Hurricane Ike, other earlier storms, or the extensive flooding in the Midwest this summer. We would like to hear from communities that have been affected by natural disasters recently. Please tell us how things are going with recovery efforts so that we may pass that information along. E-mail to Ron Anzalone at ranzalone@achp.gov.
Photo: Corpus Christi, TX, Sept. 10, 2008 -- A sign points the way for the Hurricane Ike evacuation route. Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA
Community Spotlight: California Neighborhoods
The newest designated Preserve America Communities include a triumvirate of ethnic enclaves in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California. Chinatown and Thai Town of Los Angeles and Japantown of San Francisco provide much history and cultural diversion for residents and visitors alike. Read profiles of all three communities here.
Photo: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi presents the Preserve America Community sign to leaders of Japantown at an event in San Francisco in September. From left are Paul Osaki, executive director of the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California; Pelosi; Robert Hamaguchi, executive of the Japantown Taskforce; and Sandy Mori, chairperson of the task force.
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