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President and Mrs.
Bush Present First Preserve America Presidential Awards
President
and Mrs. Bush Present First Preserve America Presidential Awards
May 3, 2004, Washington, DCThe President and Mrs. Laura Bush presented
the first four Preserve America Presidential Awards at a White
House ceremony today.
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Dan and Mary
King of Ouray, Colorado's Beaumont Hotel are congratulated by the
First Lady and ACHP Chairman John Nau for winning the Preserve
America Presidential Award. |
Two honorees were selected in each of two categories:
- Heritage Tourism, for projects that exemplify efforts that
demonstrate commitment to the protection and interpretation of America's
cultural or natural heritage assets; and
- Private Preservation, for outstanding privately funded historic
preservation projects that are funded privately or through public-private
partnerships and that support the Administration's Preserve America
initiative objectives.
2004 Preserve America Presidential Awards for
Heritage Tourism
- Blue Ridge Heritage Initiative, located in North Carolina, Tennessee,
Virginia, and Georgia. This initiative promotes four groups of heritage
tourism trails: Blue Ridge Music; Cherokee Heritage; Craft Heritage;
and Farms, Gardens and Countryside.
The development of guidebooks for driving tours helps visitors explore
important cultural stories, places and traditions of the southern mountains.
Accepting the award were Ms. Mary Regan, Executive Director, and Mr.
Wayne Martin, Folklife Director, of the North Carolina Arts Council.
- Lackawanna Heritage Valley, located in northeast Pennsylvania.
The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority and its partners are bringing
into focus the significant cultural and natural resources of Lackawanna
Valley by considerably investing in the region, leading to an increase
in tourism that has also contributed to the local economy.
The project has stimulated environmental renewal, contributed greatly
to education, and created a visitors center, greenways, trails, festivals,
projects, volunteer programs and museums. Accepting the award were Mr.
John W. Cosgrove, Executive Director, and the Honorable Randy Castellani,
Chairman, of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority.
2004 Preserve America Presidential Awards for
Private Preservation
- Historic Beaumont Hotel, located in Ouray, Colorado. The Beaumont
Hotel was built in the 1880's when Ouray was one of the richest silver
and gold mining areas in the western United States, yet has remained
abandoned for 34 years despite its listing in 1973 on the National Register
of Historic Places. Demolition of the hotel was a strong possibility
until the Kings recognized its cultural and economic importance and
purchased the structure in 1998.
After extensive study and planning, they completed a $6 million restoration
and the Beaumont reopened for business in 2003. Accepting the award
were owners and restorers Dan and Mary King, principals of High Peak
Resources, Inc.
- Historic Raven Natural Resources Learning Center, Kootenai National
Forest, Libby, Montana. The Historic Raven Natural Resources Learning
Center began in 1906 as the Raven Ranger Station to support the newly
created U.S. Forest Service as a supply station on the southern end
of the Kootenai National Forest.
The ProviderPals, the U.S. Forest Service, local communities, individuals,
major foundations, schools and business partnered to preserve the historic
place and in the process created a learning center that brings students
and teachers from across the nation to learn about natural and cultural
resources at the site. Accepting the award were Mr. Bruce Vincent, Executive
Director, ProviderPals; and Mr. Bob Castaneda, Forest Supervisor, United
States Department of Agriculture.
The Preserve America initiative to "Explore and Experience
America's Heritage," through both preservation and appropriate use
of the Nation's cultural and natural heritage resources, was launched
March 3, 2003. The annual awards event is timed to coincide with National
Historic Preservation Week, which occurs this year May 3-9, with a theme
of "New Frontiers in Preservation."
For more information on the Preserve America initiative, today's
award winners, and to nominate candidates for next year's Preserve
America Presidential Awards, please visit www.firstlady.gov
or www.PreserveAmerica.gov.
Summary of the Preserve America
initiative
An independent Federal
agency, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) promotes
historic preservation nationally by providing a forum for influencing
Federal activities, programs, and policies that impact historic properties,
advising the President and Congress, advocating preservation policy, improving
Federal preservation programs, protecting historic properties, and educating
stakeholders and the public. For more information, visit the ACHP's Web
site at www.achp.gov, or contact Bruce Milhans at 202-606-8513 or bmilhans@achp.gov.
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Posted
May 27, 2004
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