Home News Mrs. Laura Bush Designates Two Colorado Towns As Preserve America Communities

February 4, 2005, Denver, CO—Today, Mrs. Bush announced that Colorado's Greeley and Silverton communities have been designated among the newest of the Nation's 220 Preserve America Communities, joining Fort Collins, Pueblo, and Steamboat Springs as the fourth and fifth communities to achieve this distinction in Colorado.

Greeley, Colorado's, 2002 History Fest: Children watch a chuckwagon demonstration.

Greeley and Silverton officials received a signed certificate by Mrs. Bush notifying them that their cities are now Preserve America Communities. John L. Nau, III, chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), presented the certificates today at the annual conference of Colorado Preservation, Inc. He was joined by Ann Alexander Pritzlaff, Conference Coordinator of Colorado Preservation, Inc., and an ACHP expert member.

"Preserve America communities demonstrate that they are committed to preserving America's heritage while ensuring a future filled with opportunities for learning and enjoyment," Mrs. Bush said.

"This community designation program, combined with the Preserve America Presidential Awards and Federal support, provides strong incentives for continued preservation of our cultural and natural heritage resources. I commend them for their commitment to preserving an important part of our Nation's historic past for visitors, neighbors, and, most importantly, for children."

The Preserve America initiative is a White House effort to encourage and support community efforts for the preservation and enjoyment of America's 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 communities.

"There are significant economic, educational, and cultural benefits that historic preservation, through efforts such as heritage tourism, bring to a community," Nau said. "Sustainable preservation is not a cost for maintaining the past, it is an investment in building the future. These communities are leaders in this trend and have created a powerful positive example for others."

Communities designated through the program receive national recognition for their efforts. Benefits include use of the Preserve America logo, listing in a government Web-based directory to showcase preservation and heritage tourism efforts, and eligibility for special existing and proposed Preserve America grants and funding through various government agencies.

As of January 2005, 220 Preserve America communities had been designated in 34 States, including one American Indian tribe. The first eight communities, which included Steamboat Springs, were designated January 15, 2004, at the White House.

The next quarterly deadline for Preserve America Community applications is March 1, 2005. For more information, including brief profiles of the five Colorado communities, application forms, and procedures, visit www.PreserveAmerica.gov/communities.html.

The ACHP and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Housing and Urban Development, and the Interior partner to administer the Preserve America initiative on behalf of the Office of the First Lady.

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.

Learn more about the ACHP

Updated April 8, 2005

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