Who
We Are
In 1986, the
Blackstone Valley was recognized as a special place and designated
as a National Heritage Corridor by the U.S. Congress (Public
Law 99-647). A 19-member Federal Commission, appointed
by the Governors of each state and approved by the Secretary of
the Interior, consists of representatives from the National
Park Service, state and local governments, and valley-wide
interests, and oversees the Corridor’s operations.
[ image by Jim McElholm-Single Source Inc. ]
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Congress
established the National Heritage Corridor as an affiliated
area of the National Park System to make the NPS tradition of
management of cultural and natural resources available to the
Blackstone River Valley. |
National Park
Service professionals make up the Corridor
staff, and include interpretive rangers, planners,
managers, and administrative specialists that provide expertise
in historic and natural resource preservation, interpretation, education,
and recreation development to carry out work as directed by the
Commission and outlined in the Ten
Year Plan.
[ image by Jim McElholm-Single Source Inc. ]
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Known
as the Birthplace of America's Industrial Revolution, the Blackstone
Valley contains over 10,000 historic buildings and sites that
together tell the story of America’s transition from an
agrarian society to one of industry. |
Throughout
the region, one can see and experience how this area developed along
the river valley and hilltops. As a partnership park, the Heritage
Corridor Commission
works to preserve the historic and environmental elements of the
Valley’s landscape as well as to tell its story. It also seeks
opportunities for investments in the Valley’s historic mill
villages and revitalization of its river system. With a winning
formula of collaboration and cooperation, the Heritage Corridor
Commission has partnered with over 500 organizations, businesses,
government agencies and individuals to achieve these goals. Perhaps
most telling of the cooperative nature of this venture is the fact
that the Commission cannot own or manage land or regulate activities
-- it's all about partnerships!
Under the guidance
of the Corridor, programs like the Blackstone
Valley Institute and Volunteers
in Parks have become an important part of the Corridor
and examples of our partnership model.
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