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First inaugurated
in 1984, with the designation of the Illinois & Michigan Canal
National Heritage Corridor, the National Heritage Areas program
now encompasses 49 areas, ranging from factory towns and city neighborhoods
to farmland and battlefields.
Following the
designation of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, two other landscapes
were also recognized, the Blackstone River Valley NHC in Rhode Island
(1986) and the Delaware and Lehigh NHC in Pennsylvania (1988). Both
the Blackstone and the Delaware and Lehigh shared common themes
with the I&M, in particular an emphasis on industrial history.
The authorizing legislation of all three areas also stressed the
potential for economic revitalization through improved resource
protection.
An educational
program at the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, designated
in 1996.
- In 2008,
National Heritage Areas on average levraged every $1 they received
from the National Park Service into $5.50 of additional investment.
- In 2008 National
Heritage Areas supported the development of 55 miles of new trails
and provided 78 grants to National Register properties.
- In 2008 NHA's
worked with more than 4,250 partners to complete projects ranging
from the development of new elementary school curriculums to the
removal of invasive species along our nation's waterways.
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Interpreters guide
a tour group in the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage
Corridor,
designated in 1984.
In 1996, Congress
responded to an increased popularity in the program by creating
eleven areas, tripling the size of the program. These areas represented
a diverse array of stories and resources. They began to include
significant natural resources that helped shape the cultural identity
of a place.
Over the next
few years, even more NHAs would be authorized, bringing the total
number to thirty-seven by the end of 2006.
The Heritage
Area movement was beginning to spread west with designations in Utah,
Arizona and New Mexico.
Click
here to view a video about the Journey Through Hallowed Ground
National Heritage Area's exciting program. Approximately 70 Harpers
Ferry Middle School kids served as writers, editors, photographers,
choreographers, set designers, videographers, and even public relations
representatives to produce and promote six mini-documentaries, depicting
their understanding of the famous John Brown Raid in Harpers Ferry,
which set-off fighting in the American Civil War.
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Read an interview
with Ana Koval, Executive Director Illinois & Michigan Canal
National Heritage Corridor
Read an interview
with Chuck Arning, Park Ranger John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley
Heritage Corridor
Natalie Gelb
Solfanelli, Executive Director of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley
Authority, and Kip Hagen, Superintendent of Steamtown National Historical
Park, participated in an interview discussing their partnership.
Read the interview and listen to excerpts
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The Abraham Lincoln
National Heritage Area was designated in 2008.
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March 2009
brought 9 new National Heritage Areas into the program. Included
on this list is the first area in Alaska.
As the heritage
area model continues to grow in popularity more and more people
across the country are made aware of the fascinating people, places
and history right in their own backyards!
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Larry
Blake, Superintendent of Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical
Park and Tony Sculimbrene, Executive Director Aviation Heritage
Foundation, Inc. discuss the evolution of their park/heritage
area relationship. Read the interview
and listen to excerpts
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