Number of Pages:  22
Approval Date:   December 20, 2000
Planning Cycle:  4 years

Contact Information:
     Richard Cawthon
     Chief Architectural Historian
     Historic Preservation Division
     Department of Archives and History
     P.O. Box 571
     Jackson, Mississippi 39205-0571
     (601) 359-6940; fax (601) 359-6955
     E-mail:  rcawthon@mdah.state.ms.us
     Website: www.mdah.state.ms.us/hpres/plan.html

Mission/Vision Statement:
Not included in the Plan.

Table of Contents:
     Part 1: Purpose and Applicability of the Plan
     Part 2: What the Comprehensive Plan is and how it came into being
     Part 3: The Historic Resources of Mississippi
     Part 4: Assessment of the current state of historic preservation
          in Mississippi
     Part 5: Goals and objectives
     Bibliography

• Series of well-advertised public meetings conducted to gather feedback from users of 1996 Preservation Plan, and from attendees on historic preservation as an economic development tool;
• Information about the revised plan distributed to organizations, governmental agencies, educational institutions, local governments, and preservation leaders for review;
• Availability of revised plan for review announced in press releases, newspapers, Mississippi History Newsletter, and MDAH's web site;
• Revised plan discussed at statewide preservation conference, and annual meeting of the Mississippi County Supervisors Association.

Other Plan Development Strategies:
None specifically identified.

HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
Buildings; structures; objects; historic districts; prehistoric and historic archaeological sites; battlefields; historic landscape features; transportation routes; settlement patterns; shipwrecks and other underwater resources; sites with traditional cultural value.

ISSUES, THREATS, & OPPORTUNITIES

• Rural depopulation and abandonment of historic buildings;
• Catfish farming destroys archaeological sites;
• Neglect and decay in economically disadvantaged areas;
• Development pressures on waterfronts through dockside gambling;
• Decline of rural communities due to railroad abandonment;
• Coastal erosion damages archaeological sites;
• Urban sprawl;
• Lack of knowledge and appreciation of preservation;
• Need for more surveys;
• Need for better enforcement of preservation laws;
• Need for closer working relationship among public agencies and private organizations;
• Efforts to produce archaeological context documents have been successful; architectural and historical contexts are not as complete;
• Computerized topical lists of historic resources have been useful in assessing National Register eligibility;
• Need for publications on state's cultural resources;
• New grant programs for state landmarks, African American historic sites, and Civil War battlefields;
• Consolidation of public schools and replacement of older school facilities leads to abandonment and/or destruction.

1. Achieve widespread public awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of historic preservation, and of governmental historic preservation programs, throughout Mississippi.
2. Increase identification and registration activities for archaeological sites and for architecturally and historically significant properties.
3. Continue to develop and maintain productive partnerships among various organizations and agencies to promote and accomplish historic preservation.
4. Strengthen the protection of significant properties under the Mississippi Antiquities Law, the National Historic Preservation Act, local ordinances, and preservation easement programs.
5. Accomplish the restoration and long-term preservation of historic buildings, with a particular emphasis on the role of historic preservation in accomplishing ongoing, lasting community revitalization.
6. Accomplish the long-term preservation of significant archaeological sites, historic sites, and historic landscapes.
7. Increase public awareness and understanding of the history and historic resources of Mississippi and its communities.
8. Support, encourage, and accomplish increased awareness of and participation in historic preservation by persons in those segments of society that have tended to be under-represented or under-recognized heretofore in organized historic preservation activities in Mississippi.
9. Promote, support, and accomplish effective governmental historic preservation programs at all levels of government.

1. Increase Appreciation of Preservation.
   • Increase visibility through site visits, presentations and lectures;
   • Publish brochures describing all preservation programs;
   • Coordinate with others to produce a newsletter;
   • Produce other informational documents;
   • Promote preservation through the media;
   • Make use of the Internet and other types of electronic technology;
   • Hold annual preservation conference;
   • Cosponsor events during National Historic Preservation Week/Mississippi Archaeology Week.
2. Increase Identification and Registration.
   • Target survey work in areas threatened by development;
   • Promote designation of National Historic Landmarks;
   • Fund more survey and registration project;
   • Prepare and update historic context reports.
3. Develop Productive Partnerships.
   • Encourage the growth of Mississippi Heritage Trust and Mississippi Archaeological Association;
   • Increase Certified Local Government program;
   • Workshops for agencies with historic properties;
   • Foster closer relationships with national organizations;
   • Increase relationships among statewide organizations, agencies, and institutions;
   • Support Mississippi Civil War Battlefield Commission;
   • Increase documentation of underwater resources.
4. Strengthen Protection of Significant Properties.
   • Continue designation of publicly owned properties as Mississippi Landmarks;
   • Develop Landmark eligibility criteria;
   • Conduct surveys of state-owned institutions;
   • Encourage the registration of privately owned archaeological sites as Mississippi Landmarks;
   • Work with Attorney General's office to enforce Antiquities Act;
   • Implement new grant programs for Mississippi Landmarks;
   • Promote the donation of easements;
   • Produce layman's guide to historic preservation laws.
5. Emphasize Role of Preservation in Community Revitalization.
   • Increase participation in Federal Investment Tax Credit program, and establish state tax incentive program;
   • Compile information on sources of grant funds;
   • Encourage respectful reuse of older buildings;
   • Increase access to information on how to repair, rehabilitate, restore, and conserve historic buildings and sites;
   • Develop preservation-related educational programs.
6. Preserve Archaeological and Historic Sites and Landscapes.
   • Preserve Civil War battlefields;
   • Encourage donation of easements.
7. Increase Public Awareness of Historic Resources.
   • Seek funding for and continue placement of historical markers;
   • Promote installation of interpretive signage;
   • Promote range of methods for increasing public awareness;
   • Promote awareness of under-represented themes;
   • Encourage relationships among historic preservation, revitalization, and tourism.
8. Encourage Participation by Under-represented Groups.
   • Increase accessibility by physically impaired;
   • Broaden participation in preservation activities by racial and ethnic minorities;
   • Develop educational programs for children.
9. Maintain Government Preservation Programs.
   • Ensure appropriateness of laws and regulations;
   • Provide sufficient resources for MDAH;
   • Maintain federal programs in a productive manner;
   • Establish MDAH field office in South Mississippi;
   • Expand participation in the Certified Local Government program;
   • Encourage historic preservation components in community comprehensive plans;
   • Agencies and organizations urged to follow the Comprehensive Plan.