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MDNHA Shares "Heart & Soul" of Mississippi Delta in DC
The Delta News, a Mississippi-based ABC and FOX television affiliate, featured Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area and The Delta Center at Delta State University for participating in the Alliance of National Heritage Areas annual meeting in Washington, D.C. During the Alliance's "Heart & Soul" congressional reception, the MDNHA was recognized with a NPS Centennial Award for creating the Delta Jewels Oral History Partnership.  Keith "Prince of the Delta Blues" Johnson, nephew of Muddy Waters, performed at th e event.  

The MDNHA delegation met with Senator Thad Cochran (second from right). Delta State graduate Keith Johnson (second from left), performed during the meeting. Also pictured (left to right) are Shelia Winters, Lee Aylward and Dr. Rolando Herts MDNHA, and Rhonda Price, executive director of Mississippi Gulf Coast NHA.  Click here to read more and view the news story and press release.
Water: Defining Force - Challenges for Waterfronts in the 21st Century
The Waterfront Center of Washington DC partnered with the Yuma Crossing NHA to host its 33rd annual international conference on urban waterfront planning, development and culture in Yuma, AZ in January. The theme was "WATER: The Defining Force - Challenges for Waterfronts in the 21st Century" featuring two tracks and 20 speakers from all over the country. The first track focused on the challenges facing the Colorado River. The second track explored a historic overview of waterfront redevelopments in Baltimore and Portland, Oregon  and also how communities like Houston are becoming more resilient to cope with hurricanes, flooding, stormwater issues, sea level rise and bulkheading.

The keynote speaker was Anne Castle, former Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science, whose theme was "Years of Living Dangerously: Ebbs and Flows on the Colorado River.

A pre-conference field trip featured tours of Yuma's riverfront redevelopment projects and a tour of the Yuma area's complex water development and management system. Yuma uses efficient irrigation technology to produce more than 90 percent of the leafy greens and vegetables consumed nationwide from November to March. More information is available on the Conference web site, 2018UW.com.
Wheeling Heritage Saves, Archives, Donates La Belle Records
Wheeling Heritage  NHA recently donated a collection of Wheeling-La Belle Nail Company records to the Ohio County Library. This collection consist of material dating from 1897-2010. It includes financial, production and legal records, photographs, architectural drawings, pamphlets and an employee notebook. Wheeling Heritage preserved and archived over 100 boxes in an effort to save an important part of Wheeling's industrial history.

"At the time of its closing in 2010, the Wheeling-La Belle Nail Company had been producing its signature cut nail for nearly 160 years," said Bekah Karelis, project manager at Wheeling Heritage. "Wheeling was known as 'Nail City' by 1875, and La Belle became a nationally significant company."

Wheeling Heritage and library officials announced the collection to more than 130 attendees at a presentation held at the library.  Given the role this plant played in the development and history of the Ohio Valley, the research potential of this collection is significant. Possible users include historians, genealogists, engineers, and local schools and universities.
Augusta Canal Textile Mill Sold to Developer
A 19th century textile mill will see new life as part of a growing 21st century cyber technology campus in the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area. ACNHA's governing body, the Augusta Canal Authority, closed the sale of its 22 acre King Mill property to developer Cape Augusta, LLC in late January.

Plans call for the complex to become a mixed-use redevelopment that will complement the adjacent Sibley Cyberworks, according to James Ainslie, Cape Augusta's President and CEO. Ainslie's company is developing the neighboring Sibley Mill as a tier III data center and cyber technology business complex.

The Augusta Canal Authority acquired the King Mill in 2001 when Spartan Mills faced receivership and shuttered the plant. Augusta Canal Authority Executive Director Dayton Sherrouse explained.  "Our hope for both King and Sibley Mills was that they could not only be preserved as a part of our city's industrial history, but be put back into productive use and become economic drivers for our community once again. The innovative ideas and energy that the team from Cape Augusta have put forward should do just that. 

Both mills are contributing structures of the Augusta Canal and Industrial National Historic District. The redevelopment will follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation Projects. " Income from the sale, lease and hydropower operations will make major contribution to the sustainability of the heritage area," said Sherrouse.  
Now Entering Freedom's Frontier NHA
If you are traveling in Western Missouri, keep an eye out for the Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area highway signs, like the one shown in this photo.

The Freedom's Frontier  master plan for signage, developed in 2011, identified the 25 most traveled state and federal highway corridors within heritage area boundaries in Kansas and Missouri. Signage Coordinator Doug Pickert works closely with the Departments of Transportation in both states. Missouri's 25 signs are installed. Once all 50 signs are in place, it's estimated that more than 228,000 travelers will see Freedom's Frontier boundary signs every day.

Highway boundary signs are one piece of the heritage area's signage plan that includes signs at Freedom's Frontier Partner Site. Doug works with each partner site to customize signs. Directional signage pilot projects are also underway. The pilot projects in Kansas and Missouri are helping Freedom's Frontier staff to learn about the complexities of a signage project that spans a federal heritage area, in two states, 41 counties, and multiple municipalities.
Understanding Your Visitors in Erie Canalway
The expansive geography of heritage areas and diversity of historic, cultural and recreational assets within them present challenges for areas seeking to better understand and serve visitors. With no single entry or exit point, gathering visitor information and feedback is not easy. Still, several basic questions are critical to answer: Who visits? Where do they go? What draws them? What do they want to do? How much do they spend?
 
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor conducted visitor research in 2017 to better understand current and prospective visitors to the 500-mile canal corridor in New York State. More than 1,000 people participated in online surveys and 20 provided in-depth interviews. Visitors and prospective visitors who live near the New York State Canal System, as well as those from other parts of NY and neighboring states, participated, providing a reliable and geographically-diverse research sample. The recently released results shed much-needed light on Erie Canalway visitors. National heritage corridor staff are now using the results to refine their outreach and help tourism partners better attract and serve visitors, including boaters, cyclists, sightseers and vacationers. For more information, visit https://eriecanalway.org/ or contact Jean Mackay, Director of Communications and Outreach at jean_mackay@partner.nps.gov.
Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area's 10th Birthday
On May 8, 2018 the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area will celebrate its 10th birthday! The 10th anniversary celebration kicked off on Abraham Lincoln's birthday, February 12, 2018. As part of Lincoln's birthday festivities at Lincoln's Home National Historic Site, Looking for Lincoln shared a teaser trailer for the new film about the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area and a program about the first four books in the Looking for Lincoln in Illinois book series.

A birthday party for the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area is planned for Saturday, April 28, 2018 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. The event will feature what the National Heritage Area has accomplished since its creation. Highlights planned for the party include: the inaugural showing of the new film about the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, treasures from the museum vault, access to the museum's exhibits and a cake cutting ceremony with Abraham Lincoln.
Looking for Lincoln created a new logo for use throughout 2018 by communities.
Looking for Lincoln is partnering with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library on an oral history project as part of the 10th anniversary. Original board members, partners, and staff of Looking for Lincoln are being interviewed about their involvement in creating Looking for Lincoln and the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. 

In addition, Looking for Lincoln is posting birthday messages to the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area on our Facebook page. If you would like to participate please contact Heather Wickens at hwicken@lookingforlincoln.com.

Four Valley Sites Nominated to National Register
The Sangre de Cristo NHA received a grant in collaboration with History Colorado to nominate four sites in the area to the National Register of Historic Places. The four sites are:

The Garcia Ranch dates back to the first settlers in this area, it includes the historic adobe family home, barn, adobe potato cellar, and historic sheds.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, the oldest parish in Colorado, has a long and rich history in the area. Its twin pillars stand out in the agricultural landscape of Conejos, near Antonito. Conejos was the first settlement to have a church in 1857. 

Saint Joseph's Parish in Capulin: The beautiful stained glass windows and stonework on this historic Catholic church is stunning, as is the beautiful arched ceilings that can only be fully appreciated from the interior balcony. The nomination will include the church building, surrounding land, the historic iron fence, and the historic cemetery. 

The S.P.D.T.U. building in Chama, Colorado: This small, historical building was once the hub of community gatherings. La Sociedad Proteccion Mutual de Trabajadores Unidos (the Society for the Mutual Protection of United Workers) was founded in 1900 by Celedonio Mondragon. The first building for this organization, Concilio #1, in Antonito is already on the National Register of Historic Places. This nomination recognizes the national significance of the organization. Together the two designations take locals and visitors on a journey from one county to the other to discover the history of this organization that played a pivotal role in the history of the Hispano people and our country. 
Click to learn more  
Cache la Poudre River NHA Sponsors 5th Annual Poudre River Forum
The Poudre River Forum in February brought together a wide variety of stakeholders groups and interested citizens with the goal of "listening to understand". The Forum fosters dialogue between farmers, industry, recreation community, and river health advocates to learn from one another and to explore how Northern Colorado might move from conflict to collaboration in regard to the Poudre River.

The Poudre River Forum is hosted by the Colorado State University Water Center and the Poudre Runs Through It community group, with over 40 partner organizations. 
"The Cache la Poudre River NHA and the Poudre Heritage Alliance are proud to sponsor this event that included over 300 attendees while improving dialogue, fostering relationships, and expanding lines of communication in regard to the river and its water management systems." said Jordan Williams, Assistant Program Manager, Poudre Heritage Allianc

The Forum highlights included a set of provocative "lightening talks" from a range of speakers with contrasting views about what can improve and what can damage Poudre flows; growing "water smart" with regional insights on the integration of land use planning with water supply planning; and a panel presentation with a Q&A session on how Poudre Farmers  are improving Poudre water quality through air quality monitoring. 
Replica Barn Stands in Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park 
An important piece of history was replicated in what will soon be part of the new Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. A partnership between Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Blackstone River Watershed Council /Friends of the Blackstone made it possible for Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc. to construct the replica barn in the Blackstone River State Park. The park is located in a mill village of Lincoln, RI and includes the Captain Wilbur Kelly House Transportation Museum.

This barn is a replica of one built in the late 1800's by the Lonsdale Company, which ran a company farm on the meadow south the Kelly House throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A small family farm operated on the site into the 1980s. The original barn collapsed during Hurricane Belle in August of 1976, after about 100 years of operation.

The new barn completes the historic landscape at the site and will provide a place to tell the Blackstone Valley's farming story, which was a key element of the development of the mill villages. Construction of the barn was funded by a grant from The Champlain Foundations.
Hudson River Valley NHA Installs New Henry Knox Marker
The Henry Knox Cannon Trail is a National Historic Trail that follows the route used by Colonel Henry Knox to transport 59 cannons from Crown Point and Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the winter of 1775-76. Fifty-six monuments were installed along the route in 1927 to commemorate the arduous 56-day journey, 30 in NY and 26 in Massachusetts. The installation of these monuments represents one of the earliest heritage trails created in the United States.

The monument at Albany was moved from its original location in the 1960s when Interstate 787 was built; however, it was lost in the intervening 50 years. Through the efforts of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area and our partners, a replica of the bronze relief was placed on a stone monument of the same dimensions as the original stone, including being from the same quarry, was installed on December 7, 2017 at the Albany Riverfront Park at Jennings Landing. Pictured with the stone is Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Co-Chair Barnabas McHenry.
BNHA Launches New Music Trails Magazine 
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area will help people explore the region's rich mountain music tradition with a new annual magazine devoted to the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina.  Working with the talented editors and writers of Smoky Mountain News, the BRNHA will publish a free 64-page magazine "Down The Road" this spring, with 30,000 copies to distribute to partnering music venues and visitor centers.
The Blue Ridge NHA's new "Down the Road" magazine highlights this rich heritage with stories about musicians, venues, festivals, community jam sessions and an extensive calendar of events.

The Blue Ridge Mountains have been a fertile ground for European, African-American and Cherokee sounds that met and mingled for hundreds of years in the mountain coves and among the rolling foothills of Western North Carolina -- homegrown sounds that have shaped American music.

BRNHA launched its signature Blue Ridge Music Trails in 2013, inviting people to return to the source to hear and enjoy these living traditions in 29 counties of Western North Carolina.
Art of Period Trades and Crafts -  Discover Center Opens
Crossroads of the American Revolution NHA continues its professional development series for area historical interpreters this spring with "The Art of Period Trades and Crafts" in May at East Jersey Old Town Village in Piscataway, NJ. Run in partnership with the Middlesex County Office of Arts and History, the session will include workshops on 18th century crafts including shoe-making, penmanship and knitting, as well as presentations on medicine and surgical practices of the era. 
Experts will also share guidance on navigating 21st century permits and requirements for making historic sites visitor ready and compliant with state laws for live demonstrations of hearth cooking, period firearms, etc. This is the latest in a series of sessions designed to help Crossroads sites provide authentic experiences for visitors now and during the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. More information on our Heritage Partners program for local historic sites.

Discover History Center opens in Morristown

Crossroads NHA was proud to be among the partners on hand at the opening celebration for the Discover History Center at Morristown NHP's Washington's Headquarters Museum. The new immersive, interactive exhibit engages visitors of all ages with hands-on and multimedia experiences to explore the stories of Morristown winter encampment, the Continental Army, General Washington and Continental Congress during the years that tried men's souls . The Washington Association of New Jersey raised $1.8 million for the project to enable its completion. During the Presidents Weekend event, Crossroads representatives spoke with hundreds of visitors about New Jersey's Revolutionary heritage and additional sites to explore to give context to the Morristown story. More information on the Discover History Center.
Schuylkill River Greenway's Heritage and Hops Tour Mixes Heritage and Conservation
The Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area launched a new Heritage & Hops tour that paired tastings with lessons to draw attention to some of the unique breweries in the area, while promoting regional history and the value of clean water. 

"You can't make great beer without clean water," said Schuylkill River Greenways NHA Executive Director Elaine Schaefer. "We know the people who took this tour all enjoy local beer. But they may not have considered how integrally beer making is connected to protecting and preserving the Schuylkill River, which is a source of drinking water for over 1.5 million people."

Schaefer said she is excited about the popularity of the tour and hopes the message about the importance of history and conservation resonates far beyond the tour itself. "Beer and breweries are a valuable and fun piece of our regional culture. We want people to recognize the role the river and the Schuylkill River Trail play in building that culture," she said.

This popular program featured Oakbrook Brewing located in the historic firehouse in Reading, PA., Hidden  River Brewing Co. located in the 18th century Historic Brinton Lodge in Douglassville, and Root Down where the topic was the history of Phoenixville and the building's industrial past. A visit to  Sly Fox Brewery, in Pottstown, highlighted how the SRT Ale supports the Schuylkill River Trail.
Arabia Alliance's  Mera Cardenas Honored
Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance proudly announces that Executive Director Mera Cardenas is the recipient of the Bill Hardman, Jr. Award, a recognition presented to an individual who exemplifies outstanding service and dedication to Discover DeKalb's mission of promoting DeKalb.

"I was incredibly surprised, touched and honored to be recognized by Discover DeKalb. I had no idea I w as being considered. The Arabia Alliance and our partners have worked for many years to prom ote the area as a tourist destination. From published brochures, digital promotion and special events to our new visitors signs, we want to be sure people are welcomed and can find their own special place in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. The award is reaffirming of our work and commitment to creating a world-class destination," says Arabia Alliance Executive Director Mera Cardenas.

Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for the cities of Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville, Stonecrest, Tucker and unincorporated DeKalb County.

Mera received the award Dec. 2, 2017 at the Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort in Stone Mountain Park. For more information about Discover DeKalb, visit www.discoverdekalb.com.
Award f or  Passage to Chicago Book
Canal Corridor Association President Ana Koval & llustrator/ Historian Tom Willcockson received an award from the Illinois Association of Museums for Printed Materials category at the Superior level for the book  Passage to Chicago: A Journey on the Illinois & Michigan Canal in the Year 1860

Passage to Chicago takes the reader on a special journey by giving an in-depth, illustrated look at life on a fictional canal boat as it travels to Chicago just before the Civil War. Readers will experience the daily lives of those who lived and worked on the canal boats, as well as the towns through with they traveled more than 150 years ago.

Cartographer Tom Willcockson has worked closely with CCA to recreate the sights, sounds, and challenges encountered by a family-owned canal boat on a journey from LaSalle-Peru to Chicago. Tom's well-researched and gorgeously detailed maps and illustrations in this book provide fascinating insights into a way of life few of us can imagine today.

The book furthers the CCA goal to tell accurate, interesting, and compelling stories of the rich history of America's FIRST National Heritage Area, the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Area. The book is available on www.iandmcanal.org.
Augusta Canal NHA hosts  Alliance Spring Meeting

Augusta Canal NHA will host the annual spring meeting of the Alliance of National Heritage Areas April 18 and 19. T he field day in the heritage area on the 18th will include visits to the King and Sibley Mills, a canal boat tour and evening at a recently restored theater. 

Hotel registration closes April 3. For more information.  click here. or email: rrogers@augustacanal.com
New Staff in the NPS Southeast region: 

Elisa Kunz is the nrew Southeast Regional Coordinator for National Heritage Areas in Atlanta. Most recently, Elisa was the Youth and Special Initiatives Coordinator in the National Capitol Region covering the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia. 

Welcome Elisa!
Tribal Heritage Historic Preservation Fund Grants

NPS T ribal Heritage program is accepting applications on grants.gov for funds to support the protection of America's native cultures. D eadline for applications is May 11, 2018.  To apply, visit http://go.nps.gov/znle88. #FindYourPark #ParkPartnerships #HistoricPreservation

Federally recognized Indian tribes, Alaskan Native groups, and Native Hawaiian Organizations (as defined in 54 U.S.C. ยง300314) can apply.
Apply: FY 2018 Challenge
Cost Share Program 

NPS Challenge Cost Share Program is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Trails and Wild & Scenic Rivers systems.

Eligibility is limited to specific NPS-administered areas; Parks, National Trails (National Historic, Scenic, and Recreation Trails), and Wild and Scenic Rivers (including Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers) working in partnership. The maximum CCS funding provided per project is $25,000 with a 1 to 1 non-federal match.  
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Are you curious about how National Heritage Areas conserve cultural, historic, and natural resources? Or how the NPS supports these nationally important regions?  Tune in to the podcast series for an inside look at what makes the program tick. What do you want to hear about? Leave us a comment.
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground hosted a symposi um titled: The Cutting Edge of Public History:  New Directions in Interpretation in DC on March 28-29 , 2018. It  showcased new approaches and best practices in presenting American history with keynote speeches and panel discussions from leading professionals in the Journey's National Heritage Area and Washington, D.C.


The National Alliance of Preservation
Commissions conference 
is in Des Moines, Iowa from July 18 to 22, 2018 sponsored by Siolos and Smokestacks NHA.  
Educational sessions at FORUM 2018 will focus on: Main Street and Rural Resources
Community Engagement
Diverse Resources
Community Resilience and Sustainability
Methods and Materials
New  Staff in Oil Region NHA: J enn Burden started work in January as the new Historian-Educator intended to increase and diversify the educational programming and materials for the Oil Region NHA.  

Burden has a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Ball State University. Since 2006, she worked
in the History/Architecture Division of a major Cincinnati consulting firm. Previously,  Jenn and her husband volunteered to tackle the inventorying of oil history and geology books in a private collection maintained in Oil City by the Petroleum History Institute, one of ORA's partners.
NHA Legislative Proposals

H.R. 1002: National Heritage Areas Act of 2017
 
S.713: National Heritage Area Authorization Act of 2017

S.2225: reauthorize Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
 
H.R.3142 and S.401: 
Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area Act of 2017

H.R.262: Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area Act
 
H.R.1738 and S.731:
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Establishment Act
 
H.R.1791: Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Act
 
H.R.151 and S.627: Maritime Washington National Heritage Area Act

H.R.2991 and S.400: 
Susquehanna National Heritage Area Act, PA

S.1472 Reauthorize the Tennessee Civil War Heritage Area. 

H.R.1161 and S.1160:
Abraham Lincoln NHA Amendment Act
 
Feasibility Study: S.1602 Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Study Act, NY

H.R.5334 and S.2570 - To repeal the funding authorization sunset and the total funding cap for the Essex NHA. 

H.R.1518 and S.627 -Maritime Washington National Heritage Area Act

H.R.5262 - To redesignate the Hudson River Valley NHA as the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley NHA, and for other purposes.

S.2604 - to amend Oil Region National Heritage Area Act to reauthorize the Oil Region National Heritage Area, and for other purposes

S.2441 - A bill to amend the Steel Industry American Heritage Area Act of 1996 to repeal the funding limitation.

S.2238 - A bill to amend the Ohio & Erie Canal National Heritage Canalway Act of 1996 to repeal the funding limitation.
National Heritage Areas online: