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Explore from Home
While we are working from home and social distancing, this newsletter features ways to learn more about National Heritage Areas online from podcasts to videos to books. Be Well!

Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, and Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area , partnered  with  Discovery Road  to create an episode "Hello Neighbor" that examines early Mormon settlement in Colorado and visits with descendants of some of the first families in the San Luis Valley.  It features southern Colorado and northern New Mexico to find out how people are connected through history, culture and the landscape.  

Discovery Road -- Hello Neighbor
Discovery Road --
Hello Neighbor
The battle over water in the San Luis Valley is addressed by Junita Martinez, a board member for the Sangre de Cristo Acequia Association that represents over 73 acequias which in turn support about 300 families. Acequias and the traditions surrounding land and water continue even today. She and her husband, Jose, grow alfalfa on 10 acres. She has been the Board Secretary to the Land Rights Council since 2012. The Land Rights Council won a historic Land Grant Case at the Colorado State Supreme Court as well as the U.S. Supreme Court. The courts restored some of the rights of the heirs of the Culebra villages near San Luis, Colorado. represents over 73 acequias which in turn support about 300 families. Acequias and the traditions surrounding land and water continue even today. Her goal is to make sure that the culture that surrounds shared resources continues into the future for her grandchildren. 

The boxer Jack Dempsey's story comes alive on screen with a visit to a Manassa, Colorado museum. Colorful murals and other forms of art in the San Luis Valley demonstrates diversity and history while taking the viewer to church at the same time. The program concludes with a visit to one of the most recent people to enter San Luis Valley - the Amish. Their settlement is new compared to other groups but no less vibrant and important.
Martha Raymond Honored by ANHA 
Rep. Tonko, Martha Raymond, and David Vella NPS Deputy Director Exercising the Authority of Director presenting Heritage Champion Award.
Martha Raymond was honored by the Alliance of National Heritage Areas in February for her dedication to the NHA program and for 42 years of support for historic preservation and cultural resource partnerships. Her work will have a lasting impact on the National Heritage Areas.

From 2008 - 2020 Martha served as the National Coordinator for the National Heritage Areas program in Washington, DC. Martha began her National Park Service (NPS) career in 1976 in Washington, DC with the Publications Branch of the National Register of Historic Places. After  earning her Masters of Science degree in Historic Preservation from Columbia University, Martha rejoined the NPS in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office in Philadelphia in 1981 as the team leader for historic tax credit reviews.  From 1991 through 2007, Martha worked with the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) as the Department Head for Technical Preservation Services. In that role, she provided technical assistance and state-level reviews for federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit projects. Martha worked for the NPS for 25 years. 
Happy 1 Year Anniversary of the Six Newest National Heritage Areas 
March 2020 marks the one-year  anniversary of the following NHAs being named a National Heritage Areas!

Susquehanna National Heritage Area  in Lancester and York Counties Pennsylvania focuses on the cultural and natural resources of the Susquehanna River and the scenic and historic landscapes and communities along its shores. It is based at the Zimmerman Center for Heritage, an historic home on the river and manage the Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, a visitor education center on the waterfront in Columbia. Listen to the NHA Podcasts to learn more about the American Indian history of the Lower Susquehanna River and the partnership between the Susquehanna NHA and the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.

Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area Designation Campaign
Appalachian Forest NHA
Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area  in Maryland and West Virginia  celebrates central Appalachian forest - its history, culture, nature, forest management and products and focuses on cultural heritage, conservation, and place-based tourism to support rural community development. 

Maritime Washington National Heritage Area, stretched along Washington's saltwater coastline from Grays Harbor County to the Canadian border. They share the story of Native American c oastal canoe cultures to super-ferries and freighters. Communities and commerce grew on these saltwater shores. They are working diligently with  Native American tribes, intertribal organizations, and port towns to protect and celebrate the living maritime heritage along the Pacific and Puget Sound.

Mountains To Sound Greenway National Heritage Area,  is a 1.5 million-acre landscape rich in natural beauty and heritage. Evergreen trees blanket the hillsides and valleys. The air is fresh and the water is clean, even though millions of people live here, in the hundred miles from Seattle to Ellensburg. This is due to the efforts that started in  1990 when a group of people decided nature and economic growth could coexist. To bring attention to the dream of keeping nature and recreation close to this metro area, members of the Issaquah Alps Trails Club organized a "Trek" from Snoqualmie Pass to Seattle. Hundreds of people joined with the goal of drawing attention and support to the preservation of the landscape. The Greenway Trust, inspired by the Trek, formed to conserve forests, connect trails, and celebrate historic sites through public/private partnerships.  This year, is the 30th anniversary of the Trek and the 1st anniversary of the NHA designation. In July, Trekkers will hike, bike, float, and camp while learning about this landscape. Register and learn more here.  Read blog

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area, California, focuses on the multi-cultural contributions and experiences that shaped the Delta's rural landscape, California's cornucopia. It is among the most fertile agricultural regions in the world and sits at the center of California's water resource challenges.

Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area, Arizona, is  situated along an ancient and still vital trade route in the Southwest. They p reserve the region's living heritage so that landscapes, sites, livelihoods, traditions, values, and stories can stimulate the economy and build community. 
Niagara Falls Sponsors "The Art of Suffrage: Struggle, Sacrifice, and Success"
As the nation celebrates the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment, the Niagara Falls NHA proudly continues its mission to enhance public appreciation for the communities, historic and natural resources, and landscapes of the Niagara region by sponsoring "The Art of Suffrage: Struggle, Sacrifice and Success" at the Kenan Center in Lockport, NY.

The core of the exhibit is from Lockport resident Mary Brennan-Taylor's collection of suffrage memorabilia collected over the past 40 years, including historically significant artifacts like postcards, buttons, magazine and newspaper articles from the second wave of the suffrage battle from circa 1900-1920. Brennan-Taylor, the Vice President of Programs for the YWCA of Niagara and an adjunct research instructor at the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, became interested in the women's suffrage movement as a high school student studying Alice Stokes Paul. She met Paul in person and conducted correspondence with her that continued until Paul's death in 1977.

With the NFNHA's support, the vision grew into two floors of immersive and interactive displays, a speaker series, sold-out tea and tour, and a one-woman show on Susan B. Anthony. This project is a public service, a history lesson, and an object lesson in the importance of women's right to vote. The exhibit was sponsored by Mary Brennan-Taylor, Niagara Falls, NHA, and the Lockport Public Arts Council.
Hudson River Valley NHA Commemorates Centennial of the 19th Amendment
With the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment approaching, the Hudson River Valley NHA is commemorating the occasion with a new webpage featuring stories of Hudson Valley women from both before and after women's suffrage passed.  2020 Heritage Development Grants  highlight programs that feature women's history and the 19th Amendment. 

Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, wife of Alexander Hamilton, worked so closely with him while he was the first Secretary of the Treasury that many considered her an adviser. After his death in 1804 she worked to preserve his legacy. They were married at Schuyler Mansion in Albany, NY and lived in New York City.
The Hudson Valley is home to many sites that tell the story of women and the fight to gain rights.

Eleanor Roosevelt worked in the years after leaving the White House to develop and pass the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the United Nations and enjoyed a level of political sway unheard of previously. Eleanor Roosevelt's Val-Kill, the only NPS site dedicated to a First Lady, is part of the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt NPS sites in Hyde Park, NY along with Martin Van Buren's home in Kinderhook.

Margaret Beekman Livingston was one of the largest landowners in the 13 colonies after her father left his vast holdings to her despite British law barring it. As a prominent family, they were a target. The British burned her home at Clermont in 1777, but even that couldn't keep her down and she rebuilt her house during the war.

Catherine Murdock faced an uphill battle to secure her family a place after the death of her husband in 1857. She was the longest-serving lighthouse keeper, at the time, keeping the lights going for over 50 years at the Rondout Lighthouse in Kingston, NY.
March is Women's History Month #NPS19th: Commemoration of the 19th Amendment Centennial
Who Ratified - This Month in History?  Follow ratification

March  6 Delaware  ( 1923)  
March 10 West Virginia  (192 0)  
March 21 First Territorial Legislature of Alaska (1913)   grants non-native women the vote  
March 22:  Washington (1920)  
March 22:  Mississippi  (1 984)  
March 29:  Mississippi  Rejects 19 th  Amendment (1920)  
March 29:  Maryland   (1941)
 
Women in Parks Grantees -- T he National Park Foundation received 81 applications for approximately $1.7 million worth of projects with only 300,000 available. Applications came from across NPS, including National Heritage Areas, programs, regional offices, interpretation and education, cultural resources, and natural resources.  23 grants of up to $25,000 were awarded including NHAs:  
  • Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, "A Place in the Band: Year-long Women in Bluegrass Music Festival" 
  • Cache la Poudre River NHA, "Lifting Voices from the Shadows" 
  • Erie Canalway NHA, "Erie Canal: An Information Highway for Social Change" 
Girl Scout 19th Amendment Badge --  The Girl Scout Ranger 19th Amendment Patch Program will enhance Girl Scouts' understanding of the significance of the 19th Amendment which removed the gender restriction to voting and granted many women the right to vote. Celebrate the advances that resulted from the suffrage movement and key historical figures who were involved.

Contact Erica Austin about the Girl Scout Program E rica_C_Austin@nps.gov 
 

Read articles  that explore suffrage in America.


Use #FindYourPark and #NPS19th to keep up with the centennial across social media. 
Looking for Lincoln NHA Receives Award for Institutional Excellence
On November 17, 2019 the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition received the Wendy Allen Award for Institutional Excellence at The Lincoln Forum in Gettysburg, PA.
Harold Holzer, Sarah Watson, Wendy Allen, Jonathan White

Each year, The Lincoln Forum presents at its annual symposium a special award to a Lincoln or Civil War institution or organization that achieved widespread recognition for bringing learning, scholarship, and enlightenment to a wide public.

Chairman of The Lincoln Forum Harold Holzer said; "In honoring this group, we do honor to ourselves. "Looking for Lincoln" has taken hallowed ground and made it accessible to more and more visitors. As one who has often enjoyed the thrill of walking alongside Lincoln's Illinois pathways, I cannot overemphasize the importance of 'place' to history, and the importance of 'Looking for Lincoln' in leading the way to these places for all Americans."

The Lincoln Forum is an assembly of people who share a deep interest in the life and times of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War era. Through activities and projects including symposia, tours, student essay competitions, teacher scholarships, a newsletter, Lincoln studies, the Forum endeavors to enhance the understanding and preserve the memory of President Abraham Lincoln.
Silos & Smokestacks New Visitor-Friendly Location
WATERLOO, Iowa - Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) moved to a new visitor-friendly location in the Master Service Station, also known as Bennett's Tire & Battery Co., located at 305 West Park Ave. in downtown Waterloo, Iowa. The building, built in 1930, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

"It has been a dream of our board and staff to be in a street space that is accessible to the public. We were lacking a space where we could greet the public and introduce them to the heritage area as a destination. Ultimately this will be a place for travelers and the Cedar Valley community to explore agriculture and learn about its past, present and future," said Cara Miller, Silos & Smokestacks Executive Director. 

While staff moved into office, the visitor space is nearly complete. It will feature unique exhibits, meeting space, and trip planning tools. A grand opening celebration and reception is planned for May 20. This project was funded in part by the Black Hawk Gaming Association, the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs; and several other private contributions. For more visit, www.silosandsmokestacks.org
Geography Geology, and Genius: New book about the D&L's five county National Heritage Area published
In 2019, the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor released Geography, Geology and Genius: How Coal and Canals Ignited the American Industrial Revolution, written by the D&L's Historian and Archives Coordinator, Martha Capwell Fox. This is the first comprehensive telling of the little-known story of how eastern Pennsylvania, from the anthracite coal fields to the tidal waters of the Delaware River, became the birthplace of the United States' Industrial Revolution.

Geography, Geology, and Genius focuses on how the unique blend of natural features and mineral assets were used by several extraordinary men to create new forms of industrial activity, dependent on anthracite coal. In this way, the book captures the nationally significant history of the Corridor.

"For more than 30 years, the public has heard snippets of the D&L's amazing regional story that has national implications," said Elissa Garofalo, Executive Director at the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. "Its high time the story is told and Geography, Geology and Genius tells it expertly."
The narrative, decade by decade, describes the hardships, foresight, resolution, and engineering brilliance that led to the region's national predominance across various industries. After years of celebrating and sharing the Corridor's history along the D&L Trail, at the National Canal Museum, and throughout the D&L's programming, the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor is proud to share its rich history in one volume.
Antonito Depot in Sangre de Cristo NHA Restoration
Before
After
The Denver and Rio Grande Western Depot is one of Antonito's greatest historic assets. Constructed out of quarried ashlar volcanic stone, the depot served the town of Antonito and the surrounding communities until 1951. In 2007 it was listed on Colorado's Most Endangered Places list after being vacant and neglected for more than 50 years. 

The town of Antonito formed a partnership with Conejos County Commissioners, Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic & Historic Byway and Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec, along with Permian Basin Railroad, known as the Antonito/Conejos Railroad Heritage Alliance, to help the town with preservation plans, grant writing and fundraising. In 2016 Sangre de Cristo NHA partnered to obtain a State Historical Fund grant for restoration of the depot and worked to repair windows, doors and woodwork, replace the roof and to rebuild the chimneys. Schuber-Darden Architects and Empire Carpentry are contractors on the project The rehabilitation is nearly complete on the initial grant for exterior rehabilitation. A second grant for Phase 2 rehabilitation was submitted. Workers recovered historic items and photographed the interior, which will be the next step in restoration.
NJ's Revolutionary Heritage Highlighted in News Segment  And Taste of History
Watch NJTV news feature of Crossroads of the American Revolution NHA Executive Director Janice Selinger and NJ Historical Commission (NJHC) Executive Director Sara Cureton share information about NJ's heritage tourism potential ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Crossroads is the NJHC's private sector partner in the planning effort for Revolution NJ, the state's 250th commemoration; jointly they're driving the first comprehensive site assessment to determine preservation and interpretive needs at key historic sites statewide.

A Taste of History's Chef Staib makes Crossroads NHA appearance. Fans of the culinary arts enjoye d a special screening of highlights of the Emmy Award-winning A Taste of History at the circa 1726 Pomona Hall in Camden NJ. The program's host, City Tavern Chef Walter Staib, appeared at the event co-hosted by Crossroads of the American Revolution and the Camden County Historical Society to offer insights and respond to questions. Pomona Hall was a production location for A Taste of History , which offers viewers a glimpse into the lives of the nation's founders and prominent figures through the foods and recipes they prepared. Guests also enjoyed a selection of deserts from A Taste of History's pastry chef, Diana Wolkow. Read more  Watch clip
Blackstone Heritage Corridor Launches New Cemetery Conservation Ambassadors Volunteer Program
Blackstone River Valley BHC (BHC) added a sixth volunteer program to its NPS Volunteers-In-Parks program roster with the launch of the new Blackstone Heritage Corridor Cemetery Conservation Ambassadors.  The BHC Cemetery Conservation Ambassadors will share their skills in preserving historical cemeteries and tell important stories by leading tours. 

Inspired by the dedication of volunteers Betty and Carlo Mencucci of Burrillville, RI, pictured, who have been restoring historic cemeteries in Burrillville for the past nine years, BHC volunteer coordinator Suzanne Buchanan saw the opportunity to attract more volunteers who had the same interests to support their work. 

The BHC's Photography Ambassadors are documenting Rhode Island's historical cemeteries and are collaborating on photographing old gravestones and cataloging them for the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission.

In Fiscal Year 2019, BHC's volunteers contributed 18,760 service hours at a value of $473,952 through volunteer programs including the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club, Blackstone Heritage Corridor Bikeway Ambassadors, Trail Ambassadors, Photography Ambassadors, Birding Ambassadors, and more. Learn more.
Freedom's Way NHA C elebrates Conservationist and Father of the Appalachian Trail 

The Shirley Historical Society celebrated Benton MacKaye on the Anniversary of His Birth on March 7 with a special exhibit of memorabilia and the first public hearing of a rare audio recording made at his 95th birthday party in 1974. 
Benton MacKaye, a pioneer in forestry, regional planning and conservation, is perhaps best known as the Father of the Appalachian Trail, a continuous hiking trail through the wilderness from Georgia to Maine's Mount Katahdin. 

Ben Zerbie, Superintendent of Minute Man National Historical Park, Benton MacKaye and E.W. Small present U.S. Department of the Interior.  Conservation Service Award. Photo courtesy of Shirley Historical Society.
His work on conservation and open space led to him being the recipient of the prestigious Conservation Service Award of the Department of the Interior in January 1966. 
In recognizing the recipient, The Honorable Stewart L. Udall, Secretary of the Interior, remarked, "You foresaw the need and laid the foundation for present day's protection of man's total environment ... before the nation as a whole awoke to its need. .... That this [wilderness] society lives and thrives and continues to serve the people through the preservation of the finest examples of native American environments, from which future generations will gain strength and inspiration, is due in great part to your foresight."

Beloved by his friends, MacKaye recalls his boyhood in Shirley, tells some of his campfire stories, and answers a phone call from longtime friend, noted urban scholar, Lewis Mumford. Learn more about Benton MacKay 
NPS Connected Conservation (C2) webinar - Using State-Side LWCF Grants to Improve Outdoor Recreation Opportunities 

Wednesday, Mar. 25, at 3 ET . P resenters will be Elisabeth Fondriest, Lacy Alison, and Emily Ferguson with the NPS's State and Local Assistance Programs Division, which administers the Land and Water Conservation Fund's (LWCF) State-Side grant program. 

State-Side LWCF has supported the purchase and protection of 3 million acres of recreation lands and over 44,000 projects to develop basic recreation facilities in every State and territory of the nation. While State-Side LWCF grant money must be used for projects outside parks and be proposed by State and local governments, the program is a fantastic tool for partners to use in connecting parks with communities and conserving land for recreation. What's more, funding for State-Side LWCF has increased dramatically in the last 5 years, making it an even more important funding source for NPS partners. In addition to providing an overview of the program, Elisabeth, Lacy, and Emily will also discuss best practices for collaborating with States and local governments so they can take advantage of this important conservation funding program. 

 
Register for future C2 webinars and view past recordings at:  http://landscapeconservation.org/knowledge-center/webinars/
 
Partners are encouraged to join our C2 webinars, so feel free to share this announcement. 
Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program now accepting applications!

Apply on Grants.gov  - 
Funding Opportunity Number P20AS00037 
Applications are due by April 21, 2020, 11:59 PM EDT

The Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants program supports subgrant programs that enable the rehabilitation of rural historic properties at the National, State, and local level of significance and rehabilitate, protect, and foster economic development of rural communities.

In September 2019, this grant program was renamed to honor the legacy of long-time Vermont preservationist Paul Bruhn. The program was formerly named the Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program (HRSP).

* Congress appropriated $5 million in fiscal year 2019 for this program
* Grant awards may range from $250,000 to $750,000.
* An estimated number of 7-9 grants will be awarded.

States, Tribes, Certified Local Governments, and non-profits should submit applications describing their proposed subgrant program and their ability to support and administer it. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov.  For more information on this program, types of projects that are and are not funded, and the evaluation and selection process, please refer to this fact sheet and visit the program page on our website.
Have you listened to the National Heritage Areas Podcast Series

Hear from Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area in New Jersey to learn about black soldiers in the American Revolutionary War.

 

And more from -  Listen as Program Manager, Peter Samuel and (SCA) Communications Coordinator, Francesca Calarco discuss different types of arts, trails, and history programming in the country's heritage areas. In each episode, we dive into how heritage areas operate and work to benefit their communities.
Best Practice Call 

Join us for monthly NHA best practices call in 2020! Calls highlight heritage area projects and success stories. 

The next call is March 26 at 2:00 EDT. Featuring  Discovery Road show: Hello Neighbor episode which was a partnership between  Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, and Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area. 
To join the mailing list: email Heather_Wickens
hwickens@lflhc.org
or NHA@nps.gov

With COVID-19 concerns forcing people indoors, leaders and residents are struggling with how to balance the need for social distancing with the need to stay physically active in order to minimize risk and maintain health.

Speakers:
* Mitchell Silver, Commissioner of the NYC Dept of Parks & Recreation
* Jayne Miller, President & CEO of Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Please join us for a free panel discussion with park professionals who are striving to be part of the solution by educating residents on how to safely utilize parks and trails to maintain physical and mental wellness during this difficult time. Speakers will discuss how they are adapting existing programming to meet current needs and how they are adjusting their messaging in creative and strategic ways.
Explore Gullah Geechee Heritage at Home:

BOOKS : In "Gullah Days: Hilton Head Islanders Before the Bridge 1861-1956", Gullah natives Emory Campbell, Thomas Barnwell Jr. and Carolyn Grant share stories of island life before the bridge connected Hilton Head to the mainland. Dr. Jessica Berry wrote " The Little Gullah Geechee Book: A Guide for the Come Ya" to help others acknowledge, understand, and value Gullah's unique culture.

PODCASTS - 
NPR aired "A Dying Language Of Enslaved Africans Lives On At Harvard" a look at the partnership between Harvard University and Gullah language instructor Sunn M'Chaux to offer the only Gullah language class being taught at the university level in the US.
"Ranky Tanky Builds On The Music And Culture Of Slave Descendants"  Fresh Air host Terry Gross interviewed members of the Grammy-award winning band to discuss their efforts to preserve traditional music. 

Gullah Geechee impact on American classical music is the focus of the Aria.Code podcast, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess: Rise Up Singing" Our Commissioner Victoria Smalls joined acclaimed musician Rhiannon Giddens for a conversation on how the most famous American opera mirrors or doesn't the traditional Gullah Geechee culture and music that many are unaware inspired it. 

"Kumbaya: Stories of an African American Spiritual" a podcast produced by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. It unravels the mystery of the American origins of one of the most well-known folk-songs in the country.  It's a story that leads directly back to the coastal Geechee communities around Darien, Georgia and involves Commission Vice-Chair Griffin Lotson.
Watch Videos From Cache La Poudre NHA 

Animated History of the Cache la Poudre River
Animated History of the Cache la Poudre River

A River Runs Through It...Cache La Poudre National Heritage Area
A River Runs Through It...Cache La Poudre National Heritage Area


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Maurice D . Hinchey  Hudson River Valley NHA