Last week President Biden designated the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni -Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in northern Arizona. This culminates a multi-year effort to permanently protect this important landscape. Protection of these lands have long been sought by Tribal Nations in the Southwest, congressional leaders and others. The area included in the National Monument encompasses nearly 1 million acres of existing federal lands, consisting of three areas directly to the north and south of Grand Canyon National Park.

These lands have long been considered sacred by several Tribal Nations and contain numerous natural, scientific, cultural, and historic resources. The new monument contains over 3,000 known cultural and historic sites, including 12 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This area had also become increasingly threatened by uranium mining, prompting the enactment of a 20 year moratorium on new mining claims in the area in 2012. This designation will make those protections permanent.

President Biden officially signed the designation at a ceremony while visiting the new National Monument, alongside Interior Secretary Deb Halland and Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), among others. This marks the President's 5th National Monument designation, using his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906.

The National Park Service announced $9.6 million in Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants, marking the 5th year of funding for the program. This important grant program, named after longtime Vermont preservationist Paul Bruhn, supports the preservation of historic sites and helps to foster economic development in rural communities by supporting sub-grant programs. This round of grants will go to 13 recipients in 12 states, benefitting historic preservation projects in rural communities across the country. This year's grants will support rural Main Street projects across Kansas and fund historic schools in West Virginia, just to name a few. The program is funded through the Historic Preservation Fund.

Preservation Action continues to advocate for increased funding for this critical grant program. The program is open to State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, Certified Local Governments, and non-profits to support preservation projects in their rural jurisdictions. The National Park Service recently posted successful sample grant applications for Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants and other competitive grant programs, to assist applicants for future rounds of funding. Learn more about this year's recipients!

Get your tickets for SAVE YOUR PLACE: Preservation Action Foundation’s Auction and Fundraiser. Our annual event will return IN-PERSON on Nov. 8th at 7:30pm during the 2023 PastForward conference in Washington, D.C. Plan to join us immediately following the conference’s opening reception - think of us as the after-party!

Bid on an array of tours and experiences, travel packages, educational opportunities, and one-of-a-kind gift items – all for the great cause of expanding grassroots preservation advocacy through education and outreach. Attendees will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, entertainment, our celebratory program including special guest features, and of course a lively auction. Don't miss out! We always save our best packages, to be featured exclusively at the live event.

Join us for our largest and most important fundraiser of the year as we help kick-off PastForward 2023. Lock in the best rates, early bird pricing ends Sept. 15th.

Donation and Sponsorship Opportunities

We're also currently seeking the donation of auction items and have sponsorship opportunities available. This is a great opportunity to feature your organization, historic site, or community to a large national audience of people who are passionate about saving places. Check out our Auction donation request packet and sponsor packet to learn more!

Novogradac: "Historic Tax Credits News Briefs- August 2023"

Hawaii: "Maui's Cultural Landmarks Burned, But All is Not Lost"

Florida: "Announcing the 2023 Florida's 11 to Save!"

Massachusetts: "Can Old Mill Buildings Help Mass Small Towns Find Economic Success?"

Oklahoma: "Family, Preservationists Work to Rescue Endangered 'Safe Haven' Along Route 66"

Rhode Island: "Protecting Newport's Historic Properties From Climate Change"