Heritage & Historic Preservation - NPS

01/16/2023

Happy and Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Today we celebrate Atlanta, a Certified Local Government ( ) since 1985 and the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr.

Atlanta is partially bordered by the Chattahoochee River in northern Georgia and has a temperate climate. The land that would become Atlanta is the ancestral home of the Muscogee Nation.

Atlanta was founded in 1837 due to its location as the terminus of the Western and Atlantic railroad line and flourished as a center of trade and culture.

Martin Luther King Jr. was born in 1929 in Atlanta and attended Morehouse College, a Historically Black College (HBCU) from 1944-1948. While there he was introduced to many principles of nonviolence that would eventually lead to his dedication to equal rights and ending segregation in the United States.

In 2010 Morehouse College received a Save America’s Treasures Grant from The State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants Division to preserve the archival materials in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection. This grant funded the identification, documentation and archiving of oral histories as well as the digitization of documents and other materials housed in the Morehouse College archives. An exhibit was formed to publicly share over 600 works, including the drafts of the “I Have a Dream” speech as well as sermons and personal notes.

Today, Atlanta is known for its sports teams, thriving arts community, unique cuisine, and resounding history of the Civil Rights Movement. Being a member of the Certified Local Government program facilitates and encourages community-wide preservation and emphasizes the importance of heritage for future generations, programs, and projects.

To learn more about the Certified Local Government program, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/clg/

Morehouse College
Thekingcenter.org/onlineprotest/



Information for this post sourced from City of Atlanta, Morehouse College, Muscogee Nation, National Park Service, Georgia Humanities- University of Georgia Press, and The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change

Pictured Here: (First) “Graves Hall, Morehouse College 2016” by Thomson200 from Wikimedia Commons [A red brick four-story structure with an open bell tower, decorative trim, and a statue and trees in front]. (Second) “Atlanta Terminal Station (c. 1949)” from the Tichnor Brothers Postcard Collection of the Boston Public Library [Postcard of train terminal with automobiles parked in front]. (Third) “Downtown Atlanta Night” by Evilarry from Wikimedia Commons [A brightly lit city skyline at dusk, many tall buildings and highways are illuminated against a dark sky].

01/11/2023

Rural Nebraska Historic Preservation Grant - History Nebraska

The Rural Nebraska Historic Preservation (RNHP) program will provide grants to owners of historic properties in rural Nebraska communities. The program is funded through a competitive sub-grant program from the National Park Service. Nebraska was among eleven other recipients to receive funding from the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program. History Nebraska, through the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), was awarded $350,000 to support the RNHP sub-grant program (P22AP01544). Of the initial award, $328,000 will be made available for sub-grant awards.

Learn more about the subgrant program from History Nebraska https://history.nebraska.gov/historic-preservation/rural-nebraska-historic-preservation-grant/

Learn more about establishing a subgrant program in your rural community: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservationfund/paul-bruhn-historic-revitalization-grants-program.htm

Rural Nebraska Historic Preservation Grant The Rural Nebraska Historic Preservation (RNHP) program will provide grants to owners of historic properties in rural Nebraska communities. The program is funded through a competitive sub-grant program from the National Park Service. Nebraska was among elev...

01/09/2023

The National Park Service is now accepting applications for Preservation Technology and Training Grants. PTT Grants are intended to create better tools, better materials, and better approaches to conserving buildings, landscapes, sites, and collections. The PTT Grants are administered by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT), the National Park Service’s innovation center for the preservation community.

Preservation grants, eligible applicants may include— (1) Federal and non-Federal laboratories; (2) accredited museums; (3) universities; (4) nonprofit organizations; (5) System units and offices and Cooperative Park Study Units of the System; (6) State Historic Preservation Offices; (7) tribal preservation offices; and (8) Native Hawaiian organizations.
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=345296

01/09/2023

Happy ! Today we visit the of Alexander County, a Certified Local Government since March 2022.

Alexander County is in the western area of North Carolina, near the Appalachian Mountains. The land that would become Alexander County is the ancestral home of the Catawba, Tutelo, Keyauwee, and Cheraw Peoples.

During the 18th century, most of the people who lived in Alexander County were subsistence farmers. In 1847 Alexander County was formed from lands in Caldwell, Iredell, and Wilkes Counties.

One notable historic structure in Alexander County is the Taylorsville Milling Company roller mill (National Register #100004324), on of the country’s few surviving early 20th century grain-processing facilities. Built in 1902, this structure processed a vast amount of the corn and wheat grown in the region into flour, meal, and feed. Mills were an important gathering place for the community, as they provided an essential service. In 1924, the mill changed from steam to electric power, this allowed more grain to be processed in a shorter amount of time. The mill continued production through the mid-20th century and closed in 1961.

Built around 1900 by a diamond trader, the Lucas Mansion (National Register Number 82001279) is an architectural show of the prosperity that this region enjoyed in the early 20th century. The mansion was built in the Victorian style and has elaborate porches on 2 of its three stories. The structure now serves as the Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center.

Today Alexander County is known for its abundant outdoor recreation opportunities, like hiking, boating, fishing, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Alexander County is located within 60 miles of 2 National Parks, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, making it a Gateway Community.

North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office
Hiddenite Arts and Heritage Center

Information for this post sourced from Alexander County, North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, Office of Archives and History Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Native Land Online, Alexander County Economic Development Corporation, and Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center.



Pictured Here: (First) “Taylorsville Milling Company Roller Mill, Northeast oblique, looking south toward Main Street” by Heather Fearnbach, 2018 from the National Register of Historic Places #100004324, digital images located at the North Carolina SHPO [A three-story industrial wood and metal building with a covered entry area and a truck parked in front]. (Second) “Lucas Manion” by Michael T. Southern from the National Register of Historic Places #82001279 [A view of a three-story Victorian mansion]. (Third) “Lucas Mansion” by Ser Amantio di Nicolao from Wikimedia Commons [A three-story white Victorian style house with green trim and trees surrounding it].

01/07/2023

Millions of dollars have been awarded to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) since the beginning of the HBCU Grant Program in 1994, which is dedicated to identifying and restoring historic structures on HBCU campuses. Each project may receive anywhere from $75,000-$750,000 in federal funds. Resources receiving grants must be on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). These grants are awarded through the State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants (Division of the National Park Service (NPS). For more information on the HBCU Grant program, visit the STLPG HBCU webpage: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservationfund/historically-black-colleges-and-universities.htm

01/06/2023

RURAL Informational Video FY2022

The National Park Service is now accepting applications for the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program. This short video breaks down the application process in just under 30 minutes. Watch to learn how you can preserve historic properties in your rural community!

01/03/2023

Historically Black Colleges & Universities Grant Opportunity (U.S. National Park Service)

The National Park Service’s Historically Black Colleges & Universities Grant Program ( ) is now accepting applications. Grants fund physical preservation work to historic HBCU campuses. Congress has appropriated $10 million for the program. Applications are due January 10, 2023.

Information about grant funding for Historically Black Colleges & Universities to support work on historic sites.

01/02/2023

Happy New Year and Happy ! Today we visit the Certified Local Government ( ) of Martinsville, Virginia. Martinsville has been a CLG since March 2022 and is nicknamed “The Sweatshirt Capital of the World”!

The land that would become Martinsville is the ancestral home of the Saponi Nation, Catawba Nation, and the Tutelo and Occaneechi People.

The town was named after Revolutionary War General Joseph Martin and started as a primarily agricultural region. As early as the 1790’s Martinsville had grown to become became an important government and commercial center. In the late 19th century, two railroad lines were built in Martinsville which allowed the city to become a transportation and trade center for the to***co, furniture, and textile industries.

The 45- acre downtown Martinsville Historic District (National Register #98001317) boasts a historic county courthouse, post office, retail establishments, businesses, banks, hotels, theaters, and numerous other structures dating from 1824 until 1948. The oldest building in this district is the Federal-style Henry County Courthouse.

Another notable historic structure in Martinsville is Scuffle Hill (National Register #97000158), a Colonial Revival brick mansion built in 1905 and originally known as Oak Hall. The structure burned in 1917 and was rebuilt and named Scuffle Hill. This structure’s excellent condition remains a testament to the many industries that created wealth and prosperity in Martinsville.

Information from this post sourced from the National Register of Historic Places, Visit Martinsville, Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society, City of Martinsville, and Native Land Digital.



The City of Martinsville VA Virginia Department of Historic Resources

Pictured Here: (First) “Uptown Martinsville VA” by Sleddog116 from Wikimedia Commons [A grey stone two story building at a street intersection with lights, sidewalks, and trees lining the walkway]. (Second) “Oak Hall Martinsville” from Wikimedia Commons [A color postcard of a red brick three-story house with trees and hedges]. (Third) “Scuffle Hill house” 1928, from Wikimedia Commons [A brick three-story house with columns at the entry way and a wide staircase].

12/31/2022

Happy New Year's Eve!

12/30/2022

National Park Service grant will boost Freedom House restoration plans | ALXnow

Once a major hub for the slave trade, 1315 Duke Street reopened in May as a museum dedicated to telling the stories of those trafficked through the building. While the exhibits are open to the public, there is still significant work needed to be done to preserve the building. The Save America’s Treasures grant from the NPS, awarded back in September, will help cover those costs.

“The $500,000 grant will be used to support the exterior restoration of the museum building, which was once the Alexandria Slave Pen, and the offices of several slave traders, including the notorious slave-trading firm, Franklin and Armfield,” the Office of Historic Alexandria said in a newsletter. “The overall preservation plan for the building includes re-pointing; repairing or replacing windows, doors, woodwork, and wood siding; improving the gutter and downspout system, and waterproofing the foundation.”

AlexandriaVA.gov

A grant from the National Park Service (NPS) will help close the funding gap needed to restore Alexandria's new Freedom House Museum. Once a major hub for the slave trade, 1315 Duke Street reopened in May as a museum dedicated to telling the

12/29/2022

Notice of Funding Opportunity for FY2022 Tribal Heritage Grant Program

The National Park Service's Tribal Heritage Grants Program (THG) is now accepting applications for competitive grants. National Park Service’s Tribal Heritage Grants Program focuses on protecting oral histories, plant and animal species important in tradition, sacred and historic places, and enabling the establishment of tribal historic preservation offices. The THG Program is funded by the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) and is administered by the NPS. Approximately $500,000 is available for the THG Program in FY2022.

Applications are due March 29, 2023.

Grants are awarded through a competitive process and do not require non-Federal match. Federally-recognized Indian Tribes, Native Alaska Villages/Corporations (Tribal Governments), and Native Hawaiian Organizations (as defined by 54 U.S.C. § 300309, 54 U.S.C. 300313, and 54 U.S.C. 300314) are eligible to receive THGs for cultural and historic preservation projects. More information and applications for the THG Program via Grants.gov P22AS00460.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOINPS/bulletins/335bcec

Notice of Funding Opportunity for FY2022 Tribal Heritage Grant Program National Park Service sent this bulletin at 12/29/2022 03:30 PM EST Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior Notice of Fun...

12/28/2022

Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Opportunity (U.S. National Park Service)

The National Park Service is now accepting applications for the FY2022 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program. The Bruhn program provides recipients (referred to as prime grantees) with a single grant that is then regranted in smaller amounts to individual projects (subgrants) in rural communities. Prime grantees design and administer subgrant programs that support economic development goals and needs through physical preservation projects in their chosen service area. It is up to the prime grantee to determine what types of buildings and community resources will be eligible for subgrants.

Congress has appropriated $10,000,000 for the FY2022 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program. Individual grants will range from $200,000 - $750,000 Federal Share and do not require non-Federal match. Grants are awarded through a competitive process using the criteria described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity available on grants.gov under opportunity number P22AP00457.

Applications are due February 7, 2023.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/paul-bruhn-grants-opportunity.htm

The National Park Service's Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program is now accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2020 competitive grants. National Park Service’s Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program supports subgrant programs that enable the rehabilitation of historic prope...

12/27/2022

National Park Service awards $1.2 million to help preserve underrepresented community history   - Office of Communications (U.S. National Park Service)

The National Park Service (NPS) has announced $1.2 million in Underrepresented Community Grants for 21 projects in 16 states and the District of Columbia. These funds will support the identification, planning, and development of nominations or amendments to the National Register of Historic Places for diverse communities.

“The National Park Service is proud to award this grant funding to state, Tribal, and local governments to help them diversify their listings in the National Register of Historic Places,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams. “Since 2014, the Underrepresented Community Grants program has provided $5.75 million to better tell the varied histories and stories of all Americans, so that they may one day no longer be called underrepresented.”

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service (NPS) today announced $1.2 million in Underrepresented Community Grants for 21 projects in 16 states and the District of Columbia. These funds will support the identification, planning, and development of nominations or amendments to the National Register o...

12/27/2022

DEADLINE REMINDER! Applications for the Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) grant program are due January 10, 2023. In 1988, the National Park Service established the HBCU preservation grant program to document, preserve, and stabilize structures on HBCU campuses. The HBCU grant program exists to repair historic sites on campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities that are listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Congress has appropriated $10 million for the HBCU Grant Program.

Apply now: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/underrepresented-communities-grant-opportunity.htm
Learn more about the HBCU program: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservationfund/historically-black-colleges-and-universities.htm

Photo courtesy of Howard University.

12/26/2022

Happy ! Today we welcome a new Certified Local Government ( ), the Town of Boone, North Carolina.

“The town of Boone, North Carolina, serves as the county seat for Watauga County, which was created in 1849 from portions of Ashe, Wilkes, Caldwell, and Yancey Counties. Known as early as 1823 as Councill’s Store, when a post office was established there, the community changed the name of the settlement by 1850 to Boone in honor of Daniel Boone, who was believed to have hunted in the area. Formal incorporation of the Town of Boone did not occur until January 23, 1872, when the act was ratified by the state legislature.

In October 2021, the Town of Boone designated its first local historic district for the Downtown area, officially named the Downtown Boone Local Historic District, and there is an impressive array of surviving late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century buildings that serve as silent witnesses to and evidence of Boone’s historical development patterns.

The downtown area is dominated by its principal artery, West King Street, running southeast to northwest through the center of town, with Queen Street to the north and Howard Street to the south as important secondary routes in the town’s history. Another major thoroughfare, Rivers Street, dates to about 1968 and runs along the old Linville River Railway rail bed but now serves as a major boundary between Boone’s downtown and Appalachian State University. Primary cross streets in the downtown area, running southwest to northeast, are (west to east) Water/Burrell Street, Depot Street, and Appalachian Street.

While Boone is home to Appalachian State University, there is a deep thread of significant history and architectural significance in our Town that encouraged our Boone Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) to seek Certified Local Government (CLG) status. We sought the CLG status as our HPC is a very active commission passionate about preserving Boone for future generations. The CLG designation provides the Town opportunities to protect our remaining historic resources."




Pictured Here: (First) “Historic Downtown Boone” by Palmer Blair, June 1950 courtesy of Sarah Lynn Spencer and the Digital Watauga Project [A black and white aerial image of a town with a central street, cars, low buildings, fields, and several trees]. (Second) “King St. Town Hall” by Town of Boone [A street view of commercial brick buildings, people walking, and cars]. (Third) “Mountains” by Town of Boone [A mountain range covered in trees].

Information for this post provided by the Town of Boone and the Comprehensive Architectural Survey of Downtown Boone, North Carolina (2021).

12/23/2022

Taft Fireplaces for Your Home

When the Baum-Taft House was constructed over two centuries ago elegant marble fireplaces throughout served as the primary source of heat in the home. Today, these fireplaces have been lovingly restored through a Save America's Treasures (SAT) grant to the Taft Museum of Art.

Cozy up to the Taft's Fireplaces for Your Home–a parody on the seasonal streaming tradition. This work features the iconic fireplaces found throughout the 20...

12/19/2022

Happy Winter and Happy ! Wednesday, December 21st is the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year. In celebration of winter and all things cold, today we explore the northernmost municipality and Certified Local Government ( ) in the United States, The North Slope Borough in Alaska.

North Slope Borough is entirely north of the Arctic Circle and covers over 94,000 square miles or 15% of the entire state of Alaska. The North Slope’s first inhabitants, the Inupiat, settled in this area over 4,000 years ago. Since people have lived here, fishing and whaling have remained important parts of the North Slope’s cultural landscape.

One of the many historic structures in this vast region is the Point Barrow Refuge Station (National Register # 80004563) built in 1889 near Cape Smyth. As whaling grew as an industry in the 19th century, so did the number of shipwrecks. The building was meant to house anyone that became stranded while on a seafaring voyage around northern Alaska. For several years the station was in operation and saved several stranded whalers. Today, the building is a restaurant and maintains great original integrity.

Alaska is a known destination for viewing the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. The lights are most visible in the winter months because of the long nights. The stunning and colorful display of lights is caused by the charged particles from the sun encountering the Earth’s magnetosphere and reacting to create streaks or cloud-like patches of light in numerous colors.

Information for this post sourced from North Slope Borough, Alaska Web, The National Register of Historic Places, Inupiat Communities of the Arctic Slope, and the National Park Service.





Pictured Here: (First) “The Anaktuvuk River flows North out of the Brooks Range. North Slope, Alaska” by Paxson Woelbar from Wikimedia Commons [A river moving through a grass covered area with mountains in the background]. (Second) “NORTH SIDE, WHALEBONES IN FOREGROUND - Point Barrow Refuge Station, Building 3220, Browerville, Barrow, North Slope Borough, AK” 1991 by Jet Lowe from Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division [A stack of whale bones and an arch of whale bones in front of a house structure with a car parked in front, and a wood pile behind it]. (Third) “Alaska aurora” by Paxson Woelbar from Wikimedia Commons [A ripple of light in varying shades of green and yellow moving across the night sky, the silhouette of mountains is visible in the foreground].

12/13/2022

DEADLINE REMINDER! Applications for the Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) grant program are due January 10, 2023. In 1988, the National Park Service established the HBCU preservation grant program to document, preserve, and stabilize structures on HBCU campuses. The HBCU grant program exists to repair historic sites on campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities that are listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Congress has appropriated $10 million for the HBCU Grant Program.

Apply now: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/underrepresented-communities-grant-opportunity.htm
Learn more about the HBCU program: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservationfund/historically-black-colleges-and-universities.htm

Photo of Virginia Hall, Ettrick, VA. Photo courtesy of Virginia State University

12/12/2022

Happy ! Today we visit the Borough of Columbia, Pennsylvania a Certified Local Government ( ) since August 2022. Columbia is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River. This region of Pennsylvania is the ancestral home of the Susquehannock.

Wrights Ferry, the first name of this settlement, was established in 1730. One notable historic structure in Columbia is the Wrights Ferry Mansion, a limestone and brick house built in 1738 by English Quakers. Today, the structure is still in excellent condition and serves as a museum entirely furnished with items from before 1750.

In the centuries that followed, Columbia grew as a center of trade and industry, as well as a rest area for travelers crossing the river. This area was known for its lumber, agriculture, and wagon-making in the mid-18th-19th century.

The Borough’s location on the Susquehanna River has created a unique ecosystem. This region is home to Pawpaws, a fruit native to North America that is in the “custard apple” family. Its is described as tasting like a combination of a banana, mango, and pineapple. Visitors to Columbia can appreciate the scenic river as well as the abundance of historic structures in the Columbia Historic District (National Register Number 8300224).

Located within 60 miles of 5 National Parks, Columbia is a Gateway Community.



Columbia Borough Pennsylvania Trails of History Museum Council of Lancaster County Susqn Harris

Pictured Here: (First) “Wrights Ferry Mansion Lanco PA” by Smallbones from Wikimedia Commons, National Register #71995111 [A two-story brick house with red trim on the windows, ivy growing on the walls, and shrubbery surrounding it]. (Second) “Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge, Spanning Susquehanna River at Lincoln Highway (State Route 462), Columbia, Lancaster County, PA” by Joseph E. B. Elliot from the Library of Congress, National Register #71993303 [A bridge with several arches crossing a large, tranquil river]. (Third) “Wright's Ferry on the Susquehanna, Pennsylvania” by George Beck, 1809 from the New York Public Library Digital Collections [Two figures standing on the shore of a rocky river, several trees are visible in the foreground].

Information from this post sourced from Borough of Columbia, Discover Columbia, Susquehanna National Heritage Area, Discover Lancaster, and the Museum Council of Lancaster.