Overview of Preserve America
Preserve America
is a White House initiative that encourages and supports community
efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural and natural
heritage. The goals of the initiative include a greater shared
knowledge about the Nation's past, strengthened regional identities
and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the
country's cultural and natural heritage assets, and support for
the economic vitality of our communities.
Major components of the Preserve America initiative include:
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Preserve America Presidential Awards
Four awards will be given annually to organizations, businesses, government entities, or individuals for exemplary accomplishments in the sustainable use and preservation of cultural or natural heritage assets, demonstrated commitment to protecting and interpreting heritage assets and integrating them into community life, and taking innovative, creative, and responsible approaches to showcasing historic resources in their communities.
The 2005 call for nominations is now underway; all nomination materials must be postmarked no later than November 1, 2004. The winners of the 2004 Preserve America Presidential Awards were announced in May 2004 during National Preservation Week. -
Preserve America Communities
This program recognizes and designates communities that protect and celebrate their heritage, use their historic assets for economic development and community revitalization, and encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through education and heritage tourism programs. On January 15, 2004, Mrs. Bush honored the first eight communities to be designated as Preserve America Communities.
Benefits of designation include White House recognition; a certificate of recognition; a Preserve America Community road sign; authorization to use the Preserve America logo on signs, flags, banners, and promotional materials; listing in a Web-based Preserve America Community directory; inclusion in national and regional press releases; official notification of designation to State tourism offices and visitor bureaus; and enhanced community visibility and pride. There are four application and designation cycles each year. The 2004 application deadlines are March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1. -
Preserve America History Teacher of the Year Award
This new award bestowed by Preserve America and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History honors outstanding teachers of American history across the country. Finalists will be selected annually from each State, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. State winners will receive $1,000 and a core archive of history materials for their school library. A "National Preserve America History Teacher of the Year" will be selected from the group of State finalists. The winner, together with the nominating supervisor, will be flown to Washington, DC, for recognition in a ceremony. -
Grants Budget
President Bush's FY 2005 budget proposes $10 million in grants to assist communities in preserving their cultural and natural resources. These grants would support community efforts to demonstrate sustainable uses of their historic and cultural sites and the economic and educational opportunities related to heritage tourism.
The program would not fund "bricks and mortar" projects, but would rather complement the Save America's Treasures grant program by helping local communities develop sustainable resource management strategies and sound business practices for the continued preservation of heritage assets. Eligibility would be limited to State Historic Preservation Offices, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, designated Preserve America Communities, or Certified Local Governments that have applied for Preserve America Community designation. - Educational Outreach
Preserve America is working with the History Channel's Save Our History initiative to support creation of a history education manual that will provide teachers with lesson plans and volunteer ideas to get students involved in preserving historical sites in their communities. In addition, First Lady Laura Bush has prepared three short public service announcements on the importance of preserving America's heritage that will be aired throughout 2004. - Executive Order 13287: "Preserve
America"
Signed by President Bush on March 3, 2003, this Executive order complements the Preserve America initiative. The order establishes Federal policy to provide leadership in preserving America's heritage by actively advancing the protection, enhancement, and contemporary use of the historic properties owned by the Federal Government.
The order also encourages agencies to seek partnerships with State, tribal, and local governments and the private sector to make more efficient and informed use of these resources for economic development and other recognized public benefits. In addition, it directs the Secretary of Commerce, working with other agencies, to use existing authorities and resources to assist in the development of local and regional heritage tourism programs that are a significant feature of many State and local economies.
The White House is working to implement Preserve America with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Updated July 14, 2004