Stories - ANHA

LEAD is robust, one-of-a kind youth leadership program that utilizes immersive experiences to empower emerging leaders to develop leadership qualities. We specifically select students who have the potential to be leaders, but may not see it in themselves. Participants spend a full week exploring the qualities that made Abraham Lincoln such a great leader in his day. They learn why those same qualities are so important in our leaders today, and how, as individuals, they can apply those qualities as they develop their own leadership skills for the future.

During LEAD, the emerging leaders learn about Lincoln’s life and times by visiting various historic sites throughout the National Heritage Area to see how individuals were able to make a difference in their communities and affect change in their state and their nation. They examine how people in today’s world face many of the same challenges as those faced by Lincoln and other leaders of his day. The emerging leaders discuss the leadership qualities of honesty, empathy, humility and perseverance and developed a plan for incorporating those qualities into their own lives as they return home.

Clinton, a 2017 participant in the program said; “I learned to be a better leader this week because I was taught how to make my own footsteps.” Anna, another 2017 participant described her experience this way; “I loved the group debriefs, a period at the end of the day where we sat in our mentor groups and discussed what stood out to us about the places we visited or about Lincoln’s life and what lessons we could draw from that.”

LEAD is a public/private partnership between Looking for Lincoln, Union Pacific Railroad, Illinois College, 4H University of Illinois Extension, Lincoln Home National Historic Site/National Park Service, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, Abraham Lincoln Association, Niemann Foods (County Market), the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Illinois

ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Illinois

How does a historian reach history lovers when venues are shut down, museums are closed, and gatherings are restricted? 2020-22 was a time to examine these challenges.

The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area (a.k.a. Looking for Lincoln) in Illinois is tasked with sharing the stories and times of our nation’s 16th president, and that job was typically done through the methods noted above. Initially, challenges seemed insurmountable, but surprising solutions resulted in dramatic new results.

First, Looking for Lincoln looked to the resources available. Social media, which had previously played a small role, provided valuable audience inroads. Online video services were explored, which revealed to be inexpensive and easily accessible.

Second, action was taken to transition in-person events to online live events, including lectures, music presentations, plays, and more. Traditionally, these were presented within the heritage area, reaching local audiences up to 100 people. With some smart technology and a bit of online promotion, events reached much larger audiences; often 1,500+ views or more.

The audience was no longer restricted to those in our local communities. Regular viewers came from across the United States and international countries. Plus, they could now interact in real-time using online commenting and social media posts.

Finally, even as events slowly return to “normal,” Looking for Lincoln has continued to produce programming online to this new larger audience. The challenges forced the organization to examine its methods; and as a result, we discovered ways to spread connections among an even wider world.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Illinois

How does a historian reach history lovers when venues are shut down, museums are closed, and gatherings are restricted? 2020-22 was a time to examine these challenges.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Illinois

Students of all ages in West Virginia are learning to be stewards of the land thanks to a citizen science program spearheaded by the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA). The AFNHA and their partners, across 18 counties in West Virginia and western Maryland, have come together to provide hands-on non-native invasive species education to encourage students to learn how their actions can help shape the future of conservation.

Throughout the spring of 2019, AFNHA AmeriCorps members and partner educators introduced 200 students, ages 3-18, to the concept of non-native invasive species and how they can help in their own backyards. The students engaged in four interactive, student interest-driven lessons which culminated in a field trip where they put their new knowledge of land management into practice to remove over 1,725 pounds of non-native invasive plants.

2019 was the 8th year that AFNHA AmeriCorps members provided citizen science classes, which have now reached over 1,000 students in West Virginia. This program works with partners from the Potomac Highlands Cooperative Weed and Pest Management Area, showing the power of partnerships and how a group of dedicated individuals can create a lifetime of change, not only for our natural resources but also in the lives of the students that they teach.

Citizen science is just one way that AFNHA is helping to create a legacy of conservation and community development through hands-on engagement with community members. We are excited to continue connecting our resources and communities throughout the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area.

APPALACHIAN FOREST NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | West Virginia

APPALACHIAN FOREST NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | West Virginia

A well-worn, hand-written land deed from 1925 sits in an archive. It shows the transfer of 45 acres for $600 in DeKalb County, Georgia. This slip of paper seems unremarkable, but it reflects a promise that continues to be fulfilled today through the partnership of the Flat Rock Archives and the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance.

It wasn’t the purchase that was remarkable, but the purchaser – T. A. Bryant, Sr. His acquisition of 45 acres of red Georgia clay freed him from the bounds of sharecropping. It was the beginning of a promise to sustain, nourish, and preserve Flat Rock, one of the oldest African American communities in Georgia. Over 40 years, Mr. Bryant sold nearly 30 parcels of land to community members so they could have a stake in the South while many fled to northern cities during the Great Migration.

The Archives and the Alliance ensure that Bryant’s promise endures, and is celebrated.

Lyon Farmhouse Stabilization | The oldest and only remaining intact homestead in DeKalb County, the Lyon Farm was built by a Revolutionary War veteran after the Creek secession in 1821. The vernacular house reflects the westward expansion of a new nation and nearly two centuries of white settlement; slavery and emancipation; reconstruction and Civil Rights. The Flat Rock Archives offers tours of the grounds but the house has fallen into serious disrepair. More than a decade of advocacy work by the Alliance has resulted in a commitment of over $200,000 by the county to stabilize the historic farmhouse. Through a cadre of local and national partners, the Alliance will lead stabilization efforts and identify an adaptive reuse that will engage the community with its vibrant past.

Flat Rock Slave Cemetery Preservation | Obscured by trees on a high ridge, sits a parcel of land marked by simple fieldstones. This is Flat Rock Slave Cemetery. Generations walked a worn quarter-mile dirt path to bury their dead. Due to incomplete property records, the heavily sloped tract has been threatened by insensitive development. The Alliance and The Archives are close to an agreement with a private developer to secure the land and permanently deed it to the Archives, where this story will be shared with future generations.

ARABIA MOUNTAIN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Georgia

The Archives and the Alliance ensure that Bryant’s promise endures, and is celebrated.

ARABIA MOUNTAIN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — GEORGIA (ARABIAALLIANCE.ORG)

After over a decade of preservation efforts, landmarks of African-American history within the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area have been saved for future generations. The Lyon Farmhouse (the oldest homestead in DeKalb County and the place where members of the historic Flat Rock community were enslaved prior to the Civil War) has been stabilized after months of renovations. Up the road, the ground where the enslaved and their ancestors are buried has also been protected: an easement has been placed on the land surrounding the Flat Rock slave cemetery and the historic processional path leading to their resting place.

It wasn’t the purchase that was remarkable, but the purchaser—T. A. Bryant, Sr. His acquisition of 45 acres of red Georgia clay freed him from the bounds of sharecropping. It was the beginning
of a promise to sustain, nourish, and preserve Flat Rock, one of the oldest African American communities in Georgia. Over 40 years, Mr. Bryant sold nearly 30 parcels of land to community members so they could have a stake in the South while many fled to northern cities during the Great Migration.

The Archives and the Alliance ensure that Bryant’s promise endures, and is celebrated.

Lyon Farmhouse Stabilization: The oldest and only remaining intact homestead in DeKalb County, the Lyon Farm was built by a Revolutionary War veteran after the Creek secession in 1821. The vernacular house reflects the westward expansion of a new nation and nearly two centuries of white settlement; slavery and emancipation; reconstruction and Civil Rights. More than a decade of advocacy has resulted in over $500,000 in funds to preserve the historic farmhouse. Through a cadre of local and national partners, the Alliance led the stabilization efforts and continues to support Archive-led tours of the grounds, farmhouse and slave quarters. The Flat Rock community, still thriving today, has attracted people from across the country, as well as tourists from Europe, Canada and New Zealand.

Flat Rock Slave Cemetery Preservation: Obscured by trees on a high ridge, sits a parcel of land marked by simple fieldstones. This is Flat Rock Historic Slave Cemetery. Generations walked a worn quarter-mile dirt path to bury their dead. For years due to incomplete property records, the heavily sloped tract was threatened by insensitive development. While the racism and inequality that plague African Americans in life are perpetuated in death, cemeteries remain power places of rich history and earthed potential. The Alliance and the Archives worked closely with local government to secure the land and permanently deed it to the Archives, where this story will be shared with future generations.

ARABIA MOUNTAIN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Georgia

The Archives and the Alliance ensure that Bryant’s promise endures, and is celebrated.

ARABIA MOUNTAIN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — GEORGIA (ARABIAALLIANCE.ORG)

Louisiana industry is predominantly characterized by energy twins: oil and gas. For better or worse, the industry has been the economic driver in the state for decades – St. Mary Parish prefers to see it as “for better.”

Oil pipelines cut through Louisiana’s natural environment, interrupting the ecosystem. However, Shell Corporation and the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge are aiming to change the narrative with the Wildflower Energy Project along the Zydeco pipeline right-of-way which is 5 feet above sea level. The pipeline cut through a cane field in Centerville, LA. With the help of Shell and volunteers, 20 acres were planted with 25 wildflower species and 11 grass species in spring 2022.

Seeding the field with native wildflowers is the first step in having the pipeline corridor go carbon neutral. The field will help with carbon sequestration, while eliminating motorized mowing and saving on fuel. The planting reintroduces wildlife lost including pollinators, small mammals, and native birds. In the future, the field will be developed into hiking trails. It will also serve as a model for Louisiana’s many miles of pipeline.

The oil and gas industry are still major job providers in the area. The people of St. Mary Parish, along with Shell, are changing the narrative in relation to the industry. Native wildflower plantings introduce environmental stewardship, and the land will be more usable for tourists. The area is showing resilience in a changing world – one transitioning to a healthier environment while also paying homage to the petroleum industry.

ATCHAFALAYA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Louisiana

ATCHAFALAYA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Louisiana

Glowing in the torchlight, the faces of 125 enslaved people shone with piety and excitement. As they made their way through the darkened streets of Augusta, Georgia that night in 1840, no one in the procession could have known they were lighting the way to the birth of a major religious denomination.

Augusta’s historic Mother Trinity Church, the birthplace of the Christian Methodist Episcopal denomination, has many stories to tell. Yet, after 158 years of worship at its original location near the banks of the Augusta Canal, the Trinity congregation abandoned their historic sanctuary. The reason: contamination from a defunct manufactured gas plant had poisoned the ground beneath the church. In 1997 Atlanta Gas Light Company bought the church property, the congregation rebuilt and relocated, and Mother Trinity stood empty for almost twenty years. It became clear the utility planned to demolish the old building.

The Augusta Canal National Heritage Area (ACNHA) stepped in, spearheading the “Save Mother Trinity” initiative. With guidance from Partners for Sacred Places, a national non-profit that specializes in repurposing of historic worship spaces, ACNHA convened more than fifty community stakeholders to look at how the church could be reused for a meaningful, sustainable purpose. “But first and foremost, we needed to save and stabilize the structure,” explained ACHNA Executive Director Dayton Sherrouse.

The clock was ticking. The gas company was under orders to clean up the property by 2019. As an alternative to demolition, ACNHA sought permission to move the structure onto an adjacent parcel, but the gas company resisted. Finally, a formal mediation between the company and Augusta’s Historic Preservation Commission yielded an agreement; the gas company would deed both the church and nearby land to the Augusta Canal Authority (ACNHA’s management organization) and contribute $300,000 toward the cost of relocation–provided the move is completed by mid-June 2018.

“We’ve contracted with an experienced building mover and he is currently hard at work,” Sherrouse said. “We’re now hopeful that one day Mother Trinity will again shine her light in this community and beyond.”

AUGUSTA CANAL NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Georgia

AUGUSTA CANAL NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — GEORGIA (AUGUSTACANAL.COM)

The Augusta Canal National Heritage Area (ACNHA) stepped in, spearheading the “Save Mother Trinity” initiative. With guidance from Partners for Sacred Places (a national non-profit that specializes in repurposing of historic worship spaces) ACNHA convened more than fifty community stakeholders to look at how the church could be reused for a meaningful, sustainable purpose. “But first and foremost, we needed to save and stabilize the structure,” explained ACHNA Executive Director Dayton Sherrouse.

After disproving the naysayer’s attitude that it couldn’t be moved, the Augusta Canal NHA successfully moved to a new location the Historic Trinity Church in 2018. The church, built in 1848, represented the birthplace of the Christian Methodist Episcopal denomination, referred to as the Mother Church of the denomination. The denomination was started in 1840 where slaves and free blacks originally worshiped in the St. John United Methodist Church. The move of the historic church was required to save it from demolition to enable the Gas Company to remediate contaminated soil underneath the church. Since the move, the NHA has employed an architect to complete a Historic Structure Report including recommendations for the ultimate renovation. We unsuccessfully attempted to obtain a grant under the National Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. We continue to raise funds for the renovation of the church.

AUGUSTA CANAL NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Georgia

AUGUSTA CANAL NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — GEORGIA (AUGUSTACANAL.COM)

The 2017-18 school year is the third year of the Baltimore National Heritage Area’s highly successful Kids in Kayaks program. The program gets Baltimore City Public School eighth graders out on the water, many for the first time in their lives. Students learn the basics of kayaking while simultaneously exploring the history of Baltimore and ecology of the Chesapeake Bay. Despite the fact that Baltimore is a maritime community and port city, many residents have very little access to the water. Children grow up without strong connections to the water and with no understanding of how their daily actions impact the health of the bay and the entire Chesapeake ecosystem. Some participants come back to land very emotional after seeing all of the pollution along the shoreline.

The Baltimore National Heritage Area brought partners together in 2015 after initial conversations with Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks staff. Today’s partners include Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, Tree Baltimore, National Park Conservation Association, National Park Service – Chesapeake Bay office, Baltimore Museum of Industry, Outward Bound, Chesapeake Bay program and the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House. This program would not be possible without the Baltimore National Heritage Area serving as the “glue” that connects all of the partners.

To date, more than one thousand city students have participated in the program. With this yearly tradition now in place, seventh graders and younger students hear about what the eighth graders get to do and they look forward to the opportunity when they reach eighth grade.

The program has won four awards, including:

Baltimore National Heritage Area Organization Partner of the Year 2015 – Baltimore City Recreation and Parks
The Maryland Recreation and Parks Association, “Creative Programming Award” – Baltimore City Recreation and Parks (2017 & 2018)
The Maryland Recreation and Parks Association, “Writing, Research or Audio Visual Award (Specialty Award)” – Chesapeake Bay Program (video-2017)

BALTIMORE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Maryland

The program has won four awards, including:

BALTIMORE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — MARYLAND (EXPLOREBALTIMORE.ORG)

The Baltimore Heritage Area is steeped both in the history and future of race relations. Many civil rights figures got their start here: Congressman Elijah Cummings, Justice Thurgood Marshall, Juanita Jackson Mitchell, and Lillie Mae Carroll. Historical homes and institutions still stand today where you can gain an understanding of diverse experiences like the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park and the Lloyd Street Synagogue.

The 1968 race riots negatively impacted the business and entertainment community in Baltimore along Pennsylvania Avenue. Then again in 2015 another wave of destruction around race relations occurred in the same area after the death of Freddie Gray. The city was once again challenged with rebuilding and archiving a difficult time in our history. The Heritage Area includes these neighborhoods and we are working with our partners to restore and breathe new life into these historical/cultural gems so that their legacy is not forgotten.

Today, Baltimore is actively marrying its civil rights lessons of the past with a look to what it wants its diversity plan to be in the future. The Heritage Area is working with heritage organizations, cultural institutions, neighborhoods and most importantly citizens to archive the story of race in the city, but also improving race relations through lectures, programs, grants and initiatives that look to heal the racial divide in the city as well.

BALTIMORE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Maryland

BALTIMORE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — MARYLAND (EXPLOREBALTIMORE.ORG)

Baltimore, Maryland is like most cities today – holding on to its great past while also trying to carve out the plan for its future. As we face the realities of poverty, violence, shrinking population, and educational challenges, the city champions things that traditionally made it a city unlike any other and one which more than 600,000 people choose to call home.

Those of us who work on the behalf of the city see Baltimore’s resilience lies not in the negative, but in the positive future of its residents. Baltimore National Heritage Area (BNHA) is one of many key organizations that works daily with Baltimore youth and its diverse populations to expose them to natural beauty of this area and ways we can all help change the narrative.

As BNHA does this work, we have seen neighborhoods plant trees, repair historic churches and open their doors to the community, and renovate notable homes into cultural institutions. Diverse stories of past and present residents are being told in more inclusive ways to more accurately reflect a city that often was at the center of change for the United States. Resilience is a character builder and a lesson teacher.

Baltimore National Heritage Area works on initiatives which aid in Baltimore’s resilience with an eye to educating Baltimore’s youth about the heritage of their city and making sure that our residents, historic neighborhoods and cultural institutions continue to have access to resources that will guarantee their ability to thrive for many years to come.

BALTIMORE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Maryland

BALTIMORE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — MARYLAND (EXPLOREBALTIMORE.ORG)

The Blackstone River Valley, long a destination for biking, kayaking, and nature and history lovers, has opened its borders to visitors previously unable to share in the adventures. Recent adaptive outdoor programs in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (BHC) forged successful partnerships with multiple state, civic, and private organizations. With the help of National Park Service VIPs (Volunteer in Parks) and additional volunteers, these programs help create positive experiences for all.

Rail-trail sections that follow the Blackstone River offer superb opportunities for recreation. Adaptive bicycling and kayaking programs in the Heritage Corridor, made possible through a partnership with All Out Adventures and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, have created access for many. Margaret Carroll, a tireless advocate for the Heritage Corridor, was able to enjoy the completed section of trail, despite her frail health, as she rode on an adaptive tandem bike. For this Heritage Corridor visionary, it was a dream come true.

Adaptive Bicycling events welcome those with visual and cognitive impairments, the aged, and younger adults with paralysis. Trained volunteers welcome all with respect. Participants set out, some with trepidation, return with wide and infectious smiles. Increasing accessibility in the BHC has drawn attention from local newspapers, TV stations, and curious passersby. The “playing field” has been leveled as participants of all abilities explore the riches of the Heritage Corridor.

Additional adaptive programming continues in the Corridor: “Birding by Ear,” inspired by visually impaired volunteers; Adaptive kayaking programs that create access to the Blackstone River watershed; and Make Your Own Storybook “Easy Walks,” adaptable for many abilities. Working in consultation with disabled communities, BHC strives to include all who wish to participate at whatever level they are able.

BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR | Massachusetts

BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR | Massachusetts

For more than a decade, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) has provided seed monies to develop heritage and recreation assets for Hayesville, a town of 300 residents.

The Clay County Communities Revitalization Association has created a Cherokee Homestead exhibit with replicas of winter and summer homes that the Cherokee lived in for 10,000 years in this region. Nearly 14,000 students have visited the exhibit, which is home to an annual Cherokee Heritage Festival each fall.

The Clay County Historical and Arts Center installed a native plant botanical garden along the Cherokee Heritage Trails.
Recreation has drawn 2,000 avid cyclists a month to the 15-mile Jackrabbit Trail system south of town.
Hayesville is currently renovating its 1888 courthouse as an event space, craft market and small business center. The Town Square boasts a new Music Heritage sculpture, which marks Hayesville’s renovated Peacock Playhouse as a must-see stop on the regional Blue Ridge Music Trails.

“The BRNHA has helped us to host a community theater, the quality of which rivals Atlanta, but where you feel like you know the artists and are listening to the stories of old friends,” says Mayor Harry Baughn. “People want to know about places they’re visiting,” says Rob Tiger, a local merchant and CCRA volunteer. “A lot of our success is due to the help we have gotten from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.”

BLUE RIDGE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | North Carolina

For more than a decade, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) has provided seed monies to develop heritage and recreation assets for Hayesville, a town of 300 residents.

BLUE RIDGE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — NORTH CAROLINA (BLUERIDGEHERITAGE.COM)

For more than a decade, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) has provided seed monies to develop heritage and recreation assets for Hayesville, a town of 300 residents. This town was once known as Quanassee and was an important stop along Cherokee trading routes for hundreds of years.

The Clay County Communities Revitalization Association has created a Cherokee Homestead exhibit with replicas of winter and summer homes that the Cherokee lived in for thousands of years in this region. This exhibit is part of the Quanassee Path, an urban walking trail that showcases five separate Cherokee historic sites: the Cherokee Cultural Center in the library, the outdoor Cherokee Homestead Exhibit, Cherokee Botanical Sanctuary, Old Jail Museum, and the archaeological site at Spikebuck Mound.

The Cherokee Homestead exhibit has hosted more than 14,000 students connecting with fourth and sixth grade North Carolina curriculum. Students from all over the U.S. and from around the world have also learned about Cherokee heritage in Hayesville. Each fall, the exhibit is home to the annual Cherokee Heritage Festival, where visitors and locals alike learn about Cherokee culture through demonstrations, music, dance, food, and crafts. This cultural exchange culminates in a Friendship Dance with both Cherokee and festival goers participating.

“The work undertaken by the small town of Hayesville is quite profound,” said Angie Chandler, director of the Blue Ridge National Heritage. “Working in collaboration with the Eastern Band of Cherokee, Hayesville is embracing and taking pride in its heritage and sharing it in a meaningful way with the rest of the world. What a great model for all of us to follow.”

Rob Tiger, a local merchant and community leader, has played a key role in the town’s revitalization efforts. He noted a key shift in how youngsters are taking pride in their heritage. “I was in a local school classroom recently and when I asked, around 30 percent of students raised their hands to claim Cherokee heritage. This is not something that would have happened when we started working on this project.”

Most recently, Hayesville’s 1888 courthouse was renovated and dedicated as the Beal Center to serve as an event space, craft market and small business center. The town square boasts a new Music Heritage sculpture, which marks Hayesville’s renovated Peacock Playhouse as a must-see stop on the regional Blue Ridge Music Trails, a Blue Ridge National Heritage Area initiative that aims to preserve and promote Western North Carolina’s traditional music. “The BRNHA has helped us to host a community theater, the quality of which rivals Atlanta, but where you feel like you know the artists and are listening to the stories of old friends,” says Mayor Harry Baughn.

“Western North Carolina’s traditional music is a blend of Cherokee, European and African influences,” said Chandler. “Through the music we work to build bridges and goodwill to everyone.”

BLUE RIDGE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | North Carolina

“Western North Carolina’s traditional music is a blend of Cherokee, European and African influences,” said Chandler. “Through the music we work to build bridges and goodwill to everyone.”

BLUE RIDGE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — NORTH CAROLINA (BLUERIDGEHERITAGE.COM)

In March 2020, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area was poised to expand its Blue Ridge Craft Trails (BRCT) into all 25 counties of Western North Carolina. This program sought to connect craft makers with buyers, generate new heritage tourism visitation, and preserve traditional and contemporary crafts for current and future generations. Funding was secured, and we hired new staff.

But almost overnight, this project seeking to bring the public into craft studios and galleries didn’t work. The next two years brought lockdowns, sickness, and general uncertainty. We waited and waited. Once the situation improved, we donned masks and hit the road to safely visit hundreds of potential craft sites. These rewarding, meaningful visits brought new challenges: full days of driving and visiting with little to no public restroom access; outdoor lunches in February; and COVID exposure. Yet, thanks to hard work and partner support, the project moved forward.

The pandemic, while devastating, provided a silver lining for our craft community. Visitors and locals alike wanted to travel by car to areas with outdoor recreational opportunities. We seized that momentum to promote talent and diversity on the BRCT, creating infrastructure to establish Western North Carolina as a national craft destination.

In 2022 BRCT launched featuring more than 340 sites on a drivable trail across an area the size of Maryland. The Craft Trails have already garnered more than 100 placements in local, regional and national media outlets. Our focus is now on programming and evaluating the success of this initiative.

BLUE RIDGE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | North Carolina

BLUE RIDGE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — NORTH CAROLINA (BLUERIDGEHERITAGE.COM)

Attracting and engaging volunteers is a key component of success for National Heritage Areas. The Heritage Culturalist Program (HCP) is an ambassador program that educates volunteers in the rich history and recreation opportunities of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area through interactive presentations and site visits. These initiatives focus on the Poudre River’s integral role in the birth of western water law, and its impact on the agriculture, recreation, and environment of the Northern Colorado community.

Once trained, HCP volunteers share their expertise with the public to educate and increase awareness of the Cache la Poudre River NHA by leading bike tours along the Poudre Trail, engaging the public at community events, organizing speakers’ bureaus at local libraries, and more.

Currently, 31 people have been trained through the program over the last two years. Specific sites selected for study during the HCP training include ditches/diversions on the river, historic houses/settlements, and important historical/cultural landscapes.

Judy Firestien, a 2017 Heritage Culturalist Volunteer, had this to say about the program: “The Heritage Area is so special to me because a portion of our farm lies within the Heritage Area, and I have many fond childhood memories of times along the river, mostly exploring with my dog, Duke. I became a volunteer to further solidify the knowledge I have gained over the past years with regard to history of the area, water history and water law, and historic preservation. I hope to further use this knowledge on our farm to educate the public on history, water, and our community’s heritage”

CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Colorado

CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — COLORADO (POUDREHERITAGE.ORG)

Cane River National Heritage Area (CRNHA) in northwestern Louisiana is a largely rural, agricultural landscape known for its historic plantations, Creole architecture, and multicultural legacy. The stories of Cane River’s people are brimming with the contrasts that comprise our nation’s history: conquest and colonialism, militarism and peace, wealth and poverty, slavery and freedom. Here, the interaction of American Indians, European settlers, and enslaved Africans led to the development of a distinctive Creole culture which cut across racial categories and drew from many traditions but remained grounded in French colonialism and Catholicism.

Today CRNHA works closely with communities, cultural organizations, and subject matter experts to document the stories and traditions of the region in an authentic, accurate, and inclusive manner and connect those stories with the next generation of heritage stewards. Together with their partners at the Cane River Creole National Historical Park, CRNHA has created two seasonal programs that provide children and families with the opportunity to explore and learn about their national park and heritage area.

The annual Find Your Park Festival and the Cane River Fall Festival are free, day-long festivals that celebrate the cultural heritage of the Cane River community. Held at the Cane River Creole NHP, the festivals showcase traditional foodways, music, and folkways. Events include folk art and living history demonstrations, musical performances, historic games, and demonstrations of traditional Creole blacksmithing and agriculture techniques.

In 2019 the festivals completed their third year of programming, and together they have welcomed thousands of children and their families. More than 40 businesses, individuals, and organizations sponsored these programs in 2019.The Cane River Festival series is just one example in a year of programming designed to bring awareness and support to the cultural and natural resources of the Cane River National Heritage Area.

CANE RIVER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Louisiana

CANE RIVER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — Louisiana

Trenton, NJ elementary school students are discovering the pivotal history in their own backyard thanks to an innovative program created by Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area. On a recent visit to the Old Barracks Museum, fourth graders from Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School learned that the 18th century structure served as a military hospital during the Revolution, and was among the places where Continental Army soldiers received smallpox inoculations.

The Old Barracks visit was part of a year-long class project during which students learn about the American Revolution and produce videos about the impact on the war on 18th century Trenton residents. The community was the site of the December 1776 Battle of Trenton and the January 1777 Battle of Assunpink Creek that followed Washington’s Christmas crossing of the Delaware River. Historians consider these battles as the turning point of the American Revolution.

“While the Old Barracks regularly gets visits from school groups around the state, students from Trenton rarely make visits here,” said Crossroads Executive Director Janice Selinger. “History becomes so much more real when you see it happened in your own neighborhood. We’re hoping this project will spark a lifelong interest and pride in Trenton’s Revolutionary history among these youngsters.”

The fourth graders will continue their research through classroom visits from historians and re-enactors, and then will create video themes and scripts for the final product, which they will produce on iPads. The student videos will be shown in the spring at a special red-carpet premiere at Martin Luther King Elementary School.

CROSSROADS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | New Jersey

Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area | RevolutionaryNJ.org

When the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor partnered with St. Luke’s University Health Network for Get Your Tail on the Trail, it was a win-win for our community’s health, the D&L mission, and the local environment. Over the past five years, 6,100 participants have logged over 4.1 million miles along the D&L Trail, which spans five counties from northeast Pennsylvania through the Lehigh Valley and Bucks County.

“I started to walk on the trail for my health,” says Amy Hollander, a participant from Pohatcong Township, NJ. “The [Tail on the Trail] app kept me on track, and I lost about 10 pounds.”

St. Luke’s University Health Networks was established 150+ years ago to care for the Corridor’s iron and steel workers, as well as those who toiled in coal mines. Today, Tail on the Trail is an integral part of St. Luke’s “Healthy Living Initiative,” addressing the national mandate for nonprofit hospitals to conduct Community Health Needs Assessments every three years. The program got people up, outdoors, and moving through guided bike rides, walks, and runs along the spine of the 165-mile National Heritage Corridor.

By linking St. Luke’s health expertise with D&L’s leadership, participants have not only shown increased health—they are more creative and happier.

“I found that the real benefit was to my writing,” Hollander says. “All my best ideas come when I am walking on the trail. Whenever I am blocked, a mile or two on the path and I can let go of all the day-to-day details, and the story just comes to me.”

DELAWARE & LEHIGH NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Pennsylvania

“I started to walk on the trail for my health,” says Amy Hollander, a participant from Pohatcong Township, NJ. “The [Tail on the Trail] app kept me on track, and I lost about 10 pounds.”

By linking St. Luke’s health expertise with D&L’s leadership, participants have not only shown increased health—they are more creative and happier.

PENNSYLVANIA | Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor | DelawareAndLehigh.org

Every 4th grader in New York State learns about the Erie Canal, but not all get a chance to see and experience it. Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor’s Ticket to Ride and Every Kid in a Park programs are turning that around so that students learn firsthand about the vision, innovations, and perseverance that have characterized the legendary NYS Canal System.

Erie Canalway’s Ticket to Ride and Every Kid in a Park programs provide non-competitive grant support to schools for field trips to canal-focused museums and historic sites and to four National Park sites located within the Corridor. More than 45,000 students from 250 schools, and 110 districts, have participated since 2012. To date, more than 64% of participating students have been from lower-income schools (majority enrollment in the federal free/reduced lunch program) located in both urban and rural districts.

The robust programs reinforce classroom learning about the Erie Canal with hands-on experiences at authentic canal sites. Pre- and post-visit activities strengthen important lessons learned and make key connections between the Erie Canal and critical social issues such as women’s rights, the Underground Railroad, and immigration. Overall, the programs provide greater access to New York’s rich historic and cultural experiences.

Reinvigorating a passion for place and championing the value of the Erie Canal as a relevant part of the lives of Corridor students are primary goals of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor’s Ticket to Ride and Every Kid in a Park programs.

ERIE CANALWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | New York

NEW YORK | Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor | Eriecanalway.org

A summer job can be a game changer for a teenager. It boosts self-confidence and self-reliance; builds work experience and confidence; and promotes life-long skills in teamwork, responsibility, and leadership. The Future Leaders program that Essex Heritage offers is more than just a job.

Each summer Essex Heritage hires 40 young people to work in their Future Leaders program. The teens learn trades and specialty skills, such as carpentry, farming, shipbuilding, and the ancient art of gilding. They also acquire skills in historic preservation, building maintenance, natural resource management, interpretation, and visitor operations. For many of these teens this is their first job experience, so they receive guidance in workplace expectations, resume preparation, and career development.

Furthermore, historic, cultural, and natural sites in Essex County benefit from the assistance that the Future Leaders provide by helping with projects, supporting their guest services, and engaging with their programs. Future Leader Ryan Duggan learned the art of blacksmithing at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site under the direction of Park Ranger Curtis White. After his summer experience, Ryan said, “Getting to be an apprentice blacksmith has been spectacular. I’ve learned the basics of a fascinating trade, and honed my teaching skills with demonstrations for the visiting public. It’s helped me visualize what I would like to do as an adult and has developed my appreciation for history.”

ESSEX NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Massachusetts

ESSEX NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — MASSACHUSETTS (ESSEXHERITAGE.ORG)

Everyone faced numerous struggles throughout the pandemic, but teachers experienced some of the most difficult challenges while serving their students’ needs amidst disruptions and uncertainty. Many educators went above and beyond to help their pupils feel a sense of normalcy and even empowerment.

Essex Heritage saw examples of this resiliency among instructors and youth involved with our Park for Every Classroom (PEC) program. PEC supports Massachusetts teachers who develop projects utilizing Heritage Area assets to create civic engagement opportunities for students in a “real world” context. During the pandemic this was especially difficult, yet teachers in our program persevered.

One middle school teacher created ways for students to conduct fieldwork outdoors in a safer environment. They monitored and studied their school campus’s green infrastructure while learning about climate impacts and mitigation strategies like rain gardens. Working with a local environmental justice organization, students connected larger concepts of climate change to their own abilities to make a difference.

In another example, two high school art teachers helped students understand how visual depictions can give voice to those who may not feel heard in the community. After seeing example items by local artists, learners created their own meaningful works of art. When the pandemic shut down schools and their local museum, they projected their creations outside their teacher’s home and held a community drive-by to help “give voice to the voiceless” through art.

We are impressed and inspired by what these resilient faculty accomplished over the past couple years despite immense challenges!

ESSEX NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Massachusetts

We are impressed and inspired by what these resilient faculty accomplished over the past couple years despite immense challenges!

ESSEX NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — MASSACHUSETTS (ESSEXHERITAGE.ORG)

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area has undertaken a challenging task: interpreting a divisive history of segregation and its legacy. Students participating in Race Project KC explore the history, causes, and potential solutions to segregation and racism. In recent years, the National Heritage Area has led this partnership effort, leveraging funds on a 5:1 basis to serve more than 1,000 students.

The project gives students a chance to share their own unique stories, break down barriers between diverse groups of students and use their diversity to understand collective strengths. The catalyst for the project was the book, Some of My Best Friends are Black: The Strange Story of Integration in America by Tanner Colby. The book provides history about the geographical racial divide in Kansas City around which students come together for discussion.

Now in its third year, the project has connected students from wealthier suburban schools and majority minority schools in economically depressed areas. One participant commented, “Getting to know people from other parts of the city has been awesome. To learn the history of our city was shocking and makes me want to get more involved.”

FREEDOM’S FRONTIER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Kansas, Missouri

FREEDOM’S FRONTIER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — KANSAS AND MISSOURI (FREEDOMSFRONTIER.ORG)

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area has undertaken a challenging task: interpreting our region’s divisive history of segregation and its legacy.

Helping us interpret that story is Race Project KC. It consists of a series of opportunities for high school students to learn Johnson County, Wyandotte County, and Jackson County’s history of racial segregation and how it continues to impact us today. The project has paired students from wealthier suburban schools and majority- minority schools in economically depressed areas.

Students encounter experts on the topic, learn vocabulary for talking about race, and build relationships with peers they might not otherwise meet. The project gives students a chance to share their own unique stories, break down barriers between diverse groups of students, and use their diversity to understand collective strengths.

The catalyst for the project was the book Some of My Best Friends are Black: The Strange Story of Integration in America by Tanner Colby (2012). The book provides a history of Kansas City’s racial divide.

“It is our generation that will be the ones to do something about the division of economic status in the KC area. We will create steps to stop the economic and educational division,” said one Race Project student.

Even with the challenges of COVID-19, the Race Project KC connects teachers and students with tools to continue their exploration. Through a VoiceMap app tour called “Dividing Lines: A History of Segregation in Kansas City,” students guide users through the region’s uncomfortable history.

FREEDOM’S FRONTIER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Kansas, Missouri

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area has undertaken a challenging task: interpreting our region’s divisive history of segregation and its legacy.

FREEDOM’S FRONTIER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — KANSAS AND MISSOURI (FREEDOMSFRONTIER.ORG)

What does the Declaration of Independence mean today, and what did it mean to citizens throughout the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area when it was first conceived and debated during their lifetime? These are the questions considered in the public program Declaring Independence: Then & Now.

The program tells the story of people living within the 45 communities of the heritage area in the spring and summer of 1776 and portrays how they debated and celebrated the declaring of independence from Great Britain. Offered in partnership with community organizations, each presentation includes a narrated reading of the Declaration of Independence, interspersed with the words spoken by local individuals as researched by citizen historians.

As the 18th century words and ideas are performed, the narrator explores their meaning to challenge the audience to consider the promises made in that foundational document through the lens of both the past and the present. Presentations are held in historic venues, often the same one in which the original discussions occurred.

Declaring Independence: Then & Now continues to evolve as each community explores its part in the story of American Independence and in our expanding aspirations for freedom and equality. Audiences are inspired and challenged by hearing the Declaration of Independence anew. Civic engagement and interest in our country’s founding principles are high, and Declaring Independence provides an interactive forum in which to explore both.

FREEDOM’S WAY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Massachusetts, New Hampshire

MASSACHUSETTS/NEW HAMPSHIRE | Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area | FreedomsWay.org

The winner of a prestigious Leadership in History Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History in 2019, “Declaring Independence: Then & Now” provides a forum for civic engagement within the 45 communities of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Each performance, tailored to the community in which it is held, presents the Declaration of Independence within the unique historical context of its creation while offering insights into the document’s enduring meanings, challenges and relevancy for contemporary society.
What does the Declaration of Independence mean today, and what did it mean to citizens throughout the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area when it was first conceived and debated during their lifetime? These are the questions considered in the public program “Declaring Independence: Then & Now.”

The program tells the story of people living within the 45 communities of the heritage area during the spring and summer of 1776 and portrays how they debated and celebrated the declaring of independence from Great Britain. Offered in partnership with community organizations, each presentation includes a narrated reading of the Declaration of Independence, interspersed with the words spoken by local individuals as researched by citizen historians.

“Declaring Independence: Then & Now” continues to evolve as each community explores its part in the story of American Independence and in our expanding aspirations for freedom and equality. Audiences are inspired and challenged by hearing the Declaration of Independence anew. Civic engagement and interest in our country’s founding principles are high, and Declaring Independence provides an interactive forum in which to explore both.

FREEDOM’S WAY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Massachusetts, New Hampshire

MASSACHUSETTS/NEW HAMPSHIRE | Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area | FreedomsWay.org

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, fear and panic swept through the country, particularly on the West Coast. President Roosevelt issued Executive Order # 9066, which effectively stripped Japanese Americans of their Constitutional rights, as they were ordered to be relocated to internment camps in the nation’s interior. The Topaz Camp in Delta, Utah was home to more than 11,000 internees on one square mile of bleak, desert landscape. At war’s end, the internees were released and the makeshift camp was disassembled, with only concrete footings a reminder of this era.

By the 1980’s, President Reagan and the Congress offered a formal apology and reparations, but that is only the beginning of the story. Jane Beckwith, a Delta school teacher, began researching the story of Topaz with her Journalism students and became determined to create a permanent memorial to this tragic episode in American history. For three decades Jane maintained her focus and gathered support for her dream. On July 8, 2017, Jane, her dedicated Board of Directors, key partners including the Great Basin National Heritage Area, and hundreds of former internees and their families celebrated the opening of the Topaz Museum.

The ceremony brought together a diverse group of supporters to commemorate this event. Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) was particularly moved by the occasion, making the point that we must never forget these lessons of untrammeled executive action which circumvent the checks and balances of our Constitution. The Topaz Museum is a perfect example of citizen action—supported by a National Heritage Area as well as the National Park Service—to tell this compelling story that will live on for generations to come.

GREAT BASIN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Nevada, Utah

GREAT BASIN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — NEVADA & UTAH (GREATBASINHERITAGEAREA.ORG)

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, fear and panic swept through the country, particularly on the West Coast. President Roosevelt issued Executive Order # 9066, which effectively stripped Japanese Americans of their constitutional rights, as they were ordered to be relocated to internment camps in the nation’s interior. The Topaz Camp in Delta, Utah was home to more than 11,000 internees on one square mile of bleak, desert landscape. At war’s end, the internees were released and the makeshift camp was disassembled, with only concrete footings a reminder of this era.

By the 1980’s, President Reagan and the Congress offered a formal apology and reparations, but that is only the beginning of this story. Jane Beckwith, a Delta school teacher, began researching the story of Topaz with her journalism students and became determined to create a permanent memorial to this tragic episode in American history. On July 8, 2017, Jane, her dedicated Board of Directors which includes former internees, key partners including the Great Basin National Heritage Area, and hundreds of former internees and their families celebrated the opening of the Topaz Museum.

The internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry during WWII was one of the worst violations of civil rights against citizens in the history of the United States. The government and the US Army, falsely citing “military necessity,” forced 120,000 men, women, and children of Japanese ancestry (about two-thirds were American citizens) into camps. The question of “How did this happen?” has been asked many times. An extensive government review initiated in 1980 found no evidence of military necessity and concluded that the incarceration was a grave injustice fueled by racism and war hysteria.

Sadly, while the chapter of wartime internment camps is over, unequal treatment and violation of civil rights of people of color is still a reality in 2020, and the story of Topaz is as relevant today as the day the first internees arrived in 1943.

GREAT BASIN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Nevada, Utah

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, fear and panic swept through the country, particularly on the West Coast. President Roosevelt issued Executive Order # 9066, which effectively stripped Japanese Americans of their constitutional rights, as they were ordered to be relocated to internment camps in the nation’s interior. The Topaz Camp in Delta, Utah was home to more than 11,000 internees on one square mile of bleak, desert landscape. At war’s end, the internees were released and the makeshift camp was disassembled, with only concrete footings a reminder of this era.

GREAT BASIN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — NEVADA & UTAH (GREATBASINHERITAGEAREA.ORG)

On a humid night in early June, a group of chefs and their guests came together on a Johns Island, South Carolina farm owned by third-generation Gullah Geechee farmer, Joseph Fields. Gullah chef B.J. Dennis served traditional Gullah Geechee dishes like okra soup and Charleston red rice. A pit barbecue held a whole lamb and pig sourced from neighboring Wadmalaw Island. Many at the dinner were familiar with the dishes but likely knew much less about the deep relationship between their Gullah Geechee hosts and the very land where they stood balancing their plates of barbecue and cornmeal fritters.

The Gullah Geechee are direct descendants of people who came from sophisticated agricultural societies along Africa’s west coast, countries now known as Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Trafficked across the Atlantic into Charleston and Savannah, the enslaved brought their knowledge of tidal rice cultivation, enabling the region to grow wealthy as rice production took off in the late 17th century.

Tidal rice cultivation, though labor-intensive and technically difficult, flourished once West African technology was introduced. Intricate systems of canals, dikes, sluices, and trunks redirected fresh water as it was pushed upstream by rising tides. While slaves endured dangerous conditions, working in mosquito-filled swamps where malaria and yellow fever flourished, European planters were absentee owners who spent much of their time in the pine lands and cities. This led to highly “Africanized” plantations, where the enslaved managed the rice production under the direction of a white overseer.

The Gullah Geechee are best understood through their relationship to the land, which is widely considered the most valuable of all Gullah Geechee cultural assets and has always been the base for economic and social development. After slavery ended, family farms like the Fields Farm were often the primary source of income. Gullah Geechee land owners were able to develop a self-sustaining economy based on the small-scale production of cotton, subsistence agriculture, and truck farming supplemented with fishing and harvesting shrimp and oysters. As a result, many were able to avoid the hazards of tenant farming and sharecropping. Today, the Gullah Geechee face new hazards with each hurricane that barrels down on the land that defines them.

For hundreds of years, the Gullah Geechee have resided along the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Their ancestors, though all West African, were culturally, linguistically, and spiritually diverse. Over time, a new creole culture and language – now known as Gullah Geechee – emerged on these isolated island and coastal plantations and is now recognized as one of the great, foundational cultures of the United States. Here you will find hand-crafted sweetgrass baskets that reflect ancient West African weaving traditions; century-old praise houses hosting “ring shouts” (the oldest surviving African-American performance tradition); and dishes, like Chef Dennis’ red rice, that connect today’s Gullah Geechee chefs to the cook pots of their ancestors. And here you will find acres of rice fields, silent and verdant memorials to the unfathomable sacrifices and inspiring perseverance of the Gullah Geechee people.

GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR | South Carolina

SOUTH CAROLINA | Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (GullahGeecheeCorridor.org)

A group of chefs and their guests recently came together on a Johns Island, South Carolina farm owned by third-generation Gullah Geechee farmer, Joseph Fields. Chef B.J. Dennis served traditional Gullah Geechee dishes like okra soup and Charleston red rice. A pit barbecue held a whole lamb and pig sourced from neighboring Wadmalaw Island. Many at the dinner were familiar with the dishes but likely knew less about the deep relationship between their Gullah Geechee hosts and their land.

The Gullah Geechee are direct descendants of people who came from sophisticated agricultural societies along Africa’s west coast. Trafficked across the Atlantic into Charleston and Savannah, the enslaved brought their knowledge of tidal rice cultivation, enabling the region to grow wealthy.

Tidal rice cultivation flourished once West African technology was introduced. Intricate systems of canals, dikes, sluices, and trunks redirected fresh water as it was pushed upstream by rising tides. While slaves worked in mosquito-filled swamps where malaria and yellow fever flourished, absentee European planters spent their time in the pine lands and cities. This led to highly “Africanized” plantations, where the enslaved managed the rice production under the direction of a white overseer.

The Gullah Geechee are best understood through their relationship to the land. After slavery ended, family farms were often the primary source of income. Gullah Geechee land owners were able to develop a self-sustaining economy based on the small-scale production of cotton, subsistence agriculture, and truck farming supplemented with harvesting shrimp and oysters. As a result, many were able to avoid the hazards of tenant farming and sharecropping.

For centuries, the Gullah Geechee have resided along the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Their ancestors, though all West African, were culturally, linguistically, and spiritually diverse. Over time, a new creole culture and language—now known as Gullah Geechee—emerged on these isolated island and coastal plantations and is one of the great, foundational cultures of the United States. Here you will find hand-crafted sweetgrass baskets that reflect ancient weaving traditions; century-old praise houses hosting “ring shouts” (the oldest surviving African-American performance tradition); and dishes that connect today’s Gullah Geechee chefs to the cook pots of their ancestors. And here you will find acres of rice fields—silent and verdant memorials to the unfathomable sacrifices and inspiring perseverance of the Gullah Geechee people.

There is an old Gullah Geechee saying, “mus tek cyare de root fuh heal de tree.” We must take care of the roots to heal the tree. Running through all of our contemporary challenges around race, policing, and the killing of African-American people is the common thread of our American experience with slavery, Reconstruction and segregation. It is a history that has burdened African Americans differently and one not always collectively well-understood. The killings of Ahmaud Arbery and at Mother Emanuel AME Church happened in our heritage area, instantly turning Brunswick, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina into focal points for our enduring conversations around inequality and racial injustice. Deeply rooted in our Lowcountry landscape are stories of centuries of a Gullah Geechee quest for freedom, equality and justice — a battle that continues.

GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR | South Carolina

SOUTH CAROLINA | Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (GullahGeecheeCorridor.org)

The Hudson River Valley Ramble is an annual event series that celebrates the history, culture, and natural resources of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, as well as the amazing landscape, communities, and trails throughout the region. Every September, ‘Ramblers’ come not only from the Hudson Valley region and New York State, but from other regions of the country as well to discover the riches our Valley has to offer.

The Newburgh Open Studios tour was a Ramble event that offered a unique opportunity to see the work and meet many of the artists in the City of Newburgh’s burgeoning arts community. The studios are located in some incredibly preserved historic structures, most of which are rarely open to the public. This self-guided tour provided an intriguing connection between the art culture and historical significance that the Hudson River Valley is known for.

The Newburgh Open Studios tour was scheduled to coincide with the Ramble as an additional way to reach a broad audience. Last year close to 2,000 visitors experienced the studio tour, and Ramble Event Leader Michael Gabor anticipates an increase in participating artists and turnout at future events. “Our artists loved the event!” said Gabor, and “ as a historic community that was used as a location/viewing point for many Hudson River School paintings, it is appropriate and encouraging that once again Newburgh is becoming an arts community tied closely to its history, architecture and views that have changed little.”

HUDSON RIVER VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | New York

NEW YORK | Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area | HudsonRiverValley.com

With 35 years as the nation’s first National Heritage Area, we time travel to better understand preservation. From Chicago’s breathtaking skyline, a scene unimaginable in the 1830s, to Lock 14 in LaSalle, IL, human impact is all around us.

They who hunted and paddled remain in name as statues and streets. They who settled along the I&M Canal are buried peacefully along the canal’s 96-mile corridor. They who dreamed big and pushed boundaries are portrayed publicly in buildings, books, maps, or in company logos.

Consider Gurdon Hubbard, first arriving in Chicago in 1818 as a voyageur indentured to John Jacob Astor’s American Fur Co for five years at $120 per year. He once walked for 75 miles in a single night to warn the town of Danville of an impending raid. When questioned about the feat, he challenged a champion walker to a race. Hubbard’s challenger lost by several miles, unable to move the next day. Hubbard seemed unaffected.

Travel 100 miles to the western end of the I&M Canal where Elsie Armstrong arrived from Ohio by wagon at Deer Park in 1831 with nine sons, leaving behind her drunken husband. Deer Park near Starved Rock, about half a mile south of the Illinois River, is wild landscape, where prairie meets deep walls of canyon. Today their story is told in steel silhouettes along the canal in Morris, Illinois, where the Armstrongs shaped a town and a canal.

As speculators moved up and down the Illinois River between Elsie Armstrong’s cabin and Hubbard’s Chicago, there was plenty of reality to match the romance. Our Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Area is still romantic, interesting, progressive, beautiful. The first National Heritage Area of the United States has become our treasure. We celebrate this legacy.

ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Illinois

ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Illinois

At a curve along Alaska’s Kenai River, known for silver salmon fishing and named for its color, Turquoise Bend was recently discovered as an 800-year-old, semi-permanent winter village site of the Denai’na Athabaskans. To the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, this site is not only a cultural landmark and direct link to their ancestral heritage, but also represents a deep spiritual connection to a place that represents a holistic way of life that has persisted for generations.

So what does one do, today, when such a sacred place is located on private property?

The Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area coordinated with many partners to address the challenges of preserving cultural heritage sites in a way that respects indigenous peoples while educating and assisting private land owners in protecting these places.

As a result of the initiative, elders, youth, landowners, and archaeologists teamed up to excavate the Dena’ina settlement site at Turquois Bend. Teams used non-invasive Ground Penetrating Radar and discovered a semi-subterranean log home built to house multiple families. Their work also included surveying cultural plants, examining the condition of the river bank, and performing site restoration activities
“There were some cultural differences that [landowners] were very willing to hear about, learn about, and work with. I feel like we could have a good conversation that was respectful of the land,” said Joel Isaak, Cultural Coordinator of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe.

This project illustrates how members of various cultural communities can collaborate, listen, and be heard as the stories of our nation unfold.

THE KENAI MOUNTAINS-TURNAGAIN ARM NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — ALASKA (KMTACORRIDOR.ORG)

So what does one do, today, when such a sacred place is located on private property?

This project illustrates how members of various cultural communities can collaborate, listen, and be heard as the stories of our nation unfold.

THE KENAI MOUNTAINS-TURNAGAIN ARM NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — ALASKA (KMTACORRIDOR.ORG)

At a curve along Alaska’s Kenai River, known for silver salmon fishing and named for its color, Turquoise Bend was discovered to be an 800-year-old, semi-permanent winter village site of the Dena’ina Athabaskans. To the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, this site is not only a cultural landmark and direct link to their ancestral heritage, but also represents a deep spiritual connection to a place that represents a holistic way of life which has persisted for generations.

So what does one do, today, when such a sacred place is located on private property?

“There were some cultural differences that [landowners] were very willing to hear about, learn about, and work with. I feel like we could have a good conversation that was
respectful of the land,” said Joel Isaak, Cultural Coordinator of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe.

This project illustrates how members of various cultural communities can collaborate, listen, and be heard as the stories of our nation unfold.

The Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area’s staff and board are committed to embracing diversity and will continue to find ways to tell the story of all people and events that have lived, worked, and made the mountains and valleys of our corridor home. Through our work we continue to strive to find ways to listen and learn from one another. By taking the time
to engage in the discovery of different cultures and experiences, we are able to recognize injustices and thereby work towards solutions that make the world a better place and, in turn, make us better people.

THE KENAI MOUNTAINS-TURNAGAIN ARM NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — ALASKA (KMTACORRIDOR.ORG)

So what does one do, today, when such a sacred place is located on private property?

This project illustrates how members of various cultural communities can collaborate, listen, and be heard as the stories of our nation unfold.

THE KENAI MOUNTAINS-TURNAGAIN ARM NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — ALASKA (KMTACORRIDOR.ORG)

Lackawanna Heritage Valley celebrated Northeastern Pennsylvania’s proud and industrious past in the coal mining and rail industries while fostering a brighter future through their 23rd annual ‘Christmas in a Small Town’ program.

Known affectionately throughout the communities simply as the “Santa Train,” this historical holiday program highlights the region’s ties to the railroad. On December 7, the Santa Train arrived at five local and historic train stations to greet hundreds of families before arriving at Steamtown National Historic Site’s turntable, in Scranton, Pa., for a larger event that has become a time-honored family tradition.

The Santa Train is a unique Northeastern Pennsylvania Christmas celebration that brings Santa to each community along the historic D&H railroad line. The train also brings musicians, entertainers, and U.S. Marines to each station. This year, more than 2,500 locals came out to see Santa and to join in the holiday festivities in each community, with more than 3,000 at the final stop at Steamtown National Historic Site.

Throughout each stop along the daylong voyage, children were encouraged to share in the gift of giving by bringing along an unwrapped, new toy as part of a collection for Toys for Tots. This element of the event aims to teach children the values of compassion and helping others.

Joseph Corcoran, executive director of Lackawanna Heritage Valley, finds the event is a unique opportunity for families to embrace the holiday spirit while enjoying the rich history surrounding the local railroad system. “The Santa Train has been rolling since 1996 and has become a local holiday tradition,” Corcoran said. “It allows a piece of our region’s history to live on and be celebrated while encapsulating the magic of the holiday season.”

LACKAWANNA HERITAGE VALLEY | Pennsylvania

LACKAWANNA HERITAGE VALLEY | Pennsylvania

The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation is thrilled to serve as the local coordinating entity of the newly designated Maritime Washington National Heritage Area! Encompassing nearly 3,000 miles of saltwater coastline, the Maritime Washington NHA includes canoe cultures, lighthouses, fishing fleets, and trade routes. It includes the stories handed down over hundreds of years by tribal elders, and stories of exploration and captains, fishing crews and longshoremen, and welders and shipwrights. The nonprofit Sound Experience, a MWNHA partner, shares these stories with more than a thousand teens and hundreds of others each year aboard the 133-foot gaff-rigged schooner Adventuress. Built in 1913 for an Arctic voyage, the ship is now one of only two National Historic Landmark sailing vessels still in USCG-certified operation on the West Coast.

Teens who climb aboard on day and overnight programs raise the sails and take the helm. Programs explore the Salish Sea, present current issues affecting our oceans, and inspire curiosity about marine-science and maritime career opportunities. Aboard Adventuress in the summer, week-long programs in the San Juan Islands bring grandparents and grandkids together under sail, and teenagers embark on sea-going adventures to climb the rigging and become tall ship sailors. But Sound Experience’s most popular program is Girls at the Helm. This multi-day voyage for 20 teenage girls can be life-changing, as all crew positions from captain to engineer to galley coordinator are held by women, many of whom bring experience from non-traditional careers in science and maritime fields and engage the girls in activities designed to inspire their own interests. More relevant than ever, Adventuress enters its 107th year of service making a difference in the lives of young people and encouraging stewardship of the marine environment.

MARITIME WASHINGTON NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Washington

MARITIME WASHINGTON NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Washington

MDNHA Executive Director Rolando Herts was clearly inspired by Alysia Burton Steele’s book, Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom, a collection of oral histories and portraits of African American church mothers from the Mississippi Delta. Church mothers are revered in their communities. Appointed by their church pastors based on years of dedication, study of the Bible, worship, and prayer, church mothers counsel families and youth and model good spiritual practices. The Delta Jewels church mothers, in particular, did this in the face of racial discrimination during the Jim Crow Era and social upheavals of the Civil Rights Movement.

The MDNHA created venues to share these stories throughout the Delta—the very communities where the Delta Jewels church mothers have lived for decades. Collaborating with The Delta Center at Delta State University, the MDNHA arranged a series of community gatherings featuring the author and the Delta Jewels church mothers in Clarksdale, Charleston, Indianola, Yazoo City, Ruleville, and Mound Bayou. “This remarkable group of strong women inspired me with their wisdom and humor,” commented Dr. Myrtis Tabb, Chair of the MDNHA Board of Directors.

MISSISSIPPI DELTA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — MISSISSIPPI (MSDELTAHERITAGE.COM)

The Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area (MDNHA) collaborated with The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University to create the Delta Jewels Oral History Partnership.
In 2015 and 2016, the partnership organized 16 community gatherings interpreting and celebrating the lives of African American church mothers from the Mississippi Delta featured in Alysia Burton Steele’s book Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom. The community gatherings engaged over 1,000 Mississippi Delta residents, visitors, and supporters in honoring the Delta Jewels church mothers and their unheard stories of surviving sharecropping, the Jim Crow Era, and the Civil Rights Movement through family, education, activism, and faith.

All 54 Delta Jewels church mothers featured in the book received certificates of appreciation
from U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson, the longest serving African American elected official in the state of Mississippi’s history and host of the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute held annually in the Mississippi Delta. In addition, the MDNHA and The Delta Center received 2016 National Park Service Centennial Awards for engaging underrepresented populations including youth, the elderly, and African Americans.

MDNHA Executive Director Rolando Herts was clearly inspired by Alysia Burton Steele’s book, Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom, a collection of oral histories and portraits of African American church mothers from the Mississippi Delta. Church mothers are revered in their communities. Appointed by their church pastors based on years of dedication, study of the
Bible, worship, and prayer, church mothers counsel families and youth and model good spiritual practices. The Delta Jewels church mothers, in particular, did this in the face of racial discrimination during the Jim Crow Era and social upheavals of the Civil Rights Movement.

These initial community gatherings fostered even more presentations throughout the Heritage Area, the state of Mississippi, and the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum in Washington, DC, engaging over 1,000 participants. The significance of this project is best noted engaging the Mississippi Delta’s diverse communities in the process of finding, saving, telling, experiencing their own stories, as well as promoting increased awareness of and pride in Mississippi Delta cultural heritage regionally and nationally.

MISSISSIPPI DELTA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — MISSISSIPPI (MSDELTAHERITAGE.COM)

MDNHA Executive Director Rolando Herts was clearly inspired by Alysia Burton Steele’s book, Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom, a collection of oral histories and portraits of African American church mothers from the Mississippi Delta. Church mothers are revered in their communities. Appointed by their church pastors based on years of dedication, study of the
Bible, worship, and prayer, church mothers counsel families and youth and model good spiritual practices. The Delta Jewels church mothers, in particular, did this in the face of racial discrimination during the Jim Crow Era and social upheavals of the Civil Rights Movement.

MISSISSIPPI DELTA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — MISSISSIPPI (MSDELTAHERITAGE.COM)

This past October, the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area (MGCNHA) held a series of events to recognize the first group of nature-based tourism businesses who have qualified for the Gulf Coast Outpost program. Gulf Coast Outpost (GCO) is a business recognition program developed and implemented by the MGCNHA. The program raises awareness of nature-based businesses who go above and beyond to protect and conserve the environment on which their businesses depends.

Gulf Coast outpost was created following a year-long process of working with industry stakeholders to determine ways to grow economic development in nature-based tourism while balancing conservation. The program targets companies whose primary business is dependent on the natural environment in Mississippi’s six coastal counties. This includes eco-tours, locally-owned outfitters, charter boat operators, tour guides, eco-lodges and agritourism entities.

Eight business thus far have received the GCO distinction which provides the customer with a sense of confidence that the businesses prioritizes customer safety and works hard to protect and conserve the natural environment of South Mississippi. This program also demonstrates the Heritage Area’s collaborative approach, as it works with other organizations— such as Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain, and the USM Marine Education Center—to achieve a healthy, nature-based tourism economy and environment.

MISSISSIPPI | Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area | MSGulfCoastHeritage.ms.gov

Of the many relationships the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area (MPNHA) has fostered, none is more successful than its partnership with Wasatch Academy–the birthplace of Utah’s modern education system. Located in Mt. Pleasant, Wasatch Academy was founded by Presbyterian minister and teacher Duncan McMillan shortly after he arrived in Utah in 1875. Wasatch Academy went on to become a great success and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

With seed money of $85,000 from MPNHA, the school generated approximately $4 million toward restoration of its historic buildings, exemplifying how heritage areas can develop partnerships to improve their community and leverage funds.

Paul Applegarth of Wasatch Academy credits MPNHA for catalyzing the vital preservation efforts. “The first grant that we received from the MPNHA sparked the interest of another donor, who funded the renovation of the original Wasatch Academy School building called Liberal Hall,” Applegarth says. “Prior to the renovation, Liberal Hall was in bad shape. Without the grant, we may have ultimately lost Liberal Hall, a valuable piece of history.”

Wasatch Academy’s mix of academic excellence and storied heritage has also improved its community by attracting talented students from all over the world. Wasatch students hail from 38 countries and 28 American states. Students from China, Pakistan, Mali, Afghanistan and Germany, for example, come to the small community of Mt. Pleasant, which proudly serves the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area.”

UTAH | Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area | MormonPioneerHeritage.org

Michigan has been defined by its leadership in the auto industry. But the road to that success was filled with struggle and strife, often between management and labor. MotorCities National Heritage Area has teamed up with the Michigan Labor History Society to commemorate some of the defining historical events which led to the formation of the United Auto Workers during the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Through publications, lectures, and community events, these are some of the pivotal events that are recalled:

1932 Ford Hunger March, Dearborn: Winter in Detroit in the depths of the Great Depression. Unemployed workers organized a hunger march from Detroit to the Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn where they were met by police and Ford’s security force, resulting in the deaths of five workers. The MotorCities National Heritage Area is working to create an urban park and memorial to the 1932 Hunger March near the original gathering point of this historic event.

Flint Sit-Down Strike, Dec. 1936 – Feb. 1937: Historic 44-day occupation resulting in recognition of the UAW by the first of the Big 3 automakers and the first UAW-GM contract.

1937 Battle of the Overpass, Dearborn: Walter Reuther leads an attempt to distribute union leaflets at the Ford Rouge Plant in May, atop a public overpass leading to the factory gates. He and several others are severely beaten. Coupled with the results of a hearing in front of the Fair Labor Relations Board, Ford Motor Co. finally signs a contract with the UAW in 1941.

MOTORCITIES NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — MICHIGAN (MOTORCITIES.ORG)

Flint Sit-Down Strike, Dec. 1936 – Feb. 1937: Historic 44-day occupation resulting in recognition of the UAW by the first of the Big 3 automakers and the first UAW-GM contract.

MOTORCITIES NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — MICHIGAN (MOTORCITIES.ORG)

In autumn 2019, ground was broken in southwest Detroit for the Fort Street Bridge Interpretive Park.

Back on March 7, 1932 at this site in Michigan, during the Great Depression, about 3,000 unemployed auto workers mustered for a march from Detroit to the Ford Rouge Factory in Dearborn to share grievances with the company’s leadership. The Ford Hunger March is one of the most significant events leading to the creation of the United Auto Workers union. Five workers were killed along the way in a confrontation with Ford Security and Dearborn Police.

The Fort Street Bridge (central to the march) was decommissioned in 2013, and it was replaced with a new bridge. MotorCities National Heritage Area and other organizations partnered over the years to ensure the history of the Hunger March, the significance of the former bridge, and its importance to the region are recognized through establishing a park there.

Although park construction slowed, the ribbon was cut on October 22, 2020 because the pandemic could not hold back the resilient partners and contractors creating such an important place in an underserved neighborhood.

On March 5, 2022, people gathered at the new park to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Ford Hunger March. After a brief program, they recreated the march from the park to UAW Local 600 in Dearborn near the Rouge plant, where the fifth annual fundraiser in support of the park called “March On” commenced.

You can learn more about the Park and its history at www.motorcities.org/fortstreet.

MOTORCITIES NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — MICHIGAN (MOTORCITIES.ORG)

In autumn 2019, ground was broken in southwest Detroit for the Fort Street Bridge Interpretive Park.

You can learn more about the Park and its history at www.motorcities.org/fortstreet.

MOTORCITIES NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — MICHIGAN (MOTORCITIES.ORG)

The Mountains to Sound Greenway stretches 100 miles along the Interstate 90 corridor from the Seattle waterfront on Puget Sound, across the wild and rugged Cascade Mountains, to the hayfields and farmlands of Ellensburg in Central Washington. A major metropolis, alpine wilderness, small towns, working farms and forests, and wild and scenic rivers all have their place within the Greenway’s 1.5 million acres.

The story of the Greenway is a story of an iconic landscape that has shaped and been shaped by the people who live here. It began with Native Americans who were sustained by the region’s abundant natural resources since time immemorial and who still steward them today. After Europeans arrived, land grants and railways transformed the landscape as coal and timber trades flourished. The automobile drove another transformation as rails gave way to roads through Snoqualmie Pass. And now, these transformations have come full circle as conservation has largely reassembled the land grant checkerboard, rail lines and logging roads have been reclaimed as trail corridors, and modern roadways are being re-engineered to support fish and wildlife crossings.

For 30 years, a broad coalition of public, private, and nonprofit partners have worked together to conserve and enhance the Greenway by preserving public land, building trails, restoring habitat, and promoting collaboration and volunteer stewardship. These efforts help to tell the story of the Greenway, connecting past, present, and future through the places that we have chosen to protect and renewing and celebrating the many close relationships between people and nature in this region.

The Mountains to Sound Greenway remains a work in progress. National Heritage Area designation renews and invigorates the collaborative efforts that will continue to preserve, enhance and share the story of this place.

MOUNTAINS TO SOUND GREENWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Washington

MOUNTAINS TO SOUND GREENWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Washington

On October 21, 2017, over four hundred people gathered at Sacred Way Sanctuary to celebrate the opening of their new museum and education center in Florence, Alabama. Years of work by Dr. Yvette Running Horse Collin and Sean Collin led up to this exciting event. The museum focuses on the relationship between native peoples of the Americas and the horse.

Over one hundred horses associated with many tribes make up Sacred Way Sanctuary’s foundation herd. These horses were gathered from across the country. At the Sanctuary they live in natural family herds consisting of a stallion and a group of mares. The horses help to tell a story that challenges the dominant narrative of conquest, which claims that all of the horses throughout the Americas died out during the last Ice-Age period and horses were reintroduced by the Spanish to the Americas. The oral histories brought forward by Dr. Collin under the guidance of elders from tribes across the country present a compelling counter narrative, which argues that the horse has always been in the Americas. The markings, bone structure, and behavior of horses that roam the pastures of Sacred Way are very different from the domesticated horse that traces its roots back to the eastern hemisphere. Horses at the Sanctuary breed naturally. Foals are available for adoption in breeding pairs or small herds.

The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area has strengthened the relationship with the Sanctuary in recent years. The museum and education center also serves as an interpretive center for the MSNHA’s Native American heritage theme.

MUSCLE SHOALS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — ALABAMA (MSNHA.UNA.EDU)

Over one hundred horses associated with many tribes from across the United States and Canada make up Sacred Way Sanctuary’s foundation herd. These horses were gathered from across the country. At the Sanctuary they live in natural family herds consisting of a stallion and a group of mares. The horses help to tell a story that challenges the dominant narrative of conquest, which claims that all of the horses throughout the Americas died out during the last Ice-Age period and horses were reintroduced by the Spanish to the Americas. The oral histories brought forward by Dr. Collin under the guidance of elders from tribes across the country present a compelling counter narrative, which argues that the horse has always been in the Americas. The museum and sanctuary are part of the Native American Horse Trail, which includes sites in Oklahoma, the Dakotas, and Canada. Foals are available for adoption in breeding pairs or small herds.

The work of Sacred Way Sanctuary reminds us that listening to diverse perspectives is of the utmost importance – you never know what you might learn. It also demonstrates that history is not just found on the pages of books or in archives. The horses of Sacred Way have a history of their own.

Across the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, Sacred Way Sanctuary and other organizations including the Florence Indian Mound Museum, the Alabama Trail of Tears Association, Wild South, Oka Kapassa, and the Oakville Indian Mounds Museum and Education Center educate residents and visitors alike about indigenous people’s history and experience. They also provide places for contemporary connection among people of different cultures. Valuing indigenous voices allows us to tell a more complete story of the MSNHA’s past and is essential to healing the wounds left by colonization and the forced removal of indigenous people from our region.

MUSCLE SHOALS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — ALABAMA (MSNHA.UNA.EDU)

In 2017 Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area (MSNHA) launched the Hidden Spaces project (https://hiddenspaces.org/), in partnership with the University of North Alabama’s public history program and photographer Abraham Rowe. Exploring the lesser-known stories of people, places and events across north Alabama, Hidden Spaces combines historical research with photography to paint a vivid picture of history and culture in the MSNHA.

In 2021 the project focused on Old Town, a historically African American neighborhood in Decatur on the eastern edge of the heritage area. Peggy Towns (a local historian who grew up there) introduced the MSNHA to Old Town during an oral-history interview. The stories she told of a thriving community — full of black-owned businesses, doctors’ offices, a strong school system and even a lion — was at odds with what the neighborhood looks and feels like now.

Today only one business remains; vacant lots dot the neighborhood where homes and other buildings have been torn down. However, churches, houses, ballfields, and playgrounds remain and continue to play an important role retaining a sense of community. Residents still feel an incredible love for and pride in their neighborhood.

MSNHA partnered with Ms. Towns and other Old Town residents to document Old Town’s pre-desegregation history before urban renewal brought about major changes. The results are a digital walking tour of the neighborhood, an Old Town photography exhibit at the Alabama Center for the Arts, oral history interviews and, perhaps most importantly, appreciation for this exceptional community.

MUSCLE SHOALS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — ALABAMA (MSNHA.UNA.EDU)

As a young boy in Amsterdam, Bill Albers was witness to one of the most epic scenes in World War II: massive streams of U.S. B-17 and British Lancaster bombers crossing high over Holland on their way to targets in Germany.

Albers isn’t sure he remembers seeing the bombers—he was five when the war ended—but his mother spoke of them so often she etched an indelible image in his mind’s eye. It reminds him not just of the bombers, but of the thousands of airmen who flew them—and the thousands who perished.

An aviation heritage group in the National Aviation Heritage Area has given him a chance to repay those airmen by building a flying memorial and sharing his story with younger generations.

Albers grew up in Holland and served in the Royal Dutch Air Force, but he’s lived most of his life in the United States. Now a retired engineer and aerospace executive, he lives in Sidney, Ohio and volunteers for the nonprofit Champaign Aviation Museum in nearby Urbana. He’s one of more than 100 volunteers who are building the Champaign Lady—a real, flyable B-17G Flying Fortress, the same kind of bomber that filled Holland’s sky when Albers was young.

Albers said he learned of the museum about seven years ago and quickly joined. “As an engineer, I fit right in there,” he says. Besides working on the airplane itself, Albers speaks frequently to community groups about the project and about B-17s, enriched by his personal memories and extensive research.

The project means much more to Albers than a chance to build a classic airplane. “We are building a memorial for the 24,000 young men who died in this airplane,” he says.

NATIONAL AVIATION Heritage Area — OHIO (AVIATIONHERITAGEAREA.ORG)

An aviation heritage group in the National Aviation Heritage Area has given him a chance to repay those airmen by building a flying memorial and sharing his story with younger generations.

The project means much more to Albers than a chance to build a classic airplane. “We are building a memorial for the 24,000 young men who died in this airplane,” he says.

NATIONAL AVIATION Heritage Area — OHIO (AVIATIONHERITAGEAREA.ORG)

For the group of residents who gather monthly around a table in the back room of the Corner Restaurant in Pax, WV, Paint Creek is more than a creek—it’s their heritage. Ensuring its health and telling its story have been the two primary goals of the Paint Creek Scenic Trail Association for over two decades. Most members grew up on Paint Creek and remember it as it was in coal’s heyday, when small communities like Mahan and Kingston enjoyed a vibrant social life centered around the church, school, company store, and town hall.

Growing up, the creek was the center of everything. They gigged for fish, cooled off in swimming holes, and played games along its banks. But most also have sadder memories of a creek that ran many colors—black from coal slurry, red from acid mine runoff, and muddy brown from sedimentation. Thanks to the members’ environmental restoration efforts, the state now stocks Paint Creek with thousands of trout every year, attracting fishing enthusiasts from across the region.

Through their partnership with the Paint Creek Scenic Trail Association, the National Coal Heritage Area has established 26 informational kiosks along the route. They are also developing the Paint Creek Scenic Trail Audio Driving Tour, available as a CD, app, and on their web site. On this tour you’ll hear about the history of Paint Creek from the voices of West Virginians who call it home. The tour is about a place and a time….but mostly it’s about a people. To hear the stories of the people of Paint Creek visit PaintCreekWV.org.

NATIONAL COAL HERITAGE AREA — WEST VIRGINIA (COALHERITAGE.ORG)

The United States was founded on the ideal that “all men are created equal.” Yet four million people lived in slavery in the United States in 1860. Between the American Revolution and the Civil War, thousands of people fled enslavement to find new lives of freedom, often crossing the Niagara River into Canada at several access points within the City of Niagara Falls.

African American hotel waiters formed the core of Underground Railroad activism in Niagara Falls providing a network of assistance for freedom seekers who arrived seeking a safe passage across the border. Within the flourishing hotel and tourism industry, African American waiters lived double lives, openly serving hotel guests and secretly helping freedom seekers cross into Canada.

Their effort made Niagara Falls one of the most important locations of the powerful struggle between slavery and freedom.

The Heritage Center is a project of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Commission, in partnership with the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area.

NIAGARA FALLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — NEW YORK (DISCOVERNIAGARA.org)

Their effort made Niagara Falls one of the most important locations of the powerful struggle between slavery and freedom.

The Heritage Center is a project of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Commission, in partnership with the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area.

NIAGARA FALLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — NEW YORK (DISCOVERNIAGARA.org)

For centuries, Niagara Falls has captured people’s hearts and imaginations. It has been long recognized as a natural phenomenon that is considered awe-inspiring and majestic. However, the sheer power of Niagara Falls goes far beyond the Falls themselves. For those escaping slavery in the American South, the Niagara River, presented a final boundary before entering Canada.
The United States was founded on the ideal that “all men are created equal.” Yet four million people lived in slavery in the United States in 1860. Between the American Revolution and the Civil War, thousands of people fled enslavement to find new lives of freedom, often crossing the Niagara River into Canada at several access points within the City of Niagara Falls.

Their effort made Niagara Falls one of the most important locations of the powerful struggle between slavery and freedom.

In May 2018, the much-anticipated Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center opened. The Heritage Center reveals authentic stories of Underground Railroad freedom seekers and abolitionists in Niagara Falls and inspires visitors to recognize modern injustices that stem from slavery and take action toward an equitable society. The Heritage Center is a project of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Commission, in partnership with the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area.

There is no singular story that tells the entirety of the Underground Railroad history. In fact, there are tens of thousands of stories. The stories we share are of those hundreds of the heretofore unknown men and women who formed the foundational support for those who had successfully traversed the long distances from slavery to Niagara Falls with one more river to cross to freedom, the mighty Niagara. The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center encourages visitors to share their personal experiences with freedom, oppression, and injustice, by prompting people to think critically about how we as a society should address these issues today.
Bill Bradberry, Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Commission (2020)

NIAGARA FALLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — NEW YORK (DISCOVERNIAGARA.org)

Their effort made Niagara Falls one of the most important locations of the powerful struggle between slavery and freedom.

NIAGARA FALLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — NEW YORK (DISCOVERNIAGARA.org)

On July 6, 2019, Northern Plains National Heritage Area (NPNHA) sponsored a Native Voices panel discussion as part of the 30th observance (1989-2019) of the reconstruction of General George Custer’s residence, now part of Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park. Custer represented the spearpoint of U.S. Indian policy after the Civil War.

To reflect on this difficult chapter in U.S. History, NPNHA coordinated with United Tribes Technical College to invite Native historians and traditional knowledge keepers to partake in public dialog. Gerard Baker, an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation (MHA Nation), was the panel moderator. Additional panelists included Dakota Goodhouse (Standing Rock Sioux Nation), Donovin Sprague (Cheyenne River Sioux Nation), Loren Yellow Bird, Sr. (MHA Nation), Tamara St. John (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate/Nation), and Calvin Grinnell (MHA Nation).

During the Native Voices panel, tribal participants shared their perspective on Native history. Loren Yellow Bird, Sr., said, “We do have a culture that’s still vibrant and that people need to know about.” Yellow Bird, also a military veteran, served as a cultural advisor to the 2015 film The Revenant, a story about fur trader Hugh Glass.

Baker drove Yellow Bird’s point home. “When George Custer came through here and later on when he took his trip to Little Bighorn, that was difficult times. One thing we have to do as an audience… is we need to learn how to listen...to the stories on both sides.” He asked the audience to “Listen to that wind. Listen to that river. Listen to the voices of the past that were up here. If we do that, we’ll have a lot better future.”

When it comes to the hard chapters in American History, National Heritage Areas provide a means to elevate all American voices, Native and non-Native alike. These are the infinitely diverse perspectives that continue to inform, inspire, and charge our democratic republic.

NORTHERN PLAINS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | North Dakota

NORTHERN PLAINS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | North Dakota

On July 6, 2019, Northern Plains National Heritage Area (NPNHA) sponsored a Native Voices panel at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, where General Custer’s reconstructed home is located.

During the Native Voices panel, tribal participants shared their perspectives on Native history. Loren Yellow Bird, Sr., said, “We do have a culture that’s still vibrant and that people need to know about.” Yellow Bird, also a military veteran, served as a cultural advisor to the 2015 film The Revenant, a story about fur trader Hugh Glass.

Baker drove Yellow Bird’s point home. “When George Custer came through here and later on when he took his trip to Little Bighorn, that was difficult times. One thing we have to do as an audience… is we need to learn how to listen…to the stories on both sides.” He asked the audience to “Listen to that wind. Listen to that river. Listen to the voices of the past that were up here. If we do that, we’ll have a lot better future.”

The Northern Plains National Heritage Area regularly partners with Thunder Revolution Studios to document projects that involve indigenous heritage through an indigenous lens on the Missouri River in central North Dakota. Owner and enrolled tribal citizen Justin Deegan, whose self-described ancestry is Arikara and Oglala/Hunkpapa, said Thunder Revolution has opportunities to change tropes and stereotypes such as “poverty porn” that have become normalized from centuries of colonization. Deegan said there “is definitely a paradigm shift happening” in indigenous filmmaking, and that “it’s important to support them and encourage their work.”

NORTHERN PLAINS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | North Dakota

On July 6, 2019, Northern Plains National Heritage Area (NPNHA) sponsored a Native Voices panel at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, where General Custer’s reconstructed home is located.

Baker drove Yellow Bird’s point home. “When George Custer came through here and later on when he took his trip to Little Bighorn, that was difficult times. One thing we have to do as an audience… is we need to learn how to listen…to the stories on both sides.” He asked the audience to “Listen to that wind. Listen to that river. Listen to the voices of the past that were up here. If we do that, we’ll have a lot better future.”

NORTHERN PLAINS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | North Dakota

At the heart of community interaction is the recognition of story… the acknowledgement of participation… the honoring of contribution. Some events are minor; others can change the course of history.

During World War II, the U.S. government established the Manhattan Project (1942 to 1946). At its center were the project itself and the community of scientists and support teams that came together in a created village on an isolated mesa to create a weapon that would bring an end to the war. Many can recite the story of the bomb and the likes of Robert Oppenheimer and Enrico Fermi. The stories less told are those of the common local populace who helped create and maintain the project at the ground level.

After the explosion of the bomb at Trinity Site, one scientist asked, “What have we done?” The answer to that question would be worldwide change in global politics, the United States’ role in the world, and the beginning of a new atomic age.

At a local level, the project contributed to a significant change to the local culture. The established dependence on subsistence farming and occupations gave way to paid employment, daily travel outside of the community for work, and a new dependence on fixed wages. The growth of “the Lab” and the economic engine of Los Alamos also gave rise to new possibilities for education and technology, and for those who could not seek them, a deeper divide in income and social standing.

The Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area joined with the Northern NM College to present the Historias de Nuevo Mexico conference. The conference theme was, “Querencia Interrupted: Hispano and Native American Experiences of the Manhattan Project”. Its purposes were to create a new dialogue —recognizing contributions of locals, allowing participants to share their own stories, opening the discussion of continuing issues, and honoring the surviving participants with a specially commissioned Story Protectors medal. The conference is propelling intercommunity discussion and the inclusion of local oral history profiles in documentation of the project.

NORTHERN RIO GRANDE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — NEW MEXICO (RIOGRANDENHA.ORG)

“Through history those men are heroes whose deeds have been given proper recognition by the historian’s pen. Others, whose lives are unrecorded, so far as posterity is concerned, did nothing, for of these our annals are silent and we know them not.”
—Gaspar Perez de Villagrá, Historia de la Nueva México, 1610.

In October, 2017, the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area joined with the Northern NM College to present the Historias de Nuevo Mexico conference. The conference theme was, “Querencia Interrupted: Hispano and Native American Experiences of the Manhattan Project.” Its purposes were to create a new dialogue—recognizing contributions of locals, allowing participants to share their own stories, opening the discussion of continuing issues, and honoring the surviving participants with a specially commissioned Story Protectors medal. The conference is propelling intercommunity discussion and the inclusion of local oral history profiles in documentation of the project.
The vast span of northern New Mexico that encompasses the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area has been a cradle of settlement and trade route for thousands of years, a mosaic of cultures, including the Jicarilla Apache, eight Tewa and Tiwa Native Pueblos, and communities established by the descendants of Spanish colonists who settled in the area 400 years ago.

The history, cultures and traditions still expressed in language and unique flavor of its foods, feasts, celebrations and demonstrations of tradition across mountainous, desert and valley communities; replete with artisans, craftsmen, quarters and tables as welcoming as the people that host them.

NORTHERN RIO GRANDE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — NEW MEXICO (RIOGRANDENHA.ORG)

As a managing organization of the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition plays an active role in connecting community members with the cultural, historical, and recreational assets of the Ohio & Erie Canal and Towpath Trail, and creating stewards to carry on the legacy to future generations.

During the fall of the 2018, the organization had the privilege of hosting its annual Fishing Derby, where more than 150 children and their families from Akron Public schools spent an afternoon fishing in the Ohio & Erie Canal. The children worked with volunteers to bait hooks, cast their lines, and catch fish – blue gill, catfish, and more – before releasing them back into the canal.

Over nearly 20 years, this program has welcomed thousands of children, offering an opportunity to interact with the natural resources in their own neighborhoods. This program also offers the opportunity to engage local businesses who support the mission of the Ohio & Erie Canalway and take hands-on roles in cultivating future stewards of our natural resources. More than 50 businesses and individuals sponsored this program in 2018, including core sponsors Cargill, PNC Bank, and Huntington Bank, with many other local organizations volunteering to support the staff and children.

The Fishing Derby is just one example in a year of programming designed to bring awareness and support to the cultural, historical, and recreational assets of the Ohio & Erie Canalway. We’re excited to continue connecting with the communities that call our National Heritage Area home.

OHIO | Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area | OhioAndErieCanalway.com

The rebound of the Cuyahoga River has created a place where nature and industry come together to honor the river’s history and protect its future.

Oily debris on the Cuyahoga River caught fire 13 times. June 22, 1969 was the ultimate incident triggering national change in how polluted waterways were treated.

The Cuyahoga River attracted industry to Cleveland because of its connection to Lake Erie and the 1825 construction of the Ohio & Erie Canal. However, the industries which fueled growth also used the river to dump toxic byproducts.

National attention garnered by that 1969 fire ignited efforts to protect waterways. Then-Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes championed a $100 million bond issue to clean up the river; and he called for federal action to protect waterways from dumping. The outcry resulted in formation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970 and passage of the 1972 Clean Water Act.

Today, the Cuyahoga is designated as an American Heritage River due to its cultural, environmental and economic importance. It is Ohio’s 13th designated water trail and recently was named the best urban kayaking destination by USA Today. EPA has deemed the river’s fish safe to eat. You can see beaver and bald eagles while biking the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail near the river.

While still a work in progress, after more than 50 years of clean-ups, federal enforcement, changing industrial practices, and community advocacy, the Cuyahoga is a prime example of the continued resiliency of nature and a determined community.

OHIO | Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area | OhioAndErieCanalway.com

The rebound of the Cuyahoga River has created a place where nature and industry come together to honor the river’s history and protect its future.

Oily debris on the Cuyahoga River caught fire 13 times. June 22, 1969 was the ultimate incident triggering national change in how polluted waterways were treated.

OHIO | Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area | OhioAndErieCanalway.com

The story of the Native American experience in the United States is a difficult and painful one. The Oil Region National Heritage Area is working with the Seneca Nation to heal historic wounds. Part of that healing process took place when Oil City’s Mayor proclaimed October 14, 2017 as “Chief Cornplanter Day” throughout this northwestern Pennsylvania community, unveiling permanent commemorations about this 18th – 19th century diplomat from the Seneca Nation.

The plaque reads: “Cornplanter (1738 – 1836), a defender of Seneca land and culture, allied the Iroquois Confederacy with the fledgling United States after fighting for the British during the American Revolution. He arbitrated conflicts between Native Americans and settlers, though he later became disillusioned when the Nations were not treated equally and fairly. In 1796, Cornplanter and his heirs were granted three tracts of land by the state, one at present-day Oil City.”

Representatives of today’s Seneca Nation were guest speakers and musicians/dancers at free public events introducing a new two-story outdoor mural as well as a blue/gold outdoor Commonwealth of Pennsylvania historical marker. Both the marker text and artwork for the mural were approved in advance by SNI leadership.

The historical marker is strategically placed along Allegheny River and the Erie to Pittsburgh Multi-Use Trail, which draws tens of thousands of avid bicyclists ever year.

OIL REGION NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — PENNSYLVANIA (OILHERITAGE.org)

The historical marker is strategically placed along Allegheny River and the Erie to Pittsburgh Multi-Use Trail, which draws tens of thousands of avid bicyclists ever year.

OIL REGION NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — PENNSYLVANIA (OILHERITAGE.org)

The story of the Native American experience in the United States is a difficult and painful one. The Oil Region National Heritage Area is working with the Seneca Nation to heal historic wounds. Part of that healing process took place when Oil City’s Mayor proclaimed October 14, 2017, as “Chief Cornplanter Day” throughout this northwestern Pennsylvania community, unveiling permanent commemorations about this 18th – 19th century diplomat from the Seneca Nation.

The historical marker is strategically placed along the Allegheny River and the Erie to Pittsburgh Multi-Use Trail, which draws tens of thousands of avid bicyclists every year.

The Oil Region National Heritage Area and our partners have worked recently with the Seneca Nation to honor their history within northwestern Pennsylvania. In 2017, a State Historical marker and building mural were dedicated in remembrance of Chief Cornplanter’s impact on the region. This year, the Venango Museum’s seasonal exhibit will focus on Native American history to better tell the legacy of the first peoples who inhabited the area, an important story which needs to be told more often.

OIL REGION NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — PENNSYLVANIA (OILHERITAGE.org)

The story of the Native American experience in the United States is a difficult and painful one. The Oil Region National Heritage Area is working with the Seneca Nation to heal historic wounds. Part of that healing process took place when Oil City’s Mayor proclaimed October 14, 2017, as “Chief Cornplanter Day” throughout this northwestern Pennsylvania community, unveiling permanent commemorations about this 18th – 19th century diplomat from the Seneca Nation.

The historical marker is strategically placed along the Allegheny River and the Erie to Pittsburgh Multi-Use Trail, which draws tens of thousands of avid bicyclists every year.

OIL REGION NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — PENNSYLVANIA (OILHERITAGE.org)

Located between Sacramento, San Francisco, and Stockton, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Carquinez Strait have served as an important region in the development of modern California. The region’s location between the Pacific Ocean and inland California has made it an important water highway and strategic naval location throughout history, and its agricultural wealth has long attracted immigrants from around the globe.

In March 2019, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area (SSJDNHA) was designated as California’s first and only National Heritage Area. The SSJDNHA seeks to protect and enhance the Delta and Strait’s unique agricultural, cultural, natural resource, and recreational values within an evolving, living landscape.

Recognizing the importance of developing strong and diverse partnerships, the Delta Protection Commission, which serves as the management entity for the SSJDNHA, has held an annual community conference to foster collaboration and share stories of the region’s rich heritage. The Delta Heritage Forum took place at the historic Jean Harvie Community Center in Walnut Grove in June 2019. The free, all-day event featured panels and presentations about the Delta’s history and culture—and ways to actively preserve and share it—including World War II history, agricultural heritage and storytelling through different media.

The gathering was also an opportunity for networking. Among the 70+ attendees were representatives from community organizations, cultural institutions, and government agencies, as well as individuals drawn by personal interest in the region’s nationally important resources. The Commission hopes the participants in the Forum will serve as a core group of partners in the future development of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta NHA.

SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | California

SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | California

The Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area and the History Colorado State Historic Fund will provide funding for the interior and exterior restoration and rehabilitation of the original La Sociedad Protección Mutua de Trabajadores Unidos (SPMDTU) headquarters in Conejos County, Colorado. The SPMDTU is the oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the United States. It was founded in Antonito, a small town located in the southern part of the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, by Celedonio Mondragón and six others on November 26, 1900. In the mid-1900s, it had 65 concilios locales (local councils), in small towns throughout southern Colorado and northern New Mexico, including three in Utah. After World War II, it had a total of 3,000 members. The SPMDTU began as a mutual aid organization that sought, through nonviolent actions, to combat the exploitation of Hispanic workers by land barons, mine owners, and the railroads. The original SPMDTU meeting hall located is listed in the “State Register of Historic Properties” and the “National Register of Historic Places” in the areas of Ethnic Heritage and Social History. Today, the organization is still active. Its concilios locales conduct monthly meetings and functions, in order to further the organization’s vision. The SPMDTU is comprised of a diverse group of men and women committed to enriching Hispanic communities and families, with fund raising efforts aimed at providing and enhancing community services. The Sangre de Cristo National Heritage area is home to Colorado’s oldest Hispano, agricultural and railroad communities. With over 11,000 years of documented human inhabitation, this is where Colorado began.

COLORADO | Sangre

The SPMDTU began as a mutual aid organization that sought, through non-violent actions, to combat the exploitation of Hispanic workers by land barons, mine owners, and the railroads. This original SPMDTU meeting hall is listed in the “State Register of Historic Properties” and the “National Register of Historic Places” in the areas of Ethnic Heritage and Social History. Today, the organization is still active. Its concilios locales conduct monthly meetings and functions, in order to further the organization’s vision. The SPMDTU is comprised of a diverse group of men and women committed to enriching Hispanic communities and families, with fund-raising efforts aimed at providing and enhancing community services. The Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area is home to Colorado’s oldest Hispano, agricultural and railroad communities. With over 11,000 years of documented human inhabitation, this is where Colorado began.

COLORADO | Sangre

At the end of the Mexican/American War in 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo made what is today northern New Mexico and southern Colorado part of the United States. An influx of Anglo Americans brought major economic and cultural struggles. One of these struggles was the fight for educational equality in Alamosa public schools, as illustrated by the Maestas Case during the early 20th century.

Francisco Maestas and other parents sought to enroll their English-speaking children into the Anglo School but were denied. They filed a petition signed by 180 families; denied. They contacted the Colorado State Superintendent; again denied. They staged a three-month boycott. They hired attorney Raymond Sullivan, and took the school district to court in 1912.

Sullivan contended racial prejudice was a driving force behind school administration efforts. The Colorado Constitution prohibits discrimination based on race; therefore, Sullivan argued, the district could not deny ten-year-old Miguel Maestas access to the other geographically-closer school because he was Mexican.

The school district, on the other hand, argued that the Hispano students were Caucasian and therefore the district was not discriminating based on race, but rather and youth were assigned to a separate school to support their English-language deficiency.

District Court Judge Charles Holbrook ruled in 1914 that unlawful race prejudice must cease, stating “in the opinion of the court … the only way to destroy this feeling of discontent and bitterness which has recently grown up, is to allow all children so prepared, to attend the school nearest them.”

COLORADO | Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area

The Santa Cruz Valley in southern Arizona is one of our nation’s longest continually cultivated regions, with an agricultural history extending back more than 4,000 years. To showcase this history and better connect the community with it, the Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance launched a heritage foods program highlighting locally produced foods tied to the region’s history and cultural identity.

The heritage foods program has included several projects with a variety of community partners. From hosting the region’s first heritage foods symposium and developing a Local & Heritage Foods Directory, to co-sponsoring farm and garden tours and developing a regional food brand, the heritage foods program created new regional partnerships and fostered broader community awareness of the National Heritage Area’s rich agricultural history.

The greatest success of the heritage foods program is the culmination of all these small-scale projects resulting in the 2015 designation of Tucson as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, the first in the U.S.

With the City of Gastronomy designation, Tucson joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network –an association of urban areas around the world recognized for their exemplary efforts in using cultural heritage and creativity for sustainable development. The designation increases awareness of the Santa Cruz Valley’s rich agricultural history, food traditions, and culinary distinctiveness. It also provides an international platform to share best practices for cultural and economic development based on the region’s food heritage and culinary assets.

The success and growth of the heritage foods program, and the resulting launch of a new community-driven initiative with the City of Gastronomy, demonstrates the power of the National Heritage Area framework to foster creative collaborations and new regional partnerships.

SANTA CRUZ VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Arizona

SANTA CRUZ VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Arizona

SANTA CRUZ VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Arizona

The Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area set out to raise awareness about the NHA through art in Southern Arizona. Yoeme Unidos is part of a series of Heritage Murals that celebrate the region’s rich cultural, historic, and natural heritage.

Partnering with the Pascua Yaqui Clubhouse of the Boys and Girls Club of Tucson and the Sonoran Stitch Factory, seven youth from the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and two professional muralists came together to show their pride and love for their Yaqui culture in 2021 and 2022. The youth are Jennay (age 16), Erik (12), Juliette (14), Raul (15), Santi (14), Johnny (10), and Elijah (18), in cooperation with muralists Ignacio Garcia and Anitra “Yukue” Molina. Through empowering Indigenous youth, they were able to take the expressive traditions passed down from their community and their own artistic styles to depict in paint their understandings of traditional stories, cultural figures, and epic histories.

Located in the heart of Tucson, the Old Pascua community came together in support of the visions of the youth participants, bringing to life the beauty and strength of the Pascua Yaqui community on an exterior wall of the Sonoran Stitch Factory (which trains youth for careers in industrial sewing), 625 West Rillito Street in Tucson. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe has aided in the cultural foundations of the Santa Cruz Valley NHA, and their contributions to the rich history and culture of the region are immeasurable.

You can learn more about this mural and see the journey at santacruzheritage.org/yoeme-unidos.

SANTA CRUZ VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Arizona

The headwaters of the Schuylkill River originate in rural Schuylkill County, PA, a region known for its once vibrant and proud economy stemming from a booming coal industry at the turn of the century. Today the area suffers from high unemployment, and approximately 20% of its youth live in poverty. Young residents are forced to leave to find work, which contributes to a steady decrease in population. In response to this dire situation, the Schuylkill River Greenways NHA has established the Heritage Conservation Corps (HCC) in partnership with several key organizations, including AmeriCorps Vista, the PA CareerLink job program, the Schuylkill Vision community group, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Schuylkill County Community Foundation, the USDA and others.

HCC is a program designed to engage and employ local youth in order to teach them the marketable skill of trail construction in addition to exposing them to alternative careers in a variety of industries and community building. In the summer of 2017, four young men led by an adult supervisor built 1.4 miles of new trail in Schuylkill County, making progress toward closing a critical trail gap in that area. In addition to trail building, the group also worked with community members in Mahanoy City to establish a successful community garden on a vacant lot in this depressed city. Further, over the course of the twelve week program, the HCC team visited several worksites to learn about different career paths, including a construction site and a wind energy farm. The program was a resounding success and plans for 2018 are underway to hire a new round of youth who will focus on building another two mile section of the Schuylkill River Trail while learning about job opportunities and giving back to the community.

The Heritage Conservation Corps program marries several parallel goals that are common to Heritage Areas all over the United States: community building, economic development, trail building and conservation. With our partners in this challenged region, we are making progress by leveraging the relationships and resources available to SRG as a National Heritage Area and contributing to the positive improvement of the communities around us.

SCHUYLKILL RIVER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — PENNSYLVANIA (SHUYLKILLRIVER.ORG)

Too few people in America understand where food comes from (and the answer is not the grocery store). Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area is educating people about the rich culture of American farming by providing hands-on learning experiences at farms, museums and historic sites.

To reach the next generation, a Bus Grant program was set up to help teachers take more than 2,000 students on field trips in 2017. In fact, since the program was created, SSNHA has helped more than 12,000 students connect with America’s agricultural story and discover the importance of Iowa’s role in feeding the world.

Teacher Megan Murphy from Irving Elementary in Dubuque traveled with her third grade class to Reuter Dairy farm in Peosta, Iowa. Students went to the dairy farm to learn about the process farmers go through to support our local economy and their contribution to the national dairy supply. Murphy said that for many students, this is their first time on a farm. The “outdoor classroom” gave them a real-life picture of the hard work and dedication of dairy farmers.

“I was surprised that the calves were so big,” said student Adaya B. “I thought they would be the size of a dog.” Averee C. said, “I thought they would use their hands to milk a cow, but they use machines!”

SILOS & SMOKESTACKS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — IOWA (SILOSANDSMOKESTACKS.ORG)

In 2021 Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) launched a number of new events promotions to commemorate its 25 year milestone. The year-long celebration included a 25th Anniversary Visitor Guide, a grand opening and ribbon cutting for the new headquarters, a community picnic, social media campaigns and contests.

Travelers were invited to participate in the Silos & Smokestacks Stamp Challenge. Each heritage area site received a personalized 25th Anniversary Stamp. Visitors could get their SSNHA Guide stamped in the special two page center spread. The first 25 visitors to get their guide stamped by 25 different sites received a prize.

Also in celebration of the anniversary, SSNHA staff hit the road for a series of signing ceremonies celebrating its partnerships with museums, farms and historic sites. Together, with heritage area sites, Silos & Smokestacks formally renewed memoranda of understanding (MOU) pledging to continue telling the story of American agriculture.

“Strong partnerships were the foundation of the original authorization for Silos & Smokestacks and remain no less 25 years later,” said Candy Streed, director of partnerships.

SSNHA began in 1991 as an economic revitalization program for downtown Waterloo. In 1996, this region was congressionally recognized as a National Heritage Area.

SSNHA Executive Director Cara Miller notes, “As we move into our next 25 years, we are looking to add pieces of the agriculture story that have yet to be told. We also want to work on our own sustainability as an organization, as well as that of our partner sites.”

SILOS & SMOKESTACKS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — IOWA (SILOSANDSMOKESTACKS.ORG)

“Strong partnerships were the foundation of the original authorization for Silos & Smokestacks and remain no less 25 years later,” said Candy Streed, director of partnerships.

SSNHA began in 1991 as an economic revitalization program for downtown Waterloo. In 1996, this region was congressionally recognized as a National Heritage Area.

SILOS & SMOKESTACKS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — IOWA (SILOSANDSMOKESTACKS.ORG)

Deep in the heart of South Park National Heritage Area is a landscape that takes you back 150 years. The Tarryall Road was once a much-used trail for the mountain Paleo-Indians and more recently for the Ute tribes that held this landscape in high regard. With Westward Expansion came gold-diggers, miners, and ranchers. Despite centuries of use, the Tarryall Road is a treasured secret, lined with historic ranches, miner’s cabins, cemeteries, and archaeological sites and ruins.

Local ranchers, property owners, and preservationists have come together to save this idyllic landscape, where nature’s bounty and historic remains blend seamlessly together. With assistance from the State Historical Fund, the state Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and outstanding experts from throughout Colorado, Park County residents worked to preserve this unique environment.

On November 1, 2017, the Tarryall Rural Historic District, which encompasses over 28,000 acres stretching along CR77 from Jefferson down to U.S. Highway 24, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On August 25, 2018 a celebratory bus tour was organized for all Park County residents, with History Colorado presenting the National Register plaque! The preservation team will also be receiving a 2019 Stephen H. Hart Award for Historic Preservation, History Colorado’s premiere recognition of archaeology and preservation projects.

So if you find yourself wandering in South Park and come across an idyllic landscape of unmatched natural beauty and preserved reminders of a past long gone, then tip your hat to the grassroots partnerships that preserve our amazing heritage.

COLORADO | South Park National Heritage Area | SouthParkHeritage.org

The Susquehanna National Heritage Area was designated as Pennsylvania’s 10th State Heritage Area in 2001 and America’s 55th National Heritage Area in early 2019. SNHA works to enhance the quality and appeal of the Susquehanna River’s special places and landscapes and increase the area’s visibility and readiness as a visitor destination. SNHA’s historic home at the Zimmerman Center for Heritage in York County is Pennsylvania’s official Visitor Contact & Passport Station for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. SNHA also manages Columbia Crossing River Trails Center in Lancaster County as the area’s premier visitor gateway to river heritage and outdoor experiences. These riverfront visitor centers welcome 30,000+ travelers to the Susquehanna every year.

Land and water programs for kids and families play a key role in SNHA’s mission to preserve, interpret, and promote the area’s nationally important places and stories. River Discovery Boat Tours hosted 1100 passengers during the 2019 pilot season. Over 60 community education programs are offered yearly, along with workshops and lectures featuring river history and environmental stewardship. SNHA’s annual school field trips engage over 1,000 local children in river art and heritage exhibits, Native Peoples history hikes, environmental learning, and paddling. SNHA also collaborates with partners to save and enhance important historic sites and natural lands for public benefit.

Through these and other regional initiatives, SNHA is advancing a vision for the Susquehanna River and surrounding landscape of Lancaster and York Counties as a nationally recognized destination for cultural discovery and outdoor adventure.

SUSQUEHANNA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Pennsylvania

SUSQUEHANNA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Pennsylvania

Beyond the stories of battles and leaders, the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area (TCWNHA) has spent the last two decades also telling the stories that personally connect us to this devastating conflict. Last fall, our mission to tell the “whole story” of the Civil War led us to a partnership with the Slave Dwelling Project (SDP) that delved into the stories of slavery, emancipation, and resistance that continued long after the fighting ended. Partnering with Joseph McGill and his SDP team, we presented the 5th Annual Slave Dwelling Conference, hosted at Middle Tennessee State University.

Like the TCWNHA, The SDP’s mission is deceptively simple – to identify and preserve extant slave dwellings. By combining the TCWNHA’s initiatives to document and preserve Tennessee’s diverse Civil War experiences with the SDP’s vision, our multi-day conference became a national venue filled with speakers, discussions, and opportunities to connect.

Sessions blended scholarly research with grass-roots projects, including presentations from former TCWNHA master’s and doctoral students. Additional highlights included an art exhibit and a heart-stirring concert by the internationally renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers. We also brought in Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead, author of The Underground Railroad. Free and open to the public, Whitehead’s keynote address captivated the audience, by turns hilarious, painfully honest, and thought-provoking.

Two full days of sessions culminated at Bradley Academy, an African American historic school and long-term TCWNHA partner, for an overnight experience that forms the foundation of the SDP. Wrapping up with tours at Clover Bottom (a historic home with slave dwellings that houses our SHPO), Fort Negley (a Union fort in Nashville built primarily by contraband labor), and the Hermitage, attendees from across the nation experienced the diversity of the TCWNHA’s and the SDP’s mission firsthand.

TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Tennessee

TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Tennessee

The Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area (TCWNHA) has expanded beyond conventional battlefield history to tell the “whole story” of the Civil War. To that end, we partnered with the Slave Dwelling Project (SDP), which delves into the stories of slavery, emancipation, and resistance that continued long after the fighting ended.

Partnering with Joseph McGill and his SDP team, we presented the 5th Annual Slave Dwelling Conference, hosted at Middle Tennessee State University. The SDP’s mission is to identify and preserve extant slave dwellings. By combining the TCWNHA’s initiatives to document and preserve Tennessee’s diverse Civil War experiences with the SDP’s vision, this multi-day conference became a national venue filled with speakers, discussions, and opportunities to connect.

Sessions blended scholarly research with grass-roots projects. Highlights included an art exhibit and a heart-stirring concert by the internationally renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers. We also brought in Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead, author of The Underground Railroad. Free and open to the public, Whitehead’s keynote address captivated the audience, by turns hilarious, painfully honest, and thought-provoking.

Two full days of sessions culminated at Bradley Academy, an African American historic school and long-term TCWNHA partner, for an overnight experience that forms the foundation of the SDP. Wrapping up with tours at Clover Bottom (a historic home with slave dwellings that houses Tennessee’s SHPO), Fort Negley (a Union fort in Nashville built primarily by contraband labor), and the Hermitage (Andrew Jackson’s plantation in Nashville), attendees from across the nation experienced the diversity of the TCWNHA’s and the SDP’s missions firsthand.

In 2018, the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area and the Slave Dwelling Project co-hosted the 5th Annual Slave Dwelling Conference. The conference’s theme, “Slavery, Resistance, and Community,” remains as relevant today as it was during the Civil War and Reconstruction, as the events of 2020 reflect how much work remains for our nation.

The TCWNHA’s commitment to building inclusive relationships with diverse communities remains the bedrock of our mission to tell the “whole story” of the Civil War and Reconstruction, partnering together to help those communities preserve and share their stories of slavery, emancipation, and resistance that continued long after the fighting ended.

TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Tennessee

Two full days of sessions culminated at Bradley Academy, an African American historic school and long-term TCWNHA partner, for an overnight experience that forms the foundation of the SDP. Wrapping up with tours at Clover Bottom (a historic home with slave dwellings that houses Tennessee’s SHPO), Fort Negley (a Union fort in Nashville built primarily by contraband labor), and the Hermitage (Andrew Jackson’s plantation in Nashville), attendees from across the nation experienced the diversity of the TCWNHA’s and the SDP’s missions firsthand.

TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | Tennessee

Not everyone can access the trails of The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor by foot. A team of volunteers for The Last Green Valley, Inc., the nonprofit that stewards the National Heritage Corridor, takes that personally.

TLGV’s Trail Assessment Team is driven to help loved ones with mobility challenges get back on the trail. Gabe Sipson, a paraplegic who was once a forester and passionate outdoorsman, epitomizes what drives the team. An accident at work left Sipson in a wheelchair, and he could not find information about trails that might be suited to his abilities.

“When I’m out in the forest, it makes me feel like, I don’t know what the best word is — calmer, and more centered with myself,” said Sipson. “My perspectives are aligned better with what’s really important.”

Funded by two grants, the Trail Assessment Team has examined more than 35 miles of trail. The team was the first east of the Mississippi River to use new, advanced technology to assess trails. During the winter months, the team downloads the data and creates detailed trail access summaries to help trail users like Sipson understand their options.

But the work is far from done. Though Sipson is back on the trail, his choices are still limited. “There are many more miles of trail to assess,” said Lois Bruinooge, executive director of TLGV. “The work the team has done is incredible and we’re committed to doing more so people of all ages and abilities can enjoy the natural beauty of our National Heritage Corridor.”

CONNECTICUT & MASSACHUSETTS | The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor | TheLastGreenValley.org

The pastoral hills, forests, and fields of Massachusetts’ Berkshires are home to an innovative partnership that connects area youth with world-class culture. The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area (Housatonic Heritage) and Greenagers have teamed up to create a unique opportunity to expose teenagers to places of historic and cultural significance.

Centered in and around Great Barrington, MA., the Greenagers program connects area youth with paid stewardship work, school-based field trips, and outdoor activities. Through its paid employment programs, internships, and apprenticeships, Greenagers engages teens and young adults in meaningful work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, and natural resource management.

By adding cultural landscapes to the Greenagers’ programs, Housatonic Heritage has helped Greenagers to add an extra layer of meaning to their natural resource work and to explore how ‘connection to place’ builds stewardship among future generations.

On behalf of Greenagers, Housatonic Heritage works with cultural organizations to create meaningful interactions between the participants and the cultural site. Partners—including Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Norman Rockwell Museum, and Hancock Shaker Village—have embraced the host work crews and enjoyed the opportunities for youth engagement. With a “captive audience” of teens, the partners were also able to develop, revise, and refine their interpretive strategies to create compelling programs for teen audiences.

Across our nation, individuals and organizations strive to preserve our natural and cultural resources. The Housatonic- Greenagers partnership puts the next generation at the center of this work, and in doing so not only preserves our heritage but passes on the skills to continue this important work to future generations.

MASSACHUSETTS | Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area | HousatonicHeritage.org

In Wheeling, many important stories come together to form our identity. But we like to believe that our slogan, “The Friendly City,” was bestowed on the city based on observation of its residents.

Of course, Wheeling’s designation as a National Heritage Area took other things into account, including Wheeling’s role in commerce and industry. Wheeling’s manufacturing companies helped to build America, and La Belle Iron Works is a key component of this theme.
The company, which began in 1852 as Bailey, Woodward and Company, manufactured cut nails. Using an automatic nail machine, long, flat metal strips were cut and manipulated to form masonry nails.

In the 1870s, La Belle employed 900 people and operated 167 cut nail machines. Wheeling produced nearly a quarter of the nation’s supply of nails during this time – garnering Wheeling another nickname: “Nail City.”

However, innovation led to the industry’s downfall. The company was merged with many others throughout the years, and finally, in 2010, the much-smaller company closed its doors for good.

The building sat empty until 2015, when much of the interior equipment was put up for auction. Wheeling Heritage recognized the significance of La Belle’s paper records – and placed a bid on them. As the only bidder, Wheeling Heritage paid $5 for more than 100 boxes of documents, photos, architectural and engineering drawings.

With help from a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Wheeling Heritage hired an archivist to process these records. The organization then donated them to the Ohio County Public Library.

More than 130 community members came to a presentation announcing the collection in 2018, including a handful of past La Belle employees. They shared stories of their memories at the plant – how their fathers, who also worked there, told them about the horse that used to pull nail barrels across the factory’s floor. As a kid, one of them remembered his dad saying the horse knew when it was break time.

Since then, visitors stop by the reference desk a few times a week asking to see the collection. They want to learn more about the company that employed their families – and gave Wheeling one of its much-earned nicknames.

WHEELING HERITAGE — WEST VIRGINIA (WHEELINGHERITAGE.ORG)

However, innovation led to the industry’s downfall. The company was merged with many others throughout the years, and finally, in 2010, the much-smaller company closed its doors for good.

WHEELING HERITAGE — WEST VIRGINIA (WHEELINGHERITAGE.ORG)

The mission of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area is to restore the riverfront of the Lower Colorado River at Yuma, Arizona. So how is it that restoring an historic bridge could help make restoration happen?

There had been a historic divide between the Yuma community and the Quechan Indian Tribe—ever since the U.S. military took control of the Yuma Crossing away from the Quechan in the 1850’s. Distrust and suspicion weighed heavily on the relationship.

Restoration was only going to happen through cooperation between the City and the Tribe. And more than 2/3 of the Yuma East Wetlands was tribal land. The East Wetlands project was also vtechnically challenging, with soil salinity, restricted river flow, and a jungle of dense non-native vegetation covering the waterfront.

“It was going to be difficult to undertake a complex 400-acre restoration effort without close cooperation, and we had not yet earned the trust of the Quechan Tribe”, says Charles Flynn, Heritage Area Director.

Fortunately, Flynn was able to focus on another project that both City and Tribe very much wanted: the restoration and re-opening of the historic “Ocean to Ocean Highway Bridge”. Built in 1915, the bridge connected tribal land to downtown Yuma, but was closed in 1989 for structural deficiencies.

The Heritage Area moved ahead with design and secured $1 million in grants but needed $400,000 in local match. The City agreed to provide $200,000 of the match but wanted the Tribe to enter into a complex Intergovernmental Agreement to assure the Tribe’s share of the match. Flynn worried that an overly legalistic approach would hinder the growing trust among the parties. His worries were put to rest when the Tribe voluntarily provided a check of $200,000, payable to the City of Yuma! “This was the moment when I knew we were building trust”, Flynn said.

Eighteen months later, tribal and city residents met on the bridge to celebrate the re-opening of the bridge which both literally and figuratively reconnected the communities. The partnership has grown ever stronger over the years.

YUMA CROSSING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — ARIZONA (YUMAHERITAGE.com)

There had been a historic divide between the Yuma community and the Quechan Indian Tribe— ever since the U.S. military took control of the Yuma Crossing away from the Quechan in the 1850’s. Distrust and suspicion weighed heavily on the relationship.

Restoration was only going to happen through cooperation between the City and the Tribe, as more than 2/3 of the Yuma East Wetlands was tribal land. The East Wetlands project was also technically challenging, with soil salinity, restricted river flow, and a jungle of dense non-native vegetation covering the waterfront.

“It was going to be difficult to undertake a complex 400-acre restoration effort without close cooperation, and we had not yet earned the trust of the Quechan Tribe,” says Charles Flynn, Heritage Area Director.

What is a partner? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it is one associated with another especially in an action. Although I did not witness the events described here, I personally attest to the strength of the relationship that developed after the Tribe and the City took a chance at associating with one another, despite long-held differences. These reluctant partners took action, bringing about physical improvements to the benefit of a larger community encompassing both sides of a river. This story assures me that so long as we remain willing to occasionally put aside the mechanics of transactions and focus on meeting one another’s needs, this relationship built by a bridge will endure. —Brian Golding, Sr. (2020), Director of Economic Development for the Quechan Indian Tribe Chairman and Member of the Board of Directors for Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area

YUMA CROSSING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — ARIZONA (YUMAHERITAGE.com)

There had been a historic divide between the Yuma community and the Quechan Indian Tribe— ever since the U.S. military took control of the Yuma Crossing away from the Quechan in the 1850’s. Distrust and suspicion weighed heavily on the relationship.

YUMA CROSSING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA — ARIZONA (YUMAHERITAGE.com)