What is a National Heritage Area?

Designated by Congress, National Heritage Areas are places that have a combination of unique natural, cultural, historic, and recreational elements of significance to our shared American heritage. The first NHA – the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Area – was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1984.

NHAs are partnerships with local communities that celebrate and preserve the values and distinct features of our nation’s culture and history. There are 62 designated and active National Heritage Areas in 34 states and one territory.

Though funded through the National Park Service, NHAs are not National Park units nor do they affect the private property rights of their surrounding communities. NPS provides Congressionally authorized matching funds (these funds represent a mere .1% of the annual NPS budget), technical assistance, and a strong partnership.

How are NHAs established?

NHAs are community-driven efforts, and their continued operations are due to the dedication of thousands of volunteers who understand their importance to their local communities. The creation and extension of NHAs are driven by community leaders, businesses, and stakeholders who believe that the places and people NHAs serve will benefit from their presence.

To get started, a community interested in designating a National Heritage Area is recommended to do a feasibility study. They are then sponsored and championed by Members of Congress, usually from the states and districts in which they are located.

For an area to be considered for designation, certain key elements must be present. First and foremost, the landscape must have nationally distinctive natural, cultural, historic and scenic resources that, when linked together, tell a unique story about our country.

There are National Heritage Area Program Coordinators that can assist communities looking into this process.

What does Congressional authorization entail?

Authorization is simply an act of Congress that allows the National Park Service to release the matching funds needed to operate NHAs.

Established NHAs typically receive less than $500,000 in federal funding annually, which is supplemented with significant private and local funding.

In 2024, NHAs’ non-federal funding was more than double Congressionally authorized appropriations for the program. Prior to 2023, National Heritage Areas were required to be reauthorized every year, subjecting them to an often uncertain Congressional budget and appropriations process. The National Heritage Area Act (PL 117-339), signed into law in early 2023, provides long-term and standardized authorization for NHAs, removing much of the annual unpredictably to which NHAs had become accustomed.

What do National Heritage Areas do for us?

NHAs engage community through education, volunteerism, outdoor recreation, the arts, and more. Place-based storytelling and public engagement allows every American to remember, celebrate, and engage with our past while building powerful community bonds. NHAs are not one- size fits all; focus areas span the battlefields of the American Revolution to the Cook Inlet in Alaska, the Civil War to Civil Rights, the Motor City to mining, and farming to forests.

NHAs ensure that future generations may also engage in meaningful relationships with American history, culture and landscapes by preserving these spaces and the stories they represent, told by the people in the communities in which they are located.

Do NHAs impact private property rights?

No. National Heritage Areas do not affect private property rights within their designated areas.

Though NHAs are funded through the National Park Service, they are not National Park units. NPS does not assume ownership of land inside heritage areas or impose land use controls. NHAs are – and will always be – community-driven; they would not exist without the support of their surrounding areas. Participation in an NHA is entirely voluntary.

Legislation that authorizes National Heritage Areas includes specific language that guarantees that NHAs will protect private property rights. In fact, the National Heritage Area Act states: “Nothing in this Act shall be construed to abridge the rights of any property owner, whether public or private, including the right to refrain from participating in any plan, project, program, or activity conducted within the National Heritage Area.”

Indeed, a review of NHAs by General Accounting Office directed by Congress was unable to find a single instance of an NHA directly affecting how a private property can be used. Groups interviewed for the study included private property rights advocates such as the Heritage Foundation, the American Land Rights Association, and the Private Property Foundation of America.

What can I do to support National Heritage Areas?

Visit one! NHAs’ success depends on regular visitors. There are 62 located in places across the country – plan your next trip around going to one (or several!).

While the passage of the National Heritage Area Act was a major milestone for the Alliance of National Heritage Area and its members, NHAs still face challenges. Congress must appropriate – and NPS must disburse – adequate funds for National Heritage Areas to maintain their operations.

Over the last 20+ years, the number of NHAs has more than doubled but overall funding for the program has only slightly increased. This means that NHAs are now effectively operating with only half of the federal funding they had in 2004. Please contact your Member of Congress and tell them you support robust and reliable funding for National Heritage Areas.

And finally, NHAs could not function without volunteers, who help NHAs with a range of services. In 2024, NHAs benefitted greatly from the more than 18,500 people who volunteered nearly 180,000 hours of their time. If you’d like to volunteer, contact your local NHA!

 Where is there more information?

You can visit our website at www.nationalheritageareas.us to learn more about NHAs. There is also a page on the National Park Service’s website at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/heritageareas/index.htm.

What if I want to promote a new NHA in my community?

Contact us! Many of the people associated with ANHA have gone through the process of creating and sustaining an NHA. We would be happy to walk you through the process to ensure you have all the information you need to know before you embark on the process of creating an NHA.