National Heritage Areas U.S. Department of the Interior

PLACE-BASED, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN Heritage Areas 101 CONSERVATION & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT What are NHAs? National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are designated by Congress as places where natural, cultural, and historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape. Through their resources, NHAs tell nationally important stories that celebrate our nation’s diverse heritage. NHAs are lived-in landscapes. Consequently, NHA entities collaborate with communities to determine how to make heritage relevant to local interests and needs. NHAs are a grassroots, community-driven approach to heritage conservation and economic development. Through public- Paddlers on the Schuykill River outside Philadelphia, PA. Schuylkill River coordinates the annual Schuykill River Soujourn - a 7-day, 112 mile guided canoe and kayak trip, which provides a wealth of private partnerships, NHA entities support learning opportunities for participants. D. Creighton Photo. historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism,  Education and Stewardship – NHAs and educational projects. Leveraging funds connect communities to natural, historic, and long-term support for projects, NHA and cultural sites through educational partnerships foster pride of place and an activities, which promote awareness and enduring stewardship ethic. foster interest in and stewardship of NHA Facts Benefits of NHAs heritage resources. Forty-nine NHAs have been designated by Congress since 1984. Each NHA is  Community Engagement and Pride – Some of the long-term benefits of NHA created through individual federal law. By engaging community members in activities include: heritage conservation activities, NHAs NHA designation recognizes the national  Sustainable economic development – strengthen sense of place and community importance of a region’s sites and history. NHAs leverage federal funds (NHAs pride. average $5.50 for every $1.00 of federal Through annual Congressional appropriations, investment) to create jobs, generate The NHA Program NPS passes funds to NHA entities. Although revenue for local governments, and most entities are authorized to receive up to NHAs further the mission of the National sustain local communities through $1 millon annually over a set period of time, Park Service (NPS) by fostering community revitalization and heritage tourism. actual annual appropriations range from stewardship of our nation’s heritage. The $150,000 – $750,000.  Healthy environment and people – NHA program, which currently includes 49 Many NHAs improve water and air heritage areas, is administered by NPS The financial assistance component of the quality in their regions through coordinators in Washington DC and seven program is secured with legal agreements, restoration projects, and encourage regional offices - Anchorage, Seattle, accountability measures, and performance people to enjoy natural and cultural sites Oakland, Denver, Omaha, Philadelphia and requirements for NHA entities. by providing new recreational Atlanta - as well as park unit staff. NHA designation does not affect private property rights. opportunities. NHAs are not national park units. Rather,

 Improved Quality of Life –Through NPS partners with, provides technical new or improved amenities, unique assistance, and distributes matching federal settings, and educational and volunteer funds from Congress to NHA entities. NPS opportunities, NHAs improve local does not assume ownership of land inside quality of life. heritage areas or impose land use controls.

The National Heritage Areas

ALABAMA – Muscle Shoals National Heritage NEW JERSEY – Crossroads of the American Area Revolution National Heritage Area

ALASKA – Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm NEW HAMPSHIRE –*Freedom's Way National National Heritage Area Heritage Area (MA, NH)

ARIZONA – National Heritage NEW MEXICO – Northern Rio Grande National Area Heritage Area

COLORADO – Cache La Poudre River NEW YORK – *Champlain Valley National Corridor  Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Heritage Partnership (NY, VT)  Erie Canalway Students collecting water quality samples along the Area  South Park National Heritage Area National Heritage Corridor  Hudson River Quinebaug River as part of the Volunteer Water Valley National Heritage Area  Niagara Falls Quality Monitoring Program administered by CONNECTICUT – *Quinebaug and Shetucket National Heritage Area Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor (CT, Heritage Corridor. MA)  *Upper Housatonic Valley National NORTH CAROLINA – Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (CT, MA) Heritage Area  *Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (FL, GA, NC, SC) FLORIDA – *Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (FL, GA, NC, SC) NORTH DAKOTA – Northern Plains National Heritage Area GEORGIA – National Heritage Area  National OHIO – Ohio & Erie National Heritage Heritage Area  *Gullah/Geechee Cultural Canalway  National Aviation Heritage Area Heritage Corridor (FL, GA, NC, SC) PENNSYLVANIA – Delaware & Lehigh National IOWA – Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Corridor  *Journey Through Hallowed Heritage Area Ground National Heritage Area (MD, PA, VA, WV)  Lackawanna Heritage Valley  Oil Region ILLINOIS – Abraham Lincoln National National Heritage Area  Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area  Illinois & Michigan Canal Heritage Area  Schuylkill River National Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area mobilized National Heritage Corridor Heritage Area community members to raise funds needed to operate and maintain two state parks, KANSAS – * Freedom's Frontier National RHODE ISLAND – *John H. Chafee Blackstone including the State Park Heritage Area (KS, MO) River Valley National Heritage Corridor (MA, (pictured here). RI) LOUISIANA – Atchafalaya National Heritage Area  Cane River National Heritage Area SOUTH CAROLINA – *Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (FL, GA, NC, SC)  MARYLAND – Baltimore National Heritage South Carolina National Heritage Corridor Area  *Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area (MD, PA, VA, WV) TENNESSEE – Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area MASSACHUSETTS – Essex National Heritage Area  *Freedom's Way National UTAH – *Great Basin National Heritage Area Heritage Area (MA, NH)  *John H. Chafee (NV, UT)  Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Area Corridor (MA, RI)  *Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage VERMONT – * Champlain Valley National Corridor (CT, MA)  *Upper Housatonic Heritage Partnership (VT, NY) Valley National Heritage Area (CT, MA) Skipper Russell, Seasonal Produce Farms, NC. Blue Ridge National Heritage Area provided funds to the VIRGINIA – *Journey Through Hallowed Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP), MICHIGAN – MotorCities National Heritage Ground National Heritage Area (MD, PA, VA, which links new farms to available land and stimulates Area WV)  Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National farm tourism. ASAP photo. Historic District MISSISSIPPI – Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area  Mississippi Gulf Coast WEST VIRGINIA – *Journey through Hallowed National Heritage Area  Mississippi Hills Ground National Heritage Area (MD, PA, VA, National Heritage Area WV)  Wheeling National Heritage Area  National Heritage Area Program Office National Coal Heritage Area  Path of Progress 1201 “Eye” Street, NW MISSOURI – * Freedom's Frontier National National Heritage Route Washington, DC 20005 Heritage Area (KS, MO) 202.354.2222 NEVADA – *Great Basin National Heritage Area (NV, UT) *Denotes NHA that spans multiple states. For more information visit www.nps.gov/history/heritageareas

April 2011