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Larry Stephan of Oakland reads the Declaration of Independence. |
Independence Day celebrations with Revolutionary Spirit across New Jersey
The Declaration of Independence may have been ratified and signed in Philadelphia in 1776, but the first official Independence Day celebration took place in New Jersey. Headquartered at Piscataway on July 4, 1778, General George Washington ordered 11,000 Patriots to line the banks of the Raritan River and fire their rifles in a salute called feu de joie (fire of joy).
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The Declaration was read with huzzahs, costumed reenactors and more at Crossroads sites including the Indian King Tavern, Ringwood Manor, home of Washington's official mapmaker Robert Erskine, and Washington's Crossing State Park.
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Crossroads Heritage Partners helped visitors celebrate Independence Day with events and activities of an 18th century flair. Morristown NHP co-hosted the annual Revolutionary Times event with fireworks, tours of Washington's Headquarters at the Ford Mansion, a performance by US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and more, capped by the traditional and spirited reading of the Declaration of Independence (audience participation encouraged!)
Sites hosted tours, picnics, open houses and more.
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Centennial Superstars 
Way to Go: In celebration of our 100th anniversary of the NPS, the City of Baltimore Department of Recreation and Parks, the Baltimore National Heritage Area, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, the NPS Chesapeake Bay Office, Parks & People Foundation, and Visit Baltimore teamed up to organize and promote a summer of fun events to encourage locals and visitors to get outside and
"Find Your Park" in Baltimore.
"Visit Baltimore's
dedicated webpage, concerted marketing campaign, inclusion of national and local park sites, and collaborative approach with partners associated with this initiative is unmatched in the Northeast Region." said Mike Caldwell, Regional Director, NPS - Northeast Region. "
In recognition of this extraordinary centennial initiative, I'm pleased to award each of the individuals involved in this effort a Centennial Superstar Award."
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Learning and Connecting in Freedom's Frontier
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FreedomCorps at the The Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum learning archeology. |
This summer, Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area embarked on year two of the Freedom Corps program which provides employment to six high school students from under-served urban communities. The program provides students a chance to learn more about their communities while helping historic sites and museums.
For the month of June, the students traveled throughout the 41- counties of Freedom's Frontier NHA helping partner sites with various projects from maintenance to interpretation. The students, led by FFNHA Youth Programs Assistant Adam Newhard, traveled over 2,500 miles helping 17 different sites in both Kansas and Missouri. Many sites look forward to the Freedom Corps, bringing some extra hands to tackle projects that may have been overlooked without them.
Our Freedom Corps assisted one of our National Park Service partners, Fort Scott National Historic Site, to help with repairing a wooden fence and cleaning some historic structures. This site, like many NPS sites, rely on help from volunteers to accomplish many unfunded needs. The help from the Freedom Corps helped the park catch up on their preventative maintenance schedule, and extended the service life of the fence. Russell Conner, Facilities Manager for Fort Scott, shared, "the kids and chaperone were great, and we appreciate their help!"
The month long experience is more than employment, it's a chance for students to learn life skills, to learn about their role as stewards in the community, and to have fun.
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Campers hike along an old quarry trail to the summit of Arabia Mountain and explore fascinating ecology and geology. They encounter wildlife at AWARE, one of the few centers in Georgia that rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife.
At the Panola Mountain State Park, the campers sharpen their physical prowess by participating in tree climbing, kayaking, and archery. A trip to the Flat Rock Archives leaves these young people enchanted by the stories of one of the oldest intact African-American communities in Georgia. The week long journey culminates with a service project clean-up along the South River, demonstrating the environmental and recreational value of community service projects.
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LEAD: Spirit of Lincoln Academy
Looking for Lincoln hosted the inaugural year of LEAD: Spirit of Lincoln Academy on the campus of Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois, June 5-10, 2016. The purpose of LEAD is to provide emerging leaders an opportunity to learn about the character qualities of a leader by examining Abraham Lincoln's life, his ideals, his character and his leadership capabilities through immersive experiences in the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. LEAD was developed by Looking for Lincoln, in partnership with Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the National Park Service; as well as Union Pacific Railroad, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and Illinois College
This week long residential youth leadership program was designed for students who are entering eighth grade. Thirty-two participants were selected from throughout the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. Participants learned about leadership qualities like honesty, empathy, humility and perseverance. They engaged in discussions about how people in the 21st century faced some of the same challenges Lincoln and other leaders of the 19th century faced - issues like racism. As part of the week long experience participants developed a individual leadership plan to help them as they go forward with their education and into their adult lives.
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Historic Downtown Cleveland Forum
The 2016 Historic Downtown Cleveland Luncheon Forum featured Martha Raymond, National Coordinator for NHAs at the NPS. Her presentation "Leveraging Resources for Stronger, Healthier Communities" helped to illuminate ways the NPS can continue to assist Cleveland with historic building rehabilitation, trail development, education programs and grants.
The Ohio & Erie Canalway efforts include programming such as Take A Hike, which offers five, free, guided walking tours in Downtown Cleveland. Each tour features actors portraying historic figures from Cleveland's past. The Canalway is co-managed by two non-profits; Canalway Partners in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition to the south.
The NPS spurs economic development in several ways. In 2015, tourism to national parks sites in Ohio created $203 million in economic benefits. Less-publicized but very impactful economic development tools include the National Register of Historic Places. Downtown Cleveland has been a major beneficiary of NPS historic tax incentives - the program has helped make possible adaptive reuse projects such as the former Cleveland Trust, Downtown Heinen's, and the Arcade. National Register Historic Districts such as the Cleveland Centre Historic District have created opportunities for responsible development.
The Ohio & Erie Canalway NHA is increasing its profile in Downtown Cleveland. The 101-mile Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail, the Canalway's most popular attraction, is on its way downtown. In 2014, Scranton Flats opened and Stage 3, which runs 1.9 miles. The City of Cleveland is leading efforts to develop Canal Basin Park, a 20-acre park which will be Cleveland's gateway to the Ohio & Erie Canalway NHA. The City has adopted the Canal Basin Park Framework Plan to serve as guide to development of the project- outreach and fundraising is underway.
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Discover Niagara Shuttle Launched
The Discover Niagara Shuttle, a new seasonal tourism initiative that launched in May, offers transportation from Niagara Falls State Park to 14 popular destinations along a 14 mile route from the City of Niagara Falls to Old Fort Niagara. More than 10,000 passenger boarded the recently launched shuttle in less than two months.
The Niagara Falls NHA is leading the coordination and contracting effort for the Discover Niagara Shuttle. The shuttle service makes it easier for people to connect with a variety of destinations and activities, giving them more reasons to stay longer and make an increased contribution to the economy.
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Niagara Falls NHA Team: Ally Spongr, Chris Bacon, Sara Capen and Eric Rigg at the Launch of the Discover Niagara Shuttle. |
Visitors and locals can park their cars and bikes and experience Niagara's iconic landscape, rich history and the thriving culture and communities throughout the Niagara Falls NHA with the ease and convenience of a hop-on/hop-off shuttle. Wi-fi on the shuttle connects to the Niagara Falls NHA's new
Discover Niagara app, providing information on the places, communities and stories visitors can experience while visiting Niagara. Visitors can view the shuttle locations with the GPS tracking and download free tickets making the trip from the "Falls to the Fort" easy.
For more information:
www.discoverniagara.org/shuttle, #EnjoytheRide.
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Cache la Poudre River NHA Historic Bike Tours
Two of our Heritage Culturalist Volunteers organized a bike tour through portions of Larimer County, Colorado, the western half of the Heritage Area.
The highlight of the tour was learning more about the Bellvue Irrigation Hydraulic Laboratory from the ditch rider that is adjacent to the historic building.
The US Department of Agriculture developed the site in the 1920's as a field laboratory for research on irrigation technology. Here former Colorado Agricultural College (now Colorado State University) Professor Ralph Parshall carried out a series of experiments and eventually perfected a water measuring device that would be used around the world. The Parshall Flume revolutionized irrigation practices by providing a simple, inexpensive, and efficient method to precisely measure the flow of water.
A second bike tour in Larimer County was held July 7th with additional tours taking place in Weld County (the eastern half) this summer.
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Rhythm and Birds in Cane River NHA
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Programs for children, discussions, and a guided bird and nature hike delighted all. |
Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc. (CRNHA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers hosted
Rhythm and Birds, a nature and birding open house on May 7, 2016 at the Grand Ecore Visitor Center. The event was the first of its kind since CRNHA and the US Army Corps of Engineers entered into a volunteer services agreement to manage the Grand Ecore Visitor Center located on the Red River.
The free event featured local music, children's activities and a discussion led by Erik Johnson, Director of Bird Conservation at Audubon Louisiana National Audubon Society on the nesting habits and migratory patterns of the Prothonotary Warblers. Johnson also promoted Audubon Louisiana's Citizen Scientist program and provided information on how to help gather vital data conservationists need to monitor Louisiana's population of Prothonotary Warblers.
Rhythm and Birds was supported by grants from the National Environmental Education Foundation, Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. and Volunteer Louisiana. Hospitality and refreshments were sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED.
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Initiatives in MotorCities
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Brian Yopp, Director of Programs and Operations, demonstrates the survey with Toria Holland. |
The MotorCities NHA is busy this summer exploring new initiatives that engage and educate people about the national heritage area. During Autopalooza events, guests can learn about MCNHA by taking an interactive survey. The new
survey utilizes a web program on a mounted iPad stand to determine awareness of MotorCities, the NPS, and vistiors' level of interest in automotive heritage.
 At Autopalooza, guests to MotorCities NHA booth can take a photo behind the cutout
of an antique car and share on social media using a common hashtag. This is a interactive way to explore digital marketing and user generated content.
MotorCities also took part in a local Every Kid in a Park program with the NPS Detroit Urban Fellow David Goldstein. From May 31 to June 3, MotorCities staff and intern, Toria Holland, interacted with thousands of 4th-graders from Detroit Public Schools about history and preservation on the grounds of Historic Fort Wayne in Southwest Detroit. Ms. Holland is part of the Historic Black Colleges and Universities Initiative.
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New Hudson River Greenway Water Trail Map-Guides, Mobile Website, and Guidebook
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Water Trail enthusiasts were joined at Kingston Point Beach by Kingston Mayor Steve Noble for the announcement followed by a paddle. |
The Hudson River Valley NHA announced new tools to make it easier for visitors and residents to explore the Hudson River from New York City to the Adirondack Park including a new Hudson River Greenway Water Trail Map/Guide Set, mobile responsive website, and Hudson River Greenway Water Trail Guide.
HudsonRiverGreenwayWaterTrail.org, the new Water Trail website is the first comprehensive mobile water trail trip planning website in the state. The itinerary builder facilitates planning multi-day explorations and the mobile responsive design makes it easy for users to find river access points and outfitters.
"Something incredible happens when you bring your eyes to water level and experience the wonder of the Hudson's fish, birds and landscapes from a small boat," said Dan Shapley, Water Quality Program Manager for Riverkeeper. "Another advocate for the river's health is made every time someone dips a paddle in the water, and we hope many people take advantage of these new resources to do just that."
The Map/Guides provides information on more than 100 water trail access points along the 256-mile trail to make it easy to plan excursions. The four-map set includes the
Saratoga-Albany Region,
Adirondack-Champlain Region, Kingston-Poughkeepsie Region, and Beacon- New York City Region. Each waterproof and tear-resistant guide highlights the historic and natural resources. They are for sale on the trail website and at outfitters.
The projects were supported by a $90,000 Market NY grant through Empire State Development's Division of Tourism, I Love NY, to promote recreation and tourism in the National Heritage Area.
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Milestones in Dayton
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The NPS's 100th anniversary was saluted at the
Dayton Air Show with a display of a
1928 Fairchild, the NPS's first airplane, which was restored by a private owner. The air show, museum, and park are NAHA partners.
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DAYTON, Ohio- June was a month of milestones in the years-long drive to add the
Wright Company factory
-America's first airplane factory - to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.
The Ohio legislature approved $1 million
for the
National Aviation Heritage Alliance
(NAHA) to buy the 54-acre site that includes the factory's two buildings.
Dayton Metro Library
quickly announced its commitment to buy seven acres of the site for a new branch library. The $10 million facility will draw visitors to the site and supplement the park's educational resources.
More good news came from the Dayton Foundation, which manages a collection of philanthropic funds: It awarded NAHA a discretionary grant of $50,000 to support the factory project, adding to $75,000 awarded by the Wright Family Foundation and $50,000 from the Harry A. Toulmin, Jr. and Virginia B. Toulmin Fund. This prompted other Dayton Foundation funds to contribute an additional $12,000.
In June, the
National Museum of the United States Air Force
opened a 224,000 square foot, privately funded fourth building.
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Discover the Story in Alaska
The Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area (KMTA) partnered with the Chugach National Forest for a summer exhibit with the theme "Discover the Story" featuring
interpretive panels focused on the People, Paths, and Places of the NHA. The exhibit, which is displayed at the Begich Boggs Visitor Center in Portage, Alaska features an overview panel with a quote from Dr. J. Herman Blake (Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor), "National Heritage Areas tell the stories that tie our nation together."
In other news, kids are sampling stream flow in California Creek and biking the Bird-to-Gird trail as part of a new Four Valleys Community School summer program supported by a grant from Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm NHA. Scholarship support for the Community School's inaugural outdoor summer intensives was one of seven grants awarded by KMTA at the board meeting in Girdwood.
This spring's round of matching grants included educational projects by Girdwood Inc., the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and Four Valleys Community School. Recreational and historical grant recipients include a new Whittier City Park, a new historic showcase in the Begich Towers public lobby, reporting by the Glacier City Gazette and Turnagain Times, and repair of the historic Resurrect Art Coffee House windows in Seward.
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For the second consecutive year, each day of the trip was filled to capacity with between 110 and 120 boats on the water. |
Schuylkill River NHA Hosts 18th Annual Sojourn
From June 4-10 the Schuylkill River NHA held its18th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn. The 112-mile, 7-day journey down the river is SRHA's most popular event.
The ultimate
goal of the sojourn is to draw attention to the river as a valuable natural and recreational
resource. Educational programming is offered at lunch and evening stops,
providing information on the history, culture or environment of the
Schuylkill River region. This year's program theme celebrated the Centennial of the
National Park Service, with entertaining and informative presentations by park rangers and Joy Beasley, Deputy Associate Director, Park Programs and National Heritage Areas.
All together, 205 paddlers from nine states and New Zealand participated in all or part of the trip, with a record breaking 79 making the full trip from rural Schuylkill Haven to Philadelphia's Boathouse Row.
In partnership with Schuylkill Action Network, the Sojourn Steward photo documented litter along the river areas in order to draw attention to this pervasive problem. Learn more about the Schuylkill River Sojourn at
http://www.schuylkillriver.org/sojourn.aspx
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Find Your Park Festival in Augusta Canal
It's three celebrations in one! On November 5, 2016 Augusta Canal NHA hosts its "Find Your Park Festival 2016." The day-long festival will not only celebrate the NPS Centennial and the 20th anniversary Augusta Canal's National Heritage Area designation, but also mark the official opening of the heritage area's newest trail and trailhead.
Organizers plan to focus on all the outdoor activities available on the Augusta Canal, while also incorporating the history and environmental significance of the area. The goals are to highlight the many improvements to the Augusta Canal since its NHA designation and to help visitors learn how to enjoy the heritage area in many different ways.
A ribbon cutting for the new Mill Village trail will be followed by bike and foot races. Other recreational activities and demonstrations throughout the day include kayaking, paddle boarding, disc golfing, and fishing. Exhibit booths lining the new trail will offer an array of information on topic ranging from bird watching to geo-caching. Food trucks, history walks with costumed characters, live music and a trolley tour of the heritage area's mill district are planned. Activities may include water quality testing, pet adoption, dog agility classes, a pet parade, and a stroller promenade.
ACNHA staffers reached out to clubs, non-profits and businesses throughout the community and received enthusiastic support.
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Revolutionary Neighbors anthology receives NJ Historic Preservation Award 
Meet Your Revolutionary Neighbors, a published selection of profiles from Crossroads of the American Revolution's series received the coveted 2016 New Jersey Historic Preservation Award. With contributions from 16 New Jersey historians, this rich collaboration connects readers to the state's significant Revolutionary heritage, describing the lives and struggles of 18th century residents on a personal level. It's also the companion to a larger collection of Revolutionary Neighbors on our website, which also contains teaching resources for educators. Meet Your Revolutionary Neighbors has also been endorsed by the
New Jersey Education Association.
New Jersey's Tall Ship Meerwald to Set Sail
Towering masts and broad sails will grace the shores of one of New Jersey's oldest cities as the state's official Tall Ship, the A.J. Meerwald sails on the Arthur Kill from the historic Elizabeth waterfront July 15-17. This now-peaceful waterway played a critical role in the Revolutionary War, with British troops often crossing it to invade New Jersey from British-held Staten Island.
Selected excursions highlight seldom told stories of the area's Revolutionary past, with speakers including Crossroads Advisory Board members Douglas Aumack (Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission), Todd Braisted (Bergen County Historical Society) and Bill Schroh (Liberty Hall Museum). Several history organizations will exhibited at the Elizabeth Marina on July 16 as the Meerwald offered free tours. More information: http://revolutionarynj.org/event/j-meerwald-event-elizabeth-marina/
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Mohawk Valley Historic Water Trail Takes Shape in Erie Canalway
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Staff at Erie Canalway NHC and RTCA conducted a three-day reconnaissance paddle in June to identify issues and needed amenities. |
Exciting plans to develop a 128-mile water trail along the Erie Canal from Rome to Waterford, NY are well underway.
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
is working closely with consultants
, the New York State Canal Corporation, and the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA) to complete a planning document, a brochure to raise public awareness of the Historic Water Trail, and map templates identifying routes and resources for paddlers.
The project is anticipated to be completed in the fall of this year.
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NPS and CDC Unveil Trail Workbook 
Using Trails as a Pathway to Health
There is more to a trail than meets the eye. A well planned park or trail promotes physical activity, protects the environment, and provides health benefits for individuals and communities. The National Park Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a toolkit for planning trails with community health in mind - The Parks, Trails, and Health Workbook: A Tool for Planners, Parks and Recreational Professionals, and Health Practitioners.
"Community health should be a core topic of conversation during every park, trail, and open space planning project," said Captain Sara Newman, Director Office of Public Health, NPS. "This workbook provides step by step instructions for community members, health professionals, and park managers to incorporate public health ideas and strategies in the development or improvement of green spaces."
NPS planners work in communities with a range of partners to plan and develop recreational opportunities. The workbook, developed by the NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Healthy Community Design Initiative, includes guidance about how to create a community health profile, identify partners, assess potential sites, collect data, and evaluate success.
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