The Upper Housatonic Valley NHA and Greenagers, a service learning program for teens and young adults, completed the 2018 summer season of work on significant cultural landscapes. Greenagers provides work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming and resource management.

More than 50 youth, ages 15-20, worked to on trails, rebuilt stonewalls, and construct bridges on sites in Berkshire County, MA. Local teenagers had the opportunity to work on properties to develop an understanding of what makes the region unique.

At Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, crews reconstructed a historic stonewall. They toured of the facility and archives and had an opportunity to attend a performance.  Neil Rippingale, a master stonemason from Scotland, trained and worked with them to rebuild a wall around Arrowhead, the home of author Herman Melville. They learned about Melville, whaling, and how Mt. Greylock inspired him. 

For the third year, a crew worked on the Ledges Trail at Chesterwood, home of Daniel Chester French, sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial. They sculpted the trail as French sculpted marble, building a demanding path.

For the first time a crew worked at the Norman Rockwell Museum. Between tours of the museum and studio, they tended to gardens, controlled invasive species, and trimmed hedges.  Read more: housatonicheritage

	Nepal visitors and NPS staff gather on the rooftop terrace at the Department of the Interior.

Dayton History, a partner of the National Aviation Heritage Area, renamed its aviation center to the John W. Berry, Sr. Wright Brothers National Museum following its designation in federal law. Rep. Mike Turner led the designation effort with Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman.  The museum includes a replica of the Wright Cycle Shop, a rare Wright bicycle, Wright family artifacts, and the original restored 1905 Wright Flyer III. It's also a unit of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.

	Rep. Turner unveils the National Wright Brothers Museum sign with L-R Stephen Wright and Amanda Wright Lane, great-grand nephew and niece of the Wright brothers, and Dayton History Pres. and CEO Brady Kress. credit NAHA

The museum is located in Carillon Historical Park, a 65-acre park featuring 30 exhibit buildings. Dayton History owns and operates Hawthorn Hill, the Wright family mansion in Oakwood, along with six other southwestern Ohio historic properties and museums.  No federal funds accompanied the national museum designation. 

This year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation approached the Baltimore NHA for preservation projects that could be carried out by the the Trust's HOPE Crew (Hands-On Preservation Experience). 

Six Morgan State University architecture students  trained at NPS' Western Center for Historic Preservation at Grand Teton National Park as part of pilot program bringing African American young professionals into historic preservation and related career paths, and raise awareness of the legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Baltimore NHA staff recommended they utilize their new skills at the Peale Center for Baltimore History and Architecture, the oldest museum building in the United States (built by artist Rembrandt Peale in 1814). 

	The HOPE Crew conducted masonry preservation in the Center's garden.

"Beyond addressing deferred maintenance at historic sites, the success of HOPE Crew highlights a hands-on approach to saving places that is making a positive difference in the lives of future preservationists and the communities where they serve," said Monica Rhodes, associate director of the Trust's HOPE Crew.

The project was funded by the NPS with in-kind donations from the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation and the Trust's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.

	"Everything!" A camper's answer when asked what was your favorite activity. Pictured here, campers at the Harry S Truman National Historic Site work on Jr. Park Ranger books.

For more information contact Youth Programs Coordinator Lexi lray@freedomsfrontier.org.

	One of several chimney and hearth remains in a field of cabins of the enslaved on Cumberland Island. (Heather Hodges)

The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is serving as the consulting partner for Cumberland Island National Seashore on a project "Researching Black History of Cumberland Island, GA" to help the interpretive team research and document the history and culture of the African-Americans who once lived on the island. In particular, little is known of their history from the 1750-1860; a period of pivotal events in Georgia and U.S. history including the adoption of slavery in Georgia, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War and Reconstruction. 

There is a lack of robust record of how the African-American residents on Cumberland Island experienced these events, their cultural practices or the organization of their communities. The NPS is also interested in applying this research to determining the best way to honor the contributions and memory of these individuals. It is anticipated this project will by fully funded in 2019.  

Wheeling Heritage was named a 2019 Great American Main Street Award Semifinalist by the National Main Street Center. Each year, the National Main Street Center recognizes exceptional Main Street communities whose successes serve as a model for preservation-based, comprehensive, district revitalization. 

Wheeling Heritage was selected for its success in making the community an exciting place to live, work, play and visit, as well as its commitment to historic preservation and its ability to create strong partnerships.  Wheeling Heritage was named a National Heritage Area in 2000. 

"It's an honor to receive national recognition for the impact of our work," said Jake Dougherty, executive director of Wheeling Heritage. "Although we were selected for work that has been done in the past three years as a Main Street community, this is built off of decades of work by many people." Read more

A kids' history assignment became a project that had an entire community rummaging through drawers and attics. The project was funded by a grant from KMTA NHA and consists of five interpretive panels displayed at the Moose Pass Library; development of a DVD with historic photos; framing and enlarging photos for the library; and making photo postcards.  The project was celebrated at the Moose Pass Summer Solstice Festival in June. Tourists and community members looked at displays, told stories, and reflected on the origin of the town of 217 people. 

Students from Moose Pass school who helped create panels. Also pictured are Dan Walkerm, KMTA NHA Board President and board member Martha Story. Credit K. Johnson-Sullivan

Casey Bryson said, "It's not often that kids' work gets published like this." Second-grader Regan Seibert noted, "I think about the amazing people who made this town what it is today."

Project coordinator, Willow Hetrick, worked for more than a year to piece together the story of Moose Pass. The kids' text was augmented by her work and then checked by Dr. Rolfe Buzzell for accuracy.

Visit kmtacorridor.org/ or contact Kaylene Johnson-Sullivan for more information.

The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area (YCNHA) selected Lowell Perry, Jr. as their new Executive Director. Perry is a Yale graduate, and business development professional with significant broad-based nonprofit and for-profit leadership experience.  Most recently he held senior roles with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland. He has run entrepreneurial ventures including an automotive manufacturing operation and a marketing & business development firm. Additionally, he was a front office executive with the NFL Seattle Seahawks. Perry is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc..

The YCNHA thanks Charles Flynn, for his dedication and leadership in Yuma's riverfront transformation.

YCNHA was thrilled to learn that the Yellow-billed cuckoo, an endangered species, is making a comeback due to the YCNHA's work to restore its habitat along the Lower Colorado River. 

In a recent bird survey, researchers came across a nest of fledging young cuckoos during a sweep of the Yuma East Wetlands. The cuckoo is now at home in the wetlands, along with other endangered bird species including the Yuma Clapper Rail and Least Bittern, and the Yuma hispid cotton rat.

The Sangre de Cristo NHA is honored to host Olympic Gold Medalist in Wrestling, National Wrestling Hall of Fame Member and UFC World Flyweight Champion Henry Cejudo to speak on September 22 about perseverance, dedication, finding your passion and having pride in oneself. 

Henry Cejudo grew up in south central L.A., the so n of undocumented immigrant parents and youngest of seven children. He grew up poor, and his father - who was absent for large stretches of his life - passed away when Henry was only 20. 

His nickname "The Messenger" comes from his belief that his success is a platfor m to spread a greater message: No situation is too difficult to overcome. "You can accomplish anything that you dedicate yourself to. Think how many people struggle across the world, across the country. I know anything is possible if you set your mind, your body, your soul and your faith to it." His longtime cornerman Frankie Sanchez, who has strong family ties in the heritage area will speak about his journey from athlete to small business owner. The event is free to youth and adult ticket proceeds go to SdCNHA youth scholarship fund.

This year, Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area awarded over $200,000 in grants for 14 projects focused on cultural heritage development in communities across the Mississippi Delta region.

  MDNHA also hosted a orientation workshop for 2018 grantee organizations. They were joined by 2016 and 2017 grantees, providing grantees an opportunity to network and learn from each other's experiences.

MDNHA has distributed over $500,000 in grants since the program started in 2016. Taking into account cash and in-kind match contributions, over the past three years, the MDNHA grant program has stimulated approximately $1 million dollars in federal, state, and local investment in Mississippi Delta communities.

The I&M Canal NHA, the nation's first National Heritage Area, and Looking for Lincoln NHA teamed up with the Illinois Office of Tourism and the Illinois Bicentennial Commission to create a passport. The free 44-page guide encourages Illinois residents and visitors to collect Illinois Bicentennial Passport stamps at 56 passport stops, primarily within the heritage areas. They offer a glimpse into Illinois' history and landscape from the past 200 years and include locations such as the Field Museum, the Governor's Mansion, the Old Joliet Prison and the Lincoln Log Cabin Historic Site.

Passports are available at passport sites or from Illinois Convention and Visitors Bureaus & Tourism Offices in Northern and Central Illinois. The program runs from July 1 -November 30, 2018.
Visit www.iandmcanal.org for more information.

Blue Ridge NHA is putting the mountains of Western North Carolina in a new light with an updated website at www.blueridgeheritage.

BRNHA staff worked with Integritive, an Asheville web developer, to create a crisper mobile friendly design that invites viewers to experience "A Place Like No Other."  I conic images and refreshed copy highlight Blue Ridge NHA's five heritage assets: traditional mountain music, crafts, agriculture and food, the natural beauty and Cherokee culture. 

A robust itinerary-builder lets visitors pinpoint and map their route across hundreds of featured destinations, small towns, waterfalls and other outdoor vistas, museums and historic sites. 

Behind the scenes, the team is busy building and loading a new online feature - the Blue Ridge Craft Trails, which will be unveiled later this fall. Funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission and partners, the Craft Trails section will initially showcase 75 anchor sites across the North Carolina mountains where visitors can see and experience authentic handmade crafts and meet the makers. Next year, BRNHA will build out the trails to include more than 100 local artists and craft galleries.

Wasatch Academy, a historic school aided in its restoration efforts by the MPNHA and was recently named "most beautiful school in Utah" by Insider, a national news website. (Photo/ Robert Stevens, Sanpete Messenger)

Over the past 12 years, the MPNHA assisted 26 communities and contributed to the revitalization of 45 historic buildings/areas in the corridor. To date, more than 130 MPNHA grants facilitated the restoration of historic buildings, breathed life into towns as part of main street revitalization, and provided educational opportunities. MPNHA also contributed to the development of 3 veterans memorials, an agritourism/equestrian center, trails and biking paths, museums, kiosks and pavilions, a railroad village, and interpretive visitors centers, including the Hole-in-the-Rock Interpretive Center in Escalante. Many grants funded projects received awards while MPNHA was named "Best of State in Heritage Tourism" in 2017.