Preserve America is a White House initiative in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; the U.S. Departments of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Education; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities; and the President's Council on Environmental Quality.

Mississippi Preserve America Communities, Grantees Celebrate in Vicksburg with Gov. Barbour, City and Federal Officials

August 16, 2007, Vicksburg, MS—Representatives and officials from the 14 designated Preserve America Communities and first four Preserve America Grants in Mississippi met at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center today to celebrate their heritage tourism and historic preservation accomplishments.

The event was headlined by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and coordinated and emceed by John L. Nau, III, chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). Also addressing the gathering were Mitch Butler, the Department of the Interior’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, and Vicksburg Mayor Laurence Leyens.

“It is more important than at any time in Mississippi’s history to work to bring the economic and cultural benefits of historic preservation to the state and its communities, and Preserve America is helping to meet those needs,” Nau said. “Heritage tourism and other preservation development strategies are absolutely key to the economic strength and brighter future of Mississippi.”

The 14 Preserve America Communities in Mississippi are Baldwyn, Biloxi, Canton, Cleveland, Columbus, Corinth, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Leland, Oxford, Pascagoula, Port Gibson, Raymond, and Vicksburg. The four Preserve America Grant recipients in Mississippi are the Mississippi State Historic Preservation Office, “Rebuilding Mississippi’s Heritage Tourism Industry Post Hurricane Katrina;” Biloxi, “Heritage Tourism Marketing Program;” Corinth, “Corinth Civil War Preservation Project;” and Vicksburg, “Regional Tribute to the 150th Anniversary of the Vicksburg Campaign.”

The celebration began with presentation of the certificate of designation, signed by Mrs. Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States and Honorary Chair of Preserve America, to Mayor Danny R. Horton of Baldwyn. This makes Baldwyn Mississippi’s newest Preserve America Community.

Preserve America is an Administration initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural and natural heritage. The goals of the initiative include a greater shared knowledge about the nation’s past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local par­ticipation in preserving the country’s cultural and natural heritage assets, and support for the economic vitality of our communities. For more information, including a list of communities, neighborhoods, and grants, please see www.preserveamerica.gov.

Posted August 27, 2007

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