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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE’S HERITAGE TRAVEL ITINERARIES RECEIVE ACHP AWARD FOR FEDERAL PRESERVE AMERICA ACCOMPLISHMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Park Service’s (NPS) Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itineraries received honors for its new feature which encourages heritage tourists to visit 40 Preserve America Communities and offers detailed travel information and Web links to an additional 418 communities designated under the initiative. The presentation was made to NPS Director Mary A. Bomar and Carol D. Shull, chief of the Cultural Heritage Services office that creates and maintains the feature, at the ACHP’s winter business meeting on Feb. 23, 2007.

National Park Service Director Mary Bomar (center) and Heritage Education Services Chief Carol Shull were presented the ACHP Award for Federal Preserve America Accomplishment by Chairman John L. Nau, III, at the ACHP winter business meeting in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 23, 2007.

“The NPS Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itineraries is a treasure trove for both local and international visitors seeking authentic personal experiences of America’s diverse and fascinating history,” said John L. Nau, III, ACHP chairman. “This is an excellent example of creating a public benefit in keeping with the spirit of Executive Order 13287, Preserve America.”

The NPS promotes heritage tourism, education, and historic preservation in communities throughout the nation via the online Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary Series (www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/).
Travelers can print any of the itineraries from the NPS Web site to serve as a handy reference. Each itinerary features descriptions, pictures, and maps of featured historic places as well as contextual essays to help better explain the various places’ histories.

There are now 43 itineraries on the NPS’ site showcasing almost 1,900 historic places. Each itinerary spotlights different geographic regions and themes across the nation, exposing travelers to places significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture. The itineraries include interactive maps, photographs, descriptions of each place, and tourist information. Itineraries are often organized by theme, including Florida shipwrecks, World War II in the San Francisco Bay area, aviation history “from sand dunes to sonic booms,” and more.

The itineraries are created by a partnership of the NPS; National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO); federal, state, and local governments; and, private organizations. The NPS developed the itineraries as a demonstration program to encourage other entities and individuals to create their own itineraries, or to partner with the NPS to do so. The travel itineraries Web site receives 50,000 visits per week, or about 2.6 million per year.

The ACHP, an independent federal agency, promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of the nation’s historic resources and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy. It also provides a forum for influencing federal activities, programs, and policies that impact historic properties. In addition, the ACHP has a key role in carrying out the Administration’s Preserve America program. Visit www.achp.gov for more information.

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