Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation had its winter business meeting in San Francisco, California, with three days of engaging with preservationists on the west coast. Council members hosted a listening session at historic Angel Island State Park with more than 20 representatives of the Asian American community to discuss ways to better identify and interpret places important to the nation’s Asian American-Pacific Islander history and bring them into the national historic preservation movement’s consciousness. The Chairman’s Award for Achievement in Historic Preservation was presented to the Discover SF!

In honor of International Youth Day, the ACHP is highlighting a Preserve America community with a unique claim to youth history: Seward, Alaska. In 1927, as the territory of Alaska considered statehood, territorial governor George Parks and the Alaska American Legion organized a contest to design a territorial flag, believing having such an emblem may help Alaska become a state. The contest was open to all Alaskan children from the 7th to 12th grades, and the ultimate winner, an Aleutian boy named Benny Benson, hailed from the Jesse Lee Home in Seward. Benson's flag was designed as an homage to Alaska's natural landscape and position as the northern-most American territory. Benson won a $1,000 scholarship in the contest, and the flag was adopted in May 1927.

The National Park Service has announced a new grant program aimed at preserving sites of importance to the African American struggle for civil rights in the 20th century. The grants are being funded by the Historic Preservation Fund, and $7.75 million is available. Potential projects include survey and documentation, interpretation and education, oral histories, brick and mortar preservation, and more. Historically Black Colleges and Universities can apply for the grants in partnership with states, territories, federally-recognized tribes, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiian organizations, or local governments. Applications are due October 14, 2016.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– President Barack Obama has announced his intent to appoint Luis Hoyos to an Expert Member seat on the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP).

Hoyos is an architect and Professor of Architecture at the California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, where he teaches historic preservation and urban design. He has received awards for the design of several historic building rehabilitations, including El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the Point Fermin Lighthouse, the Palmer Hotel and the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse.