Fifty years ago, on October 15, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 – an act that would forever change the way our nation honors and preserves our country’s precious history and framework.
Throughout the year, GAI Consultants’ (GAI’s) Cultural Resources Group has commemorated the landmark legislation known as the NHPA by joining in the celebration of Preservation50’s “Our Legacy, Our Future.” As this year-long celebration comes to an end, GAI would like to conclude our historic preservation series with Part IV: Preserving Our Nation—It Doesn’t Stop in 2016.
NHPA of 1966—What It Means to Us
Preserving our nation requires much more than simply conserving the physical pieces of our country’s makeup. It also entails keeping traditions, customs, and cultures alive and vibrant. Today, over 1.7 million resources are included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)—a list highlighting significant structures, sites, and objects that are pertinent to our nation’s history. Along with the NHPA, the NRHP listing guides corporations and businesses like GAI when aiding clients in minimizing impacts to historic resources. In other words, the NHPA and NRHP are key parts in holding the many historical facets of our nation together.
Bringing 2016 to a Close—Get Involved
As 2016 comes to a close, so will the Preservation50 anniversary celebration. However, the preservation of our nation never stops. To contribute right now, take these two simple steps: (1) gain awareness, and (2) get involved.
Below are four ways to continue the Preservation50 celebration into the new year:
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Conduct research. Check out organizations such as the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), National Park Service, and the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation. These groups provide a number of resources, including publications, event listings, blogs, and answers to frequently asked questions pertaining to our nation’s preservation regulations and each state’s specific involvement. |
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Get involved in the local community. Take a tour of historic homes, museums, and trails provided by local historical societies. For example, the PHMC provides the Pennsylvania Trails of History—a hands-on experience that allows visitors to follow the footsteps through Pennsylvania’s past. |
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Tune in. Watch Preservation50’s The Making Archaeology Public Project video series showcasing the NHPA and its contributions by state. GAI’s Cultural Resources and Media Services Groups produced the State of Pennsylvania’s entry, titled Digging Deep: Buried Landscapes of Pennsylvania, which has been entered to be showcased at The Archaeology Channel’s 2017 International Film and Video Festival. |
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Become a pioneer. Explore, enjoy, and share experiences, adventures, and photographs that showcase our nation’s legacy, heritage, and culture to help keep these attributes alive. |
For More Information
To learn more about the NHPA and its contributions to our communities, visit Preservation50.org. Here’s to the next 50 years of protecting the most valuable and irreplaceable pieces of our nation’s cultural and historic heritage!
For questions or additional information about Preservation50 or helping to preserve our nation’s history beyond 2016, contact contact Ben Resnick, MA, MBA, RPA at 412.476.2000.
For related information, check out the following articles:
Preservation50 — Our Legacy, Our Future (Part III)—The Borough of Wilkinsburg | September 8, 2016
Preservation50 — Our Legacy, Our Future (Part II)—The Oil Region Alliance’s Natural Gas Traveling Exhibit | June 16, 2016
Preservation50 — Our Legacy, Our Future (Part I)—Lake Helen Historic Preservation Planning | May 19, 2016
