National Park Service to sponsor Regional Meetings for Chesapeake Bay Partners

The National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office and its partner Chesapeake Conservancy invite you to attend one of four regional meetings taking place in January, 2011.

Technical and financial assistance from the National Park Service can have a significant impact on the work of state and local governments and non-profit organizations. To be most effective, NPS can't operate in a vacuum . . . we need to ask you about our work, what we can do better, and what we can do for you.

The meeting agenda is simple: NPS will give brief overviews of our work in the Chesapeake region. This includes the Captain John Smith Chesapeake and the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trails, the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network, and our work with public access and stewardship opportunities as part of the federal strategy for Bay restoration. Chesapeake Conservancy will share highlights of their recent projects that support these initiatives.

Maryland Heritage Areas Grants Workshops - Register Today!

It's that time of year again!

Are you located in a Certified Heritage Area?

Are you interested in learning more about grants that are available for capital and non-capital projects relating to the preservation of historical, archeological, natural and cultural resources and heritage tourism?

If so, you will want to attend one of four upcoming grant workshops that are being offered by the Maryland Heritage Areas Program. These sessions are an opportunity to learn more about the FY 2012 grant program and the revised grant application forms, and will also provide the chance to ask any questions you may have about the program.

New Historical Markers along Maryland's Roads



Old Wallville School Marker Unveiling.
Photo courtesy of David Krankowski



The Maryland Historical Trust, State Highway Administration, and local partners have installed six new and two replacement historical markers along Maryland's roadways, bringing the total number of markers to 822! The markers celebrate a broad scope of Maryland history, including a seventeenth century courthouse, the growth of a colonial port, a fine grade of slate quarried for over two centuries, a rare and early school for the education of African American students, early twentieth century advancements in electric rail transit and transportation, research and development of motor transport, and a legacy of conservation and enhancement of our public lands.

Read about each of the new markers below.

Southern Maryland's Award-Winning Heritage

The Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium has garnered recognition for its efforts on the part of the region and the state-wide Heritage Areas program.

At the Tourism and Travel Summit in Annapolis on Thursday, November 4th, Roz Racanello, Executive Director of the Heritage Area, accepted an award in the category of Cultural Heritage Tourism.

The Cultural Heritage Tourism Award is given for outstanding investments and contributions in stewardship and development of Maryland's cultural heritage product as well as engagement in regional and statewide tourism initiatives.

National Scenic Byways Program Announces FY 2011 Grant Intention Solicitation

The National Scenic Byways Program announces the soliciation of grant intent to apply forms for FY 2011 funding, to be submitted by 2 p.m. on January 12, 2011. Guidance and other important materials are available on the Byways Online website at http://www.bywaysonline.org/grants/ .

Applicants should review these resources to ensure applications meet all submission requirements for the FY 2011 grant cycle. They are also asked to work closely with the byway organization that coordinates activities on the relevant byway. These organizations will rank and/or consolidate projects and can therefore have a large impact on the success of the application. In addition, all projects should reflect the priorities outlined in the corridor management plan that the respective byway organization has prepared.

Celebrate the Charles Street National Scenic Byway Designation

On October 25, 2010, the City of Baltimore will hold a celebration of the National Scenic Byway Designation of Historic Charles Street. Charles Street is one of the oldest thoroughfares in America, and is the backbone around which Baltimore grew. Charles Street also features the first monument erected in memory of George Washington, completed in 1824.

Maryland's Heritage Areas - Comfortable Driving and Easy Walking

Maryland's Heritage Areas feature prominently in two new national lists, for the 50 Most Comfortable Touring Drives, and Best Walking Cities.

According to a new survey by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and American Byways, 70 percent of Americans are planning to take at least one road trip this fall. American Byways worked with Goodyear to create a list of the 50 Most Comfortable Touring Drives for these fall roadtrippers, and the list includes several Maryland Heritage Areas:

• The Baltimore Heritage Area's Historic Charles Street;
• The Historic National Road, which passes through the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area and Canal Place Heritage Area; and,
• The Journey Through Hallowed Ground, which also passes through the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area.

In addition to its driveablity, the Baltimore Heritage Area also boasts walkability. Baltimore appears in Prevention Magazine's new list of the Best Walking Cities. Listed at number 15, the Baltimore Heritage Area features a three mile Heritage Walk that links 20 historic sites and museums around the city and spans four centuries of American history.