A Survey of Historic Sites in Rural Marion and Washington Counties, Kentucky: A Report on the Findings of the Rural Heritage Development Initiative Survey; A Project Funded by a National Park Service Preserve America Grant

Macintire, William

Introduction: "The Rural Heritage Development Initiative Survey began with the Rural Heritage Development Initiative (RHDI) itself. The RHDI is a three-year pilot project to implement preservation-based economic development strategies in eight Kentucky counties: Boyle, Green, LaRue, Marion, Mercer, Nelson, Taylor, and Washington. This Central Heartland region was one of two areas in the country selected nationwide for this exciting program. The RHDI is sponsored by Preservation Kentucky, the Kentucky Heritage Council (KHC), and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It is funded through a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation with matching funds from private donors and the local counties. To help us better understand, protect, and market the historic resources of this region, we applied in 2006 to the Preserve America Program of the National Park Service for a grant to do rural historic sites survey in two of the counties of the RHDI area, Marion and Washington. These two counties were chosen because they had incomplete or out-of-date survey data. The survey grant was one of three awarded to Kentucky in March, 2006, when the first round of Preserve America grants were announced by honorary chair, First Lady Laura Bush. The valuable data gathered by this survey project will be of great benefit in future historic preservation planning efforts in the RHDI region. In fact, it is already being tapped to support projects in the region by a second, newly awarded Preserve America Grant that funds Survey, National Register and Heritage Tourism projects throughout the eight county RHDI area. It is hoped that the data from this project and report will be a useful reference tool as we move forward with preservation projects both within and outside of Marion and Washington counties." Funding was provided in part by a 2006 Preserve America grant to the Kentucky Heritage Council (grant number 21-06-PA-2013) for the Rural Heritage Development Initiative Survey. The grant was administered by the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Preserve America is a federal initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural and natural heritage. The goals of the program 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

A Survey of Historic Sites in Rural Marion and Washington Counties, Kentucky: A Report on the Findings of the Rural Heritage Development Initiative Survey; A Project Funded by a National Park Service Preserve America Grant

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