Preserving Our Mountain Heritage: West Virginia Statewide Historic Preservation Plan 2002-2006 (web page)

Lamarre, Lora

From the Introduction: "West Virginia has a wealth of prehistoric and historic properties that embody our state's culture and history and represent our shared heritage. Their value, however, goes beyond this because, if preserved, they can stabilize neighborhoods, stimulate private investment provide affordable housing, revitalize downtown activities, attract tourists, and enhance community pride. Civic pride and citizen involvement will be found in any community that protects and appreciates its historic resources. It is time to rediscover and strengthen the sense of place that make each community unique. The people of West Virginia will benefit immeasurably from a greater awareness of and involvement in the preservation of the cultural environment that connects us to our historic past. Goals for 2002-2006: 1) Educate West Virginians about the wealth and value of our state's heritage, the resources that embody it, and the opportunities that historic preservation offers our communities; 2) Promote historic preservation as an economic development tool, and create economic incentives to further preservation efforts; 3) Encourage and support efforts to identify, evaluate, study, and designate significant structural and archaeological resources; 4) Identify, increase, and provide financial resources to assist preservation efforts; 5) Support and strengthen preservation activities of federal and state agencies, local governments and community organizations, and encourage the inclusion of historic preservation in planning efforts; and 6) Encourage protection through appropriate management and treatment of historic resources. This plan will guide preservation activities in West Virginia for the next five years, from January 2002 through December 2006. It updates and refines the historic preservation plan adopted and approved by the National Park Service in 1996. This plan, which is meant to be responsive to issues raised by the public, outlines long-term goals and objectives, and suggests specific ways to reach those goals. While the goals and objectives emphasize the state's preservation priorities, they also provide a framework for conducting preservation activities over the next five years. SHPO staff encourages preservation groups across the state to use the goals and objectives as guidance in conducting their own preservation activities. Specifically, a preservation group can be any federal, state and local agency, non-profit organization, or Historic Landmark Commission (HLC) and Certified Local Government (CLG), as well as individuals and others who have concerns and responsibilities regarding historic properties. In order for preservation activities to be successful, they should be conducted through cooperative partnerships between various organizations and individuals at state, county, and local levels are necessary to ensure that West Virginia's historic resources will be here for future generations." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office, Department of Arts, Culture, and History, administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans and Grants division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number 54-02-17579, subgrant number WV-02-011).

Preserving Our Mountain Heritage: West Virginia Statewide Historic Preservation Plan 2002-2006 (web page)

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