Putting Virginia's History to Work: Virginia's Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan, 2001

Executive Summary: "Five years ago the Virginia Department of Historic Resources adopted a plan entitled 'Virginia's Heritage: the Nation's Treasure, the Commonwealth's Trust.' That plan grew out of an extensive public participation campaign and responded to false impressions of historic preservation as a block to economic development. Based on that plan, the department has reinvented itself to maximize the benefits of preservation in both the public and private sectors and to promote the reality that preservation is a powerful tool for economic development, tourism, education, and community vitality. During that time we have also continued to focus on results through partnerships and listening constantly - not just once every five year - to citizens about the issues affecting Virginia's historic resources. Virginians have told us over the years that they value both property rights and responsible stewardship. And that they will willingly put Virginia's history to work provided they they need to do the job. This revised and updated historic preservation follows through with the theme that Virginia's historic resources are building blocks for Virginia's future. It looks again at what Virginians have told us about their visions for how historic places can work for them, at success stories that make the point by example, at the range and nature of the resources themselves, at the tools that citizens and organizations can use as stewards of historic places, and at the growing demands on and opportunities for the Department of Historic Resources to support and lead in the effort to put Virginia's history. In adopting this plan, the department redoubles its commitment to put Virginia's history to work for the benefit of its citizens and communities. Through an ambitious agenda, the department will encourage and support the identification, stewardship, and use of Virginia's significant historic, architectural, archaeological, and cultural resources. The plan supports a statewide vision for a healthy economy and community vitality as the Commonwealth moves towards its 400th anniversary in 2007. Goals: 1) Sustain and support communities, organizations, and agencies at all levels in their efforts to make historic resources a viable part of their environment; 2) Practice good stewardship, including both good care and management and effective use of the information, records, and artifacts that the department holds in trust for the citizens of Commonwealth; and 3) Get the word out about the value of historic resources in Virginia's educational, economic, and civic success and the available tools to put resources to work. In making this commitment the department calls on all Virginians who have a vested interest in sustaining the future of the Commonwealth to join in the effort. We invite the citizens and organizations that recognize the important economic, educational, social, and cultural roles that historic resources play in communities to join in sending that message. We invite elected leaders, businesses, government agencies, educators, property owners, non-profit institutions, and concerned individuals to join together in preserving and using Virginia's historic treasures to educate our children and build vital communities all across the Commonwealth." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans and Grants division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Putting Virginia's History to Work: Virginia's Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan, 2001

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