For Immediate Release  
April 10, 2006
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“History Loves Company.”
Congressman Wolf Sponsors Federal Legislation to Establish Region as National Heritage Area. Local and National Support of The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Efforts Grows Exponentially

Loudoun County, VA. Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-10) today announced plans to introduce legislation to create a four-state National Heritage Area, known as The Journey Through Hallowed Ground, that spans the region following US Route 15, starting in Gettysburg, PA, and ending at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, outside Charlottesville, Va.  This national designation functions as a federal “seal of approval” acknowledging the depth of historic assets in the corridor and its importance to American cultural heritage.  The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, if approved, will become the nation’s 28th National Heritage Area and one of the nation’s most historically extensive.

“The Journey Through Hallowed Ground holds more American history than any other region in the country and its recognition as a National Heritage Area will elevate its national prominence, as deserved,” said Congressman Wolf at the press conference held on the rear portico of Oatlands Plantation, a National Trust Historic site located in Loudoun County, VA. “It is the support and partnership between citizens, community leaders, businesses, and educators, that makes this initiative special as an effort to create economic opportunity by celebrating the unique place in American history this region holds.”

The region has: the largest concentration of civil war sites and battlefields in the country; six presidential homes; 13 national park units; 47 historic districts; 13 National Historic Landmarks; Revolutionary War sites; one million acres on the national register; dozens of National Trust “Main Street” communities and historic downtowns; Native American historic sites; African American historic sites; and, two world heritage sites: Monticello and the Rotunda and the University of Virginia.

Support for The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership initiatives has grown exponentially in the first quarter of 2006.  Numerous resolutions of support have been passed by town councils and board of supervisors in the four-state historic region.  Over 100 letters of support from local civic groups, and strategic partnerships with historic sites such as Oatlands Plantation, have been received to further the momentum.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation named “The Journey Through Hallowed Ground” corridor to its 2005 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. 
Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a speaker at today’s press conference, said, “Just 10 short months ago the National Trust identified this region as one of America’s most endangered historic places.  It is rewarding to announce our support of this legislation. It demonstrates what can be accomplished when citizens, businesses, heritage sites, and elected officials work together to find a 21st century balance between growth, economic opportunity, and ensuring our American heritage is available for generations to come. We applaud Congressman Wolf for his leadership.”

Background

The JTHG Partnership is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising national awareness of the heritage and cultural resources along the US Route 15 corridor, often referred to the Old Carolina Road, from Gettysburg, PA, to Monticello, VA.  According to Kat Imhoff, JTHG Partnership board chairman and vice president, Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the land along the 175-mile-long, four-state Journey holds more history than anywhere else in the country and is acknowledged by historians as “Where America Happened.”

The shared vision of the JTHG Partnership is to work with the National Park Service and Congress to become a National Heritage Area, and to have the entire 175-mile Rt. 15/20/231 corridor comprising The Journey designated as a linked National Scenic Byway. State and local partners in the JTHG Partnership from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania will then be eligible for additional federal funding, technical assistance and support. 

Communities along the Journey are experiencing exponential growth, yet value the quality of life and history that makes this area unique. “Our challenge is to find a way to preserve our heritage and our quality of life, all the while planning for growth.  It is our responsibility to our current residents, our future residents, and to future generations,” said Scott York, chairman, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors.

Public and Private Partnership

The Journey Through Hallowed Ground (JTHG) Partnership continues to build a strong network of local, regional and national partners to develop a common vision for the enhancement of the scenic, historic, and recreational characteristics of the region, and to increase economic growth and educational outreach. This public-private sector initiative includes 150 organizations such as grassroots groups, local governments, Main Street programs, and destination marketing organizations rallying to support the JTHG.

Oatlands Plantation, a National Historic Landmark south of Leesburg, is a leader among JTHG heritage site partners.  “Our board has recently voted to become an active partner with The Journey Through Hallowed Ground, specifically in its efforts to obtain National Scenic Byway status for Route 15,” said Oatlands board member David Williams. “We understand that by working collaboratively with the JTHG Partnership we can and do make the case that we will be America’s premier National Heritage Area, the most beautiful National Scenic Byway, and will have a heritage tourism program that will celebrate the unique aspects of every community along the Journey.”

Oatlands is working closely with JTHG both on the National Heritage Area and National Scenic Byway designations and will co-host the JTHG Education Summit scheduled to take place on April 21st.

Local community support is comprehensive. In addition to the Virginia General Assembly, six counties and 11 town councils along the four-state historic corridor have passed resolutions of support in public session  As was stated in the resolution passed by The Prince William County Board of Supervisors, “The Prince William County Board of Supervisors acknowledges the intrinsic importance to Prince William County of the JTHG Partnership, and recognizes this historic corridor as a gateway to some of the most important locations in both American and Virginia History.”

Counties that have passed resolutions: Adams County, PA; Prince William County, Fauquier County, Fluvanna County, Albemarle County and Loudoun County passed the request to include Rte. 15 into the Scenic Byway program. Culpeper County passed on April 4 – Frederick County, MD has already secured national scenic byway status for the JTHG, add three corridor in Maryland.
Towns: City of Charles Town, Harpers Ferry in WVA, Thurmont, MD. In Virginia: Hamilton, Hillsboro, Leesburg, Middleburg, Purcellville, Stanardsville, Warrenton.

JTHG Partnership Initiatives

According to Cate Magennis Wyatt, president of The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, this effort is dedicated to encouraging both Americans and world visitors to appreciate, respect, and experience this cultural landscape that makes it uniquely American. In addition to working closely with local, state and national officials to create a National Scenic Byway and a National Heritage Area, the JTHG Partnership is also:

• Developing an education outreach program to reach every student and teacher within the region as well provide programs nationally. The JTHG Partnership will create and expand educational programs, to bring civic education alive for children and adults to promote the shared appreciation in, and the inspiration from, this incomparable historic resource.    The JTHG Partnership is working with leaders in the public and the private sector who share the vision of celebrating our heritage and educating residents and tourists of all ages.
• Coordinating a Main Street Initiative - the first comprehensive effort to create a tourism alliance bringing together representatives from the historic downtowns and tourism officials from the four-state historic Route 15 corridor. The Initiative links the fifteen Main Street communities, historic small towns and cities along the four-state Journey Through Hallowed Ground route including Gettysburg, Pa., Harpers Ferry, W.Va., Frederick and Brunswick, Md., and Leesburg, Warrenton, Middleburg, Culpepper, and Charlottesville, Va., to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation and to encourage civic tourism in promoting this region.