Backgrounder/Fact Sheet

One of the primary goals of the JTHG Partnership is to work with the National Park Service and Congress to become the 38th National Heritage Area. On May 8, 2008, President Bush signed the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area (JTHG NHA) into law. The JTHG NHA recognizing the unparalleled cultural, historic and scenic resources within the entire JTHG corridor—the region that generally follows the Old Carolina Road (Rt. 15/231) from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania through Maryland, to Monticello in Albemarle County, VA.

The JTHG NHA is significant for several reasons. First, the honorific designation is bestowed by Congress to recognize the critical contributions made by generations of citizens from this region.  Second, the NHA expands the opportunity to support our communities through heritage tourism and to create educational programs to inform citizens on the natural, cultural, historic and scenic features of the Journey. The NHA will also help to create a larger destination—with a comprehensive visitor experience to increase both tourism and revenue to our communities. This is the next great American destination and the Partnership has created a collaborative structure to support local businesses, educational systems, state and national parks and improve the quality of life for all citizens.

JTHG National Heritage Area Facts:

There are 37 existing National Heritage Areas in the country. The JTHG NHA is the 38th and has more history and heritage than any other National Heritage Areas to date. Among the heritage sites are:

• Nine Presidential homes: Ash Lawn-Highland and Oak Hill (Monroe), Kennedy’s Country Home, Camp Hoover, Eisenhower National Historic Site, Montebello (Taylor), Monticello (Jefferson), Montpelier (Madison), and Pine Knot (Roosevelt) and Camp David
• The largest collection of Civil War sites in the Country: Aldie, Antietam, Appomattox Court House, Ball’s Bluff, Brandy Station, Bristoe Station, Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Harpers Ferry, Kelly’s Ford, Manassas, Middleburg, Monocacy, Rappahannock Station, Spotsylvania Court House, Thoroughfare Gap and Wilderness
• 16 historic Main Street communities, 13 National Park units, 73 National Historic Districts, significant African American and Native American history, sites from the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 and numerous scenic roads, rivers and landscapes

The JTHG NHA has no impact on private property rights and all regulatory authority remains with local and state jurisdictions.

Regional Support:
As a public-private Partnership, there are more than150 actively engaged partnering organizations, including every elected Town Council, County Board of Commissioners and the Governors of all four states, all of which have passed resolutions in support of this National Heritage Area. In addition, the Partnership includes business groups, Main Street communities, historic societies and sites, education professionals from each of the 15 counties, superintendents from each of the 13 National Parks, landowners, farmers and citizens.

JTHG National Heritage Area Funding:

• The JTHG NHA provides a dollar for dollar match (for each local dollar contributed) up to a potential amount of $1 million a year for each of the coming 15 years.

• The money must be matched 100% and the funds will be used to support core operations and promote heritage tourism and educational programs in the JTHG region.
  
  

Congressional Timeline:
Thursday, May 8, 2008: President Bush signs the JTHG NHA into law—creating the 38th National Heritage Area
Tuesday, April 29, 2008: House of Representatives passes JTHG NHA legislation (S. 2739) by a vote of 291 to 117
Thursday, April 10, 2008: U.S. Senate passes JTHG NHA legislation (S. 2739) by a vote of 91 to 4
Wednesday, October 24, 2007: House passes “Celebrating America’s Heritage Act” (H.R. 1483) including JTHG NHA
Friday, January 12, 2007: JTHG NHA legislation (S. 289) introduced in Senate
Friday, January 5, 2007: JTHG NHA legislation (H.R. 319) introduced in House

Senate Sponsors:
Lead sponsor: Senator John Warner (R-VA)
Co-sponsors: Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-PA), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Arlen Specter (R-PA), and Jim Webb (D-VA)

House Sponsors:
Lead sponsor: Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA)
Co-sponsors: Representatives Richard H. Baker (R-LA), Rick Boucher (D-VA), Eric Cantor (R-VA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), the late Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), Tom Davis (R-VA), Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Jim McCrery (R-LA), Jim P. Moran (D-VA), Todd Russell Platts (R-PA), Ted Poe (R-TX), C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), John P. Sarbanes (D-MD), Jim Saxton (R-NJ), Allyson Y. Schwartz (D-PA), Robert C. Scott (D-VA), Mark E. Souder (R-IN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Albert Russell Wynn (D-MD)

Background on National Heritage Areas:

National Heritage Areas are designated and authorized by the U.S. Congress to encourage the interpretation of history in areas of distinctive human impact on the landscape. National Heritage Areas do not preserve or control any land, but seek to promote tourism and to educate citizens on the natural, cultural, historic and scenic features that are a valuable part of the national story.

Since 1916, the National Park Service has been the Federal agency responsible for interpreting nationally significant natural and historic resources for present and future generations. The Heritage Area concept offers an innovative method for citizens, in partnership with local, state, and federal governments, and nonprofit and private sector interests, to shape the long-term future of their communities.

In Heritage Areas, communities and leaders cooperate on efforts to conserve the resources that are important to them. Historic conservation efforts are grounded in a community's pride in its history and traditions, and in residents' interest and involvement in retaining their historic and cultural landscape for future generations. The authority to implement the National Heritage Area management plan is local--it rests in the hands of willing local officials in partnership with the actions of local organizations and individuals.

Obtaining Federal designation is difficult and depends upon whether the region’s resources are nationally important, the degree to which the public is engaged in and supportive of designation and on Congressional support. 

May 2008