Preserve America is a White House initiative in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; the U.S. Departments of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Education; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities; and the President’s Council on Environmental Quality.

Preserve America Communities and Neighborhoods

Communities may apply for special designation as a Preserve America Community, which recognizes communities that:

• protect and celebrate their heritage;
• use their historic assets for economic development and community revitalization; and
• encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through education and heritage tourism programs.

Benefits of designation include:

• White House recognition;
• a certificate of recognition;
• a Preserve America Community road sign;
• eligibility for Preserve America grants;
• authorization to use the Preserve America logo on signs, flags, banners, and promotional materials;
• listing in a Web-based Preserve America Community directory;
• inclusion in national and regional press releases;
• official notification of designation to State tourism offices and visitor bureaus; and
• enhanced community visibility and pride.

Because larger metropolitan areas tend to have distinct historic neighborhoods that are essentially communities within larger urban areas, the Preserve America Community program was expanded July 26, 2005, to include the Preserve America Community Neighborhood program. In this program, neighborhoods in metropolitan areas with populations greater than 200,000 persons are also eligible for designation. For more information, visit the program website at www.preserveamerica.gov.