Arrow Rock Board of Trustees members view the letter from Laura Bush at their April 7 meeting. Board members are, left to right, Larry Blevins, Judy Turley Bagby, Karen Murray, Chairman Ken Blair and Diana Dickey. (Contributed photo) [Click to enlarge]

Arrow Rock was recently honored when First Lady Laura Bush, honorary chair of the Preserve America initiative, designated the village as one of the nation's newest Preserve America Communities, according to a news release posted Friday, April 11, by Friends of Arrow Rock Executive Director Kathy Borgman.

"Preserve America Communities demonstrate that they are committed to preserving America's heritage while ensuring a future filled with opportunities for learning and enjoyment," Bush said. "This community designation program, combined with the Preserve America Grant Program, Preserve America Presidential Awards and other federal support, provides strong incentives for continued preservation of our cultural and natural heritage resources. I commend you for your commitment to preserving an important part of our nation's historic past for visitors, neighbors, and, most importantly, for children."

Ken Blair, chairman of Arrow Rock's Board of Trustees, received a letter dated March 27, 2008, and will receive a certificate of designation signed by Bush announcing Arrow Rock is now a Preserve America Community. Communities designated through the program receive national recognition for their efforts.

Benefits include the right to use the Preserve America logo on signs and promotional materials; eligibility for Preserve America Grants; notification to state tourism offices; and listing in a Web-based directory that showcases Arrow Rock's preservation efforts and heritage tourism destinations.

Preserve America Communities are also featured in National Register Travel Itineraries and in "Teaching With Historic Places" curricular materials, created by the National Park Service.

In 2006, Preserve America Grants totaling nearly $5 million were awarded to 68 projects around the country. In 2007, $4.9 million was awarded to 72 projects. In 2008, $10 million is available.

Grants of $20,000 to $150,000 are awarded on a competitive, matching fund basis to help communities develop sustainable management strategies and sound business practices for the continued preservation and use of their heritage assets. The grants support research, planning, marketing, interpretation and training efforts.

The Preserve America initiative is an administration effort to encourage and support community efforts to preserve and enjoy America's priceless cultural and natural heritage.

The goals of the initiative include a greater shared knowledge about the nation's past; strengthened regional identities and local pride; increased local participation in preserving the country's cultural and natural heritage assets; and support for the economic vitality of our communities.

"Sustainable historic preservation is a wise investment in the future, not a cost for maintaining the past. Communities and the nation receive significant economic, educational, and cultural benefits, including heritage tourism, in return for their preservation efforts," said John L. Nau III, chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, which administers Preserve America programs for the White House in cooperation with the Department of the Interior.

Other communities or neighborhoods recognized recently are Cape Girardeau, Fredericktown, Independence, Jefferson City, Liberty, Saint Charles, Soulard (St. Louis), Ste. Genevieve and Weston.

The entire village of Arrow Rock has been designated a National Historic Landmark recognizing its association with Westward Expansion, the Santa Fe Trial and artist George Caleb Bingham. Arrow Rock is located in central Missouri, 14 miles north of I-70 on Hwy. 41 at Exit 98. In 2006, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Arrow Rock one of its Dozen Distinctive Destinations.

On the Net:

www.preserveamerica.gov

www.friendsar.org

www.arrowrock.org

www.lyceumtheatre.org