Preserve America - Explore and Enjoy Our 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.Major components of the initiative include:Preserve America Presidential Awards-Annual awards given to organizations, businesses, government entities, and individuals for: exemplary accomplishments in the sustainable use and preservation of cultural or natural heritage assets, demonstrated commitment to the protection and interpretation of America's cultural or natural heritage assets, and the integration of these assets into contemporary community life, and combination of innovative, creative, and responsible approaches to showcasing historic resources in communities.Preserve America Communities-Recognition and designation of 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.Federal Support-Technical and financial assistance that can be used to bolster local heritage preservation efforts, support better integration of heritage preservation and economic development, and foster and enhance intergovernmental and public-private partnerships to accomplish these goals.Executive Order 13287, "Preserve America," which was signed by President Bush on March 3, 2003, complements the Preserve America initiative. The order establishes federal policy to provide leadership in preserving America's heritage by actively advancing the protection, enhancement and contemporary use of the historic properties owned by the federal government, and by promoting intergovernmental cooperation and partnerships for the preservation and use of historic properties.The Executive Order directs federal agencies to improve their knowledge about, and management of, historic resources in their care. It also encourages agencies to seek partnerships with state, tribal, and local governments and the private sector to make more efficient and informed use of these resources for economic development and other recognized public benefits.The Executive Order shines a spotlight on the value of heritage tourism to the nation through historic preservation, recognition of important natural assets, public education, and economic activity. It directs the Secretary of Commerce, working with other agencies, to use existing authorities and resources to assist in the development of local and regional heritage tourism programs that are a significant feature of many state and local economies.The White House is working with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Commerce to implement Preserve America. For more information, visit