Here’s a sample Preservation Month proclamation shown on the web site for the National Trust of Historic Preservation. The hope is that cities, counties and states will sign this proclamation and use it as a basis for publicity based on the 2009 theme: THIS PLACE MATTERS.

Preservation Month Proclamation

Use the following proclamation template to announce National Preservation Month in your community.

WHEREAS, historic preservation is an effective tool for managing growth, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride and maintaining community character while enhancing livability; and

WHEREAS, historic preservation is relevant for communities across the nation, both urban and rural, and for Americans of all ages, all walks of life and all ethnic backgrounds; and

WHEREAS, it is important to celebrate the role of history in our lives and the contributions made by dedicated individuals in helping to preserve the tangible aspects of the heritage that has shaped us as a people; and

WHEREAS, “This Place Matters” is the theme for National Preservation Month 2009, cosponsored by [name of organization in your state or city] and the National Trust for Historic Preservation

NOW, THEREFORE, I, [governor of your state, mayor of your city], do proclaim May 2009 as National Preservation Month, and call upon the people of [your state or city] to join their fellow citizens across the United States in recognizing and participating in this special observance.

Check here sample programs and ideas for
celebrating the month in your city.

One popular idea is downloading a THIS PLACE MATTERS sign, taking a picture of yourself or your friends in front of a historic structure or area, and then e-mailing the photo to the National Trust. Photographs will be displayed and sites will be posted on a Google map.

Other ideas include tours of historic areas, historic area cleanup, galvanizing the community to save a threatened structure, holding preservation seminars with repair and maintenance ideas for the owners of old homes and businesses, conducting scavenger hunts of various kinds.

In my city last year, we took photographs of small sections of prominent architectural features on historic buildings and put these in a brochure. The object was to identify as many of the buildings as possible based on the snippets in the brochure. Those with the most answers right were eligible for a drawing, the winner to receive a free dinner. Projects like this help draw attention to a town’s older buildings and emphasize that saving is better than tearing town and building new.

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