Graphic provided through http://www.preserveamerica.gov
Click to go to the Preserve America site
The Preserve America initiative is a new White House program to encourage and support community efforts for the preservation and enjoyment of 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.
First Lady Laura Bush has now honored Ardmore, Durant, Enid, Newkirk, Ponca City, Shawnee, and Tulsa as Preserve America communities. Each city will now benefit from this special White House initiative, and the State Historic Preservation Office extends special congratulations to them.
The Preserve America initiative is a new White House program to encourage and support community efforts for the preservation and enjoyment of 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.
Communities must complete a program application that features a special project related to historic preservation and economic revitalization. A summary of the projects and activities highlighted in Oklahoma's Preserve America communities applications are provided below.
ARDMORE (2005) -- Ardmore’s Preserve America Community application featured the rehabilitation of its 1918 Santa Fe Depot, and the community received its official Preserve America designation in January 2005. The depot project demonstrates the community’s commitment to the preservation of its local landmarks, revitalization of its downtown commercial district, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and promotion of its many assets through heritage tourism. The project was the culmination of years of effort by the Ardmore Main Street Authority (now officed in the depot) and its many public and private partners.
DURANT (2005) -- Durant's application featured its downtown revitalization efforts. Since Durant's selection as an Oklahoma Main Street community, over $5 million in private funds has been invested in the central business district otherwise known as the Durant Main Street District. This does not include public reinvestment of over $750,000. The majority of the public reinvestment stems from Phase I of the Downtown Streetscape that was completed in November 2004. The project was funded with a TEA-21 grant (federal highway funds administered through the Oklahoma Department of Transportation) and supplemented by money and in-kind labor from the City of Durant as well as $50,000 raised from private sources by Durant Main Street. Subsequent phases of the project are now complete. Another project completed in 2004 was significant to their community heritage preservation efforts. The Three Valley Museum opened in June 2004 in Downtown Durant after a three-phased rehabilitation of a building on the verge of collapse. The second and third phases were jointly funded through TEA-21 and matching funds from the community. The total project cost was $880,600.
The same organizations and more were involved in sponsoring the 2002 Statewide Historic Preservation Conference. Durant Main Street worked with the State Historic Preservation Office, Oklahoma Historical Society, to host the event. Additional co-sponsors included the Oklahoma Main Street Center, Oklahoma Department of Commerce; Preservation Oklahoma, Inc.; Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; the City of Durant; Durant Historical Society; and Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
ENID (2008) -- Enid's application featured rehabilitation of its historic Masonic Temple built by the Garfield County Masons in 1924. Today the magnificent building serves as the Enid Symphony Hall. The individual who had owned the building for several years donated it to the symphony. The Enid Symphony, the city of Enid, Enid residents, 40 local volunteers, and more than 50 artists from around the world recently completed a $3.2 million renovation project, adapting the building for a theater and event space. Public contributions, corporate sponsorship, and in-kind donations, particularly from artists, made the exemplary local initiative possible. Now the building boasts a symphony hall decorated with three Swarovski chandeliers and seats salvaged from a 1930’s theater from Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Also renovated was an Egyptian style lobby, and the Eleanor Hoehn Hornbaker Banquet Hall, which are rented for weddings and other events. A virtual tour of the restored rooms can be found on the Enid Symphony’s Web site (http://enidsymphony.uniqhorns.com). The City of Enid participates in the State Historic Preservation Office's Certified Local Governments Program, and, through this program, the downtown commercial district was recently listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Enid Main Street Program provides vital services and guidance for the revitalization efforts in the district. The Enid community supports the Museum of the Cherokee Strip and many other civic, cultural, and recreational activities.
NEWKIRK (2005) -- Newkirk's application featured a special effort on the part of young people to promote community vitality. The Newkirk community is extremely proud of its Junior Main Street Program. The first such program in the nation, it was organized in 1997 by four eighth grade students. Their slogan is “Living in the future to repair the past,” and their mission statement is “To improve and preserve the future of Newkirk’s downtown heritage and keep the pride the town has developed in the last 100 years.” They also created their own logo. Among Junior Main Street’s first efforts to promote Newkirk’s heritage were two publications: a coloring book designed for fourth graders that features drawings of buildings in the Newkirk Central Business District (listed in the National Register of Historic Places and protected under a local ordinance) accompanied by a brief narrative about each property and a pamphlet entitled “Fun & Almost Free Things to Do in Newkirk” that also features the historic downtown district and is popular with visitors and local citizens alike.
In 2002 Newkirk Junior Main Street initiated its most ambitious project, the annual spring community wide clean-up, and it has made a real difference over the past three years. To help emphasize the importance of the project, the students arranged for the Kaw Nation Environmental Specialist to visit the after school program and discuss the importance of keeping the community litter free. The Junior Main Street project has received awards from Keep Oklahoma Beautiful. Thanks to Newkirk Junior Main Street and its many volunteers, the town looks great, and the neat and clean appearance of the Newkirk Central Business District is a real point of pride for the community. It is a place where tourists want to come. One more effort of these outstanding young people is their special project to clean outdoor sculpture in the community in accordance with guidelines from Save Outdoor Sculpture.
PONCA CITY (2007) -- Ponca City's Preserve America Communities application featured its ongoing downtown revitalization program. The effort is led by Ponca City Main Street (PCMS). The City, the Chamber, local businesses and citizens have given new life to the historic district. An increase in tourism and economic development in the heart of the city is a result of their efforts. The PCMS program began in 1987. Since that time the downtown district has benefited from a total of over $22,000,000 in private investment and $15,000,000 in public investment stemming from a sales tax and other city funds. The outcomes have been increased economic vitality, heritage tourism and community pride. The creation of the annual PCMS Birthday Bash and the development of the annual PCMS Iris Festival are just two examples of the program's activities that stimulate the local economy and feature community heritage
SHAWNEE (2005) -- Shawnee, Oklahoma’s first Preserve America Community, received the designation in December 2004. Shawnee’s Preserve America Community application featured the revitalization of its downtown, including rehabilitation work, educational programs, and heritage tourism initiatives, as justification for the designation. The revitalization effort began in 1989 when Shawnee was selected as an Oklahoma Main Street project. Since that time over $10 million of public/private monies have been invested in the revitalization area. A few specific accomplishments of the Shawnee community include completion of its downtown streetscape project, development of a downtown walking tour and stained glass tour, and hosting Windows of Opportunity in Preservation: Oklahoma’s 16th Annual Statewide Preservation Conference in May 2004. Clearly, the strong public/private partnerships formed to revitalize downtown Shawnee are impacting the City’s overall economy while fostering the preservation of its heritage.
TULSA (2007) -- The City of Tulsa and Tulsa County recently collaborated with local property owners to infuse new life into a struggling downtown. The Philtower Building, listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, occupies a pivotal position in Tulsa’s legacy, and the conversion of its upper floors into lofts assures that its place at the cutting edge cannot be consigned to the past. This important revitalization effort is the focus of the City's Preserve America application. The building that has been a Tulsa icon for 80 years continues to adapt to modern needs with assistance from Tulsa taxpayers.
The history of the Philtower mirrors the history of Tulsa itself. In 1927, the Philtower’s iron skeleton rose at Tulsa’s core. From its Oil Boom origins to its contemporary rejuvenation, the Philtower has developed along with the city’s needs. Beauty and functionality coexist in a structure that remains remarkably faithful to the architect’s original concept. While the building’s contributions to commerce are impressive, the Philtower’s architectural significance is equally notable. Its Gothic Revival beauty, embellished with Art Deco details, endures. In 2004, The Philtower, LLC made the landmark decision to convert the upper floors to luxury residences, creating Tulsa’s first mixed-use high-rise. This pioneering project successfully combined Federal and State Rehabilitation Tax Credits, private financial investment, and public dollars funded by Tulsa County and the City of Tulsa’s local revenues. The local government contributed $1 million dollars of the $5 million in total project costs. The Philtower Lofts project makes the public statement that has influenced others to follow suit.
Ardmore, Durant, Enid, Newkirk, Ponca City, Shawnee, Tulsa, and other Preserve America Communities receive national recognition for their efforts. Other benefits include appropriate use of the Preserve America logo on signs and promotional materials; notification to media, state tourism offices, and visitor bureaus; listing in a Web-based directory to showcase preservation efforts and highlight heritage tourism destinations, and eligibility for grant assistance as funding becomes available.
For information about how your community can apply for this special recognition or for assistance with your application, contact Melvena Heisch, Deputy SHPO, at mheisch@okhistory.org. The Preserve America Communities application and other program information is available at http://www.preserveamerica.gov.