National Heritage Area

Delmarva Heritage Area

Map of the peninsula between Delaware & Chesopeak bays, 1778, John Churchman

The Beach to Bay Heritage Area is partnering with our friends in Delaware to work towards a National Heritage Area (NHA) designation within the Delmarva region. The public is encouraged to take part in this exciting new initiative!

So far, we have held three community conversations and met with town representatives to delve into what National Heritage Areas are, the potential benefits they bring to a region, and dispel any misinformation about National Heritage Areas. These three conversations, held in Crisfield, Berlin, and Salisbury, were well received by the community who were eager to ask questions and learn what the next steps are.

If you missed these community conversations, don't worry! There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved over the course of the process. Future meetings and surveys will allow community members and stakeholders to make their voice heard in this grassroots project! Keep an eye on this page for updates, reports, and other documentation.

What Are National Heritage Areas?

National Heritage Areas are nationally significant regions where culture, nature, and history create a unified landscape. They not only elevate a region's heritage to the national stage, but also enhance a region's ability to steward the area's historical, cultural, and natural assets. While the National Park Service (NPS) provides technical assistance and funding, a local coordinating entity is appointed to ensure that the needs and wishes of the community are met. This makes National Heritage Areas a community driven partnership that has great potential to not only preserve historical and cultural resources, but develop local communities as well.

It is important to note that while National Heritage Areas collaborate with the National Park Service, they are not considered units of the National Park System and designation does not affect private property rights, water rights, or hunting and fishing rights.

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Benefits of National Heritage Areas

National Heritage Areas offer several benefits to the communities they encompass. From providing funding for community projects to preserving the cultural assets that define our identity, National Heritage Area designation has the potential to make the Delmarva region shine brighter.

Benefits Include:

Preservation & promotion of the cultural, historic, & natural assets that help define our cultural identity and stories.
Fostering pride in place and in the communities we call home.
Grant funding opportunities that support community projects such as historic preservation, programming, or community development.
Tourism development that will bring greater attention to the region, increasing both visitation and spending at local businesses.
Economic & community development through the enhancement of public spaces and infrastructure, support of local arts, and projects that address community needs.
Economic Growth with an average return of $5.50 for every dollar invested by the federal government.
Educational experiences, both formal and informal, that connect residents and visitors alike with the region's heritage.
Enhanced quality of life through the introduction of amenities and improved public spaces.

How Do We Become a National Heritage Area?

National Heritage Area (NHA) designation requires an act of congress and is a legislative process that starts with a feasibility study and that leads up to the passage of a bill in Congress to establish a new NHA. Potential National Heritage Areas are evaluated on various criteria that examine factors such as: