Preservation Maryland; 24 West Saratoga Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, Phone: 410-685-2886, Fax: 410-539-2182
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Statewide Partner - National Trust for Historic Preservation

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Heritage Fund Divider line Tobacco Barns Preservation Initiative Divider line Contact Us

PRESERVATION MARYLAND HERITAGE FUND

The Preservation Maryland Heritage Fund provides direct assistance for the
protection of endangered cultural resources and promotes innovative demonstration
projects that can be successfully replicated to meet Maryland's historic preservation
needs.

The Fund is intended to serve the needs of tangible cultural resources in Maryland
that are not likely to be met through existing Preservation Maryland and Maryland
Historical Trust programs. Along with historic sites, buildings, districts, and objects,
projects benefiting archaeological resources are eligible for funding. Each year one
or more special needs will be identified as additional priority funding areas.

PROJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING:

. Stabilization or acquisition of endangered historic properties
. Feasibility studies, architectural plans, structural assessments and historic structure reports
. Projects benefiting archaeological resources including curatorial services
. "Bricks and mortar" repairs and restoration
. Educational, research, and planning efforts related to resource preservation

FUNDING PRIORITIES THROUGH 2009:

. Organizational development for local preservation organizations - including but not limited to board and volunteer development, establishing strategic planning goals, membership development, marketing plans, fundraising activities and media relations. Collaborative projects are encouraged.
. Legal services engaged to protect endangered historic resources - including structures, sites, archaeological resources, or the creation or strengthening of a local preservation ordinance.

2009 Heritage Fund Guidelines

2009 Heritage Fund Application

2008 Heritage Grant Awards

 

All Funding from the Tobacco Barn Restoration Initiative has been awarded.

THE BARNS
For centuries, wood-frame tobacco barns have dotted the rolling fields of Southern Maryland.  Their shapes define the character of the landscape in Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's Counties.  Once essential to the process of air-curing tobacco, a mainstay crop of Maryland's agriculture since the 17th century, tobacco barns are a lasting symbol of the rural heritage of Southern Maryland.

THE THREAT
Today, historic tobacco barns are being lost at an alarming rate as Southern Maryland's agricultural land is consumed by the rapidly growing Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.  Adding to the development pressure from residential sprawl has been an unintended consequence of Maryland's 2001 "tobacco buyout" state policy, which encourages farmers to stop cultivating tobacco.  Thousands of acres of agricultural land and scores of tobacco barns have lost their economic usefulness and stand unused and deteriorating.  To learn more about tobacco barns and the threats that they face, please read the "State of the Southern Maryland Tobacco Barns Report". (TB report PDF)

THE PLAN
The Southern Maryland Tobacco Barns Preservation Initiative is a collaboration of Preservation Maryland, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Maryland Historical Trust, County governments, heritage tourism organizations, and farm organizations to preserve tobacco barns across the five county region.  The initiative, which will be administered by Preservation Maryland, attempts to comprehensively address the threats facing tobacco barns through funding, public policy, outreach and education, survey, and information sharing.  To view the plan in detail, please click here. (TB Plan PDF)

NEWS
July 28, 2005 - Representative Steny Hoyer recently announced a $200,000 Save America's Treasures grant for the preservation of Southern Maryland's Tobacco Barns.  Read the full text of the press release here. (Hoyer Press Release link)

January 2008 - In 2006, Preservation Maryland developed the Tobacco Barn Restoration Fund in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Maryland Historical Trust, the Southern Maryland Heritage Area, and the governments of Anne Arundel, Prince George, Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's Counties.  This effort has been supported by grants from the Maryland Historical Trust and from the Save America's Treasures program, secured by Rep. Steny Hoyer.  Thus far we've saved more than a dozen tobacco barns across the region. 

 

Important Contacts

Preservation Maryland
24 West Saratoga Street
Baltimore, MD  21201
(410)685-2886
PM@preservationmaryland.org

National Trust for Historic Preservation
1785 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC  20036-2117
(202)588-6000

Maryland Historical Trust
100 Community Place
Crownsville, MD  21032
(410)514-7600

Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium
P.O. Box 745
Hughesville, MD  20637
(301)274-4083

Anne Arundel County Office of Environmental and Cultural Resources
2664 Riva Road
Heritage Office Complex
Annapolis, MD  21404
(410)222-7441

Calvert County Planning and Zoning
County Services Plaza
150 Main Street
Prince Frederick, MD  20678
(410)535-1600

Charles County Department of Planning and Growth Management
P. O. Box 2150
La Plata, MD  20646
(301)645-0540

Prince George's County Planning Department
14741 Governor Bowie Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD  20772
(301)952-3520

St. Mary's County Department of Planning and Zoning
23115 Leonard Hall Drive
Leonardtown, MD  20650
(301)475-4200

Four Rivers: The Heritage Area of Annapolis, London Town & South County
The Arundel Center, MS1106
44 Calvert Street, PO Box 2700
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410)222-1805

For a list of contractors who may be interested in working on Tobacco Barns, please click here: Tobacco Barn Contractor List
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