The Heritage Fund, a cooperative effort of Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust, provides direct assistance for the protection of historical and cultural resources and promotes innovative demonstration projects that can be successfully replicated to meet Maryland’s historic preservation needs.
The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and the Maryland Historical Trust, with the help of several partner organizations, including Preservation Maryland and descendant communities, have recently released a draft study report on Maryland’s Historic African American Cemeteries. The public is being asked to comment on the draft which will inform the final report submitted to the Maryland General Assembly later this summer.
When most people think of preservation, the tangible comes to mind: saving a storied 19th-century structure or a physical space that radiates historic charm. Here at Preservation Maryland our work is as much about the intangible as we work to protect all of Maryland’s rich heritage – meaning physical pieces of our history, like buildings, as well as those parts of history you can’t touch, like historical knowledge or personal experiences. Preservation is a tool for a more equitable future and, although not overt, preserving the intangible aspects of communities is dependent on updating infrastructure that allows those spaces to remain vibrant and livable.
In the face of the ongoing pandemic, Preservation Maryland convened a task force of history, preservation, economic development, design, and tourism organizations to focus on identifying and advocating for public policy necessary to support the recovery of Maryland’s historical and cultural resources and the communities they support.
Maryland’s unique cultural attractions draw visitors from around the world and support countless local businesses while providing nearly $320 million in local and state tax revenue and generating $1.3 billion in economic activity annually. Unfortunately, these venues and the main street communities in which they reside have been hit hard by the economic fallout of the pandemic and will require targeted support as the state and nation move from sheltering to recovery.
The Maryland Heritage Recovery Task Force is comprised of public and private organizations that characterize all aspects of the broad and diverse historic preservation community – from Main Street organizations to history museums, architectural firms, and preservation rehabilitation developers.
Organizations, agencies, or companies wishing to add their support to the Recovery Task Force are encouraged to do so. Fill out the form below and someone from the Task Force will be in touch about next steps. Individuals looking to stay informed or get involved, please sign up for our email alerts.
The Task Force will work together to help identify what local, state, and federal policy actions could be implemented to help with recovery of this critical sector of Maryland’s economy from the impacts of Covid-19.
“The situation for the heritage tourism and preservation industries in Maryland is becoming desperate,” explained Nicholas Redding, Executive Director of Preservation Maryland. “This new task force is an outgrowth of a real grassroots desire to help preservation and heritage organizations recover after the disastrous blow that has been dealt by the response to Covid-19. Community leaders and business owners are coming to recognize that the economic value of this work is immense. We are stronger when we stand together, and we believe that by combining our efforts we can turn retreat into advance.”
Learn more about our Recovery ResourcES
Download the press release (PDF)
