journey through hallowed ground national heritage area

MANAGEMENT PLAN

Journey Through Hallowed GroundNational Heritage Area

DRAFTJuly 2013

Journey Through Hallowed Ground Landscape, oil on canvas, by Antonia Walker, 2009 and

noted authority on the Revolutionary War

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA VISION ................................................................................ 7Purpose and Goals of the Plan ................................... 8Why a Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area ................................................ 8JTHG Legislation ...................................................... 10Environmental Compliance ...................................... 17

CHAPTER 2 PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ...................................................................... 19The Process of Involvement ...................................... 20Developing the National Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan ...................................... 20The JTHG Standing Committees ............................. 21Partnering with the National Park Service ............. 23Other Ways of Engaging the Public ......................... 23Tribal Outreach ........................................................... 25Public Input to the Draft Management Plan ........... 25

CHAPTER 3 HISTORY AND INTERPRETIVE THEMES ............................................ 27The Three Themes ...................................................... 28

Land of Conflict, Reunification, and Rebuilding ..........30Land of Leadership ............................................................33Place of National Beauty and Rural Character ...............36

CHAPTER 4 LANDSCAPE OF THE JOURNEY THROUGH HALLOWED GROUND .......................................................................................... 39Evolution of the Cultural Landscape ....................... 40

Natural History ...................................................................40Native Americans ...............................................................41Early Settlement: The Plantation Tradition ....................42Early Settlement: The Independent Farm Tradition ......45Forming the Nation ...........................................................46Wheat, Prosperity, and Conflict .......................................47Civil War .............................................................................48Reconstruction, Reunification, Rebuilding,and Change .........................................................................51Horse Country, Conservation, and theEmerging Suburb ...............................................................52

Historic and Cultural Resources Inventory ............ 53Heritage Sites Related to the Themes ....................... 54

Adams County and Gettysburg, Pennslyvania...............55Frederick County, Maryland ............................................57Carroll County, Maryland .................................................58Washington County, Maryland ........................................59Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, West Virginia.............60Loudoun County, Virginia ................................................61Fauquier County and the Town of Warrenton, Virginia ...........................................................63Culpeper County and the Town of Culpeper, Virginia ..............................................................64Rappahannock County, Virginia .....................................65Madison County, Virginia ................................................66Greene County, Virginia ...................................................67Orange County, the Town of Orange, and the Town of Gordonsville, Virginia ........................................68Spotsylvania County, Virginia ..........................................68Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville, Virginia ................................................................................69

Natural Resources Inventory .................................... 70Natural History and Prominent Landforms ...................70Geological and Ecological-Community Resources .......71Recreational Resources ......................................................73

(Front Cover) Oak Hill, in Loudoun County was built by President James Monroe and has been restored by the DeLashmutt family who continue farming operations on the estate.

Table of Contents

Connecting the Historic, Cultural and Natural Resources: Suggested Itineraries .............................. 83

A Presidential Journey .......................................................83African American Heritage Tour .....................................86Adams County Orchards and Highlands Loop .............88Catoctin Scenic Loop.........................................................89Potomac Legacy Loop .......................................................90South Mountain Circuit ....................................................91Loudoun Scenic Loop ........................................................92Route 231, Blue Ridge Turnpike Loop ............................94

Multimodal Application of Resources Across Communication Mediums ........................................ 95

CHAPTER 5 MANAGEMENT GOALS, STRATEGIES, AND ACTIONS ............................. 97Conservation and Historic Preservation ................. 98

Conservation and Preservation Strategies ......................99Conservation Easements and Programs .......................102Historic Preservation .......................................................105Financing for Conservation and Preservation .............109Partnering with the National Park Service ...................110Conservation and Historic Preservation Plan .............112

Education and Interpretation ................................ 113Educational Program Overview .....................................114The JTHG Partnership Extreme Middle School Summer Camps ...............................................................114Of the Student, By the Student, For the Student® Service Learning Project. ..............................................115Education and Interpretation Plan ................................117

Heritage Tourism ..................................................... 118The DMOC/Destination Marketing Professionals Support ..............................................................................119Market Research and Marketing Initiatives ..................120Professional Development – The Certified Tourism Ambassador Program ......................................................122Publications ......................................................................124International Marketing ..................................................126New Marketing Strategies ...............................................127Heritage Tourism Plan ....................................................130

National Heritage Area ........................................... 132Responsibilities of the Director of National Heritage Area ....................................................132National Heritage Area Plan ...........................................133

National Scenic Byway ............................................. 134Living Legacy Tree Planting Project ..............................134Wayfinding Project ..........................................................136National Scenic Byway Plan ...........................................137

CHAPTER 6 ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE ......................................................................139Administrative Goals and Strategies of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership ............... 141The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership Professional Team .............................. 143The Board of Trustees ............................................. 147National Advisory Council ..................................... 149Business Plan ............................................................. 150

CHAPTER 7 IMPLEMENTATION, EVALUATION, AND FUNDING PLAN 153Conservation and Historic Preservation ............... 154Education and Interpretation ................................. 157Heritage Tourism ...................................................... 160National Heritage Area ............................................ 164National Scenic Byway ............................................. 166Funding Plan ............................................................. 169Summary of Partner Commitments ...................... 173

Table of Contents

FIGURESFigure 1 Current JTHG Partnership Organization Chart ................................................... 144Figure 2 Future JTHG Partnership Organization Charts .................................................. 145Figure 3 2012 Revenue ............................................ 150Figure 4 2012 Expenses ........................................... 150Figure 5 2022 Revenue ............................................ 151Figure 6 2022 Expenses ........................................... 151

President James Madison, who is often referred to as the architect of the U.S. Constitution, rests in front of a copy of the

Constitution at Montpelier, his home in Orange, Virginia.

NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA VISION

Extreme Journey campers “charge” Burnside Bridge at Antietam National Battlefield.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1National Heritage Area Vision

PURPOSE AND GOALS OF THE PLAN

The purpose of this Management Plan is to build on prior plans and initiatives of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership; to lay the groundwork for the heritage area’s initiatives over the next 15 years. The Plan will: reinforce the involvement and consensus that the Partnership has built among community stakeholders and the public; provide continued additional mechanisms for public input; draw new support from interests that have not been previously involved in The JTHG Partnership activities; help prioritize The JTHG Partnership initiatives and activities over the next 15 years; and serve as a baseline for evaluation of the JTHG National Heritage Area (NHA).

The elements in this Plan follow the guidelines published by the National Park Service in the document Components of a Successful National Heritage Area Management Plan (August 2007) and the federal legislation that established the Journey Through Hallowed Ground NHA.

WHY A JOURNEY THROUGH HALLOWED GROUND NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

According to the National Park Service (http://www.nps.gov/history/heritageareas/FAQ/) National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are designated by Congress as places where natural, cultural, and historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape.

NHAs are grassroots, community-driven, public-private entities dedicated to heritage conservation and economic development. Through public-private partnerships, NHA entities support historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism, and educational projects. Leveraging funds and long-term support for projects, NHA partnerships foster pride of place and an enduring stewardship ethic.

The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area possesses an unparalleled concentration of history, heritage and culture that is neither random nor coincidental. Quite the contrary; the history, heritage and culture exist here because of the critical geography of the area at the base of the Appalachian Mountains, where the Piedmont unites the coastal plain and the mountains. Here, Native Americans, early Colonial settlers, Civil War soldiers, runaway slaves, and contemporary travelers traversed through and settled the region.

The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area was designated by legislation passed on April 29, 2008, and signed by President Bush on May 8, 2008. The legislation, S. 2739, passed the House on April 29, 2008, by a vote of 291 to 117 and the Senate on April 10, 2008, by a vote of 91 to 4. The Journey Through Hallowed Ground (JTHG) NHA recognizes the unparalleled cultural, historic and scenic resources within the Heritage Area, encompassing all or part of 15 counties in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia.

CHAPTER 3National Heritage

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The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area Act (Public Law S.2739 401-411) authorized the creation of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area. The legislation specified the following goals:

1) To recognize the national importance of the natural and cultural legacies of the area, as demonstrated in the study entitled ‘‘The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area Feasibility Study’’ dated September 2006;

2) To preserve, support, conserve, and interpret the legacy of the American history created along the National Heritage Area;

3) To promote heritage, cultural and recreational tourism and to develop educational and cultural programs for visitors and the general public;

4)To recognize and interpret important events and geographic locations representing key developments in the creation of America, including Native American, Colonial American, European American, and African American heritage;

5) To recognize and interpret the effect of the Civil War on the civilian population of the National Heritage Area during the war and post-war reconstruction period;

6)To enhance a cooperative management framework to assist the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the State of West Virginia, and their units of local government, the private sector, and citizens residing in the National Heritage Area in conserving, supporting, enhancing, and interpreting �� recreational sites in the National Heritage Area; and

7) To provide appropriate linkages among units of the National Park System within and surrounding the National Heritage Area, to protect, enhance, and interpret resources outside of park boundaries.


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JTHG LEGISLATION SUBTITLE A—JOURNEY THROUGH HALLOWED GROUND NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

SEC. 401. PURPOSES.The purposes of this subtitle include— (1) to recognize the national importance of the natural and cultural legacies of the area, as demonstrated in the study entitled ‘‘The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area Feasibility Study’’ dated September 2006;

(2) to preserve, support, conserve, and interpret the legacy of the American history created along the National Heritage Area;

(3) to promote heritage, cultural and recreational tourism and to develop educational and cultural programs for visitors and the general public;

(4) to recognize and interpret important events and geographic locations representing key developments in the creation of America, including Native American, Colonial American, European American, and African American heritage;

(5) to recognize and interpret the effect of the Civil War on the civilian population of the National Heritage Area during the war and post-war reconstruction period;

(6) to enhance a cooperative management framework to assist the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the State of West Virginia, and their units of local government, the private sector, and citizens residing in the National Heritage Area in conserving, supporting, enhancing, and �� and recreational sites in the National Heritage Area; and

(7) to provide appropriate linkages among units of the National Park System within and

surrounding the National Heritage Area, to protect, enhance, and interpret resources outside of park boundaries.

SEC. 402. DEFINITIONS.In this subtitle—

(1) NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.—The term ‘‘National Heritage Area’’ means the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area established in this subtitle.

(2) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—The term ‘‘local coordinating entity’’ means the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, �� by Congress—

(A) to develop, in partnership with others, the management plan for the National Heritage Area; and

(B) to act as a catalyst for the implementation of projects and programs among diverse partners in the National Heritage Area.

(3) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘management plan’’ means the plan prepared by the local coordinating entity for the �� policies, strategies, performance goals, and recommendations to meet the goals of the National Heritage Area, in accordance with this subtitle.

(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior.

SEC. 403. DESIGNATION OF THE JOURNEY THROUGH HALLOWED GROUND NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area.

(b) BOUNDARIES.— IN GENERAL.—The Heritage Area shall consist of the 175-mile


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region generally following the Route 15 corridor and surrounding areas from Adams County, Pennsylvania, through Frederick County, Maryland, including the Heart of the Civil War Maryland State Heritage Area, looping through Brunswick, Maryland, to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, back through Loudoun County, Virginia, to the Route 15 corridor and surrounding areas encompassing portions of Loudoun and Prince William Counties, Virginia, then Fauquier County, Virginia, portions of Spotsylvania and Madison Counties, Virginia, and Culpepper, Rappahannock, Orange, and Albemarle Counties, Virginia.

(2) MAP.—The boundaries of the National Heritage Area shall include all of those lands and interests as generally depicted on the map titled ‘‘Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area’’, numbered P90/80,000, and dated October 26 2006. The map shall be on �� !�� coordinating entity.

SEC. 404. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

(a) REQUIREMENTS.—The management plan for the National Heritage Area shall—

(1) describe comprehensive policies, goals, strategies, and recommendations for telling the story of the heritage of the area covered by the National Heritage Area and encouraging long-term resource protection, enhancement, interpretation, funding, management, and development of the National Heritage Area;

(2) include a description of actions and commitments that Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, private organizations, and citizens will take to protect, enhance, interpret, fund, manage, and develop the natural, historical, cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the National Heritage Area;

(3) specify existing and potential sources of funding or economic development strategies to

protect, enhance, interpret, fund, manage, and develop the National Heritage Area;

(4) include an inventory of the natural, historical, cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the National Heritage Area related to the national importance and themes of the National Heritage Area that should be protected, enhanced, interpreted, managed, funded, and developed;

(5) recommend policies and strategies for resource management, including the development of intergovernmental and interagency agreements to protect, enhance, interpret, fund, manage, and develop the natural, historical, cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the National Heritage Area;

(6) describe a program for implementation for the management plan, including—

(A) performance goals;

(B) plans for resource protection, enhancement, interpretation, funding, management, and development; and

"#$�� %%��%�� implementation that have been made by the local coordinating entity or any Federal, State, Tribal, or local government agency, organization, business, or individual;

(7) include an analysis of, and recommendations for, means by which Federal, State, Tribal, and local programs may best be coordinated (including the role of the National Park Service and other Federal agencies associated with the National Heritage Area) to further the purposes of this subtitle; and

(8) include a business plan that—

"�$�� and functions of the local coordinating entity and of each of the major activities contained in the management plan; and


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(B) provides adequate assurances that the local coordinating entity has the partnerships �� to implement the management plan for the National Heritage Area.

(b) DEADLINE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years �� %��available to develop the management plan after designation as a National Heritage Area, the local coordinating entityshall submit the management plan to the Secretary for approval.

(2) TERMINATION OF FUNDING.—If the management plan is not submitted to the Secretary in accordance with paragraph (1), the local coordinating entity shall not qualify for �� subtitle until such time as the management plan is submitted to and approved by the Secretary.

(c) APPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT PLAN.—

(1) REVIEW.—Not later than 180 days after receiving the plan, the Secretary shall review and approve or disapprove the management plan for a National Heritage Area on the basis of the criteria established under paragraph (3).

(2) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult with the Governor of each State in which the National Heritage Area is located before approving a management plan for the National Heritage Area.

(3) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—In determining whether to approve a management plan for a National Heritage Area, the Secretary shall consider whether—

(A)the local coordinating entity represents the diverse interests of the National Heritage Area, including Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, natural, and historic resource protection organizations, educational institutions, businesses,

recreational organizations, community residents, and private property owners;

(B) the local coordinating entity—has afforded adequate opportunity for public and Federal, State, Tribal, and local governmental involvement (including through workshops and hearings) in the preparation of the management plan; and provides for at least one semiannual public meetings to ensure adequate implementation of the management plan;

(C) the resource protection, enhancement, interpretation, funding, management, and development strategies described in the management plan, if implemented, would adequately protect, enhance, interpret, fund, manage, and develop the natural, historic, cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the National Heritage Area;

(D) the management plan would not adversely affect any activities authorized on Federal land under public land laws or land use plans;

(E) the local coordinating entity has ��% ��partnership with others, to carry out the plan;

(F) the Secretary has received adequate assurances from the appropriate State, &�� is needed to ensure the effective implementation of the State, Tribal, and local elements of the management plan; and

(G) the management plan demonstrates partnerships among the local coordinating entity, Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, regional planning ��'�� '�� private sector parties for implementation of the management plan.


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(4) DISAPPROVAL.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary disapproves the management plan, the Secretary— shall advise the local coordinating entity in writing of the reasons for the disapproval; and may make recommendations to the local coordinating entity for revisions to the management plan.

(B) DEADLINE.—Not later than 180 days after receiving a revised management plan, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the revised management plan.

(5) AMENDMENTS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—An amendment to the management plan that substantially alters the purposes of the National Heritage Area shall be reviewed by the Secretary and approved or disapproved in the same manner as the original management plan.

(B) IMPLEMENTATION.—The local coordinating entity shall not use Federal funds authorized by this subtitle to implement an amendment to the management plan until the Secretary approves the amendment.

(6) AUTHORITIES.—The Secretary may—

(A) provide technical assistance under the authority of this subtitle for the development and implementation of the management plan; and

(B) enter into cooperative agreements with interested parties to carry out this subtitle.

SEC. 405. EVALUATION; REPORT.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years before the date on which authority for Federal funding terminates for the National Heritage Area under this subtitle, the Secretary shall—

(1) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the National Heritage Area; and

(2) prepare a report in accordance with subsection (c).

(b) EVALUATION.—An evaluation conducted under subsection (a) (1) shall—

(1) assess the progress of the local coordinating entity with respect to—

(A) accomplishing the purposes of the authorizing legislation for the National Heritage Area; and

(B) achieving the goals and objectives of the approved management plan for the National Heritage Area;

(2) analyze the Federal, State, Tribal, local,14 and private investments in the National Heritage Area to determine the impact of the investments; and

(3) review the management structure, partnership relationships, and funding of the National Heritage Area for purposes of identifying the critical components for sustainability of the National Heritage Area.

(c) REPORT.—Based on the evaluation conducted under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Natural Resources of the United States House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate. The report shall include recommendations for the future role of the National Park Service, if any, with respect to the National Heritage Area.

SEC. 406. LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.

(a) DUTIES.—To further the purposes of the National Heritage Area, the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, as the local coordinating entity, shall—


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(1) prepare a management plan for the National Heritage Area, and submit the management plan to the Secretary, in accordance with this subtitle;

(2) submit an annual report to the Secretary for �� entity receives Federal funds under this subtitle, specifying—

"�$�� %�� accomplishments of the local coordinating entity;

(B) the expenses and income of the local coordinating entity;

(C) the amounts and sources of matching funds;

(D) the amounts leveraged with Federal funds and sources of the leveraging; and

(E) grants made to any other entities ��*�%�� local coordinating entity receives Federal funds under this subtitle, all information pertaining to the expenditure of the funds and any matching funds; and encourage economic viability and sustainability that is consistent with the purposes of the National Heritage Area.

(b) AUTHORITIES.—For the purposes of preparing and implementing the approved management plan for the National Heritage Area, the local coordinating entity may us Federal funds made available under this subtitle to—

(1) make grants to political jurisdictions, �� '�� within the National Heritage Area;

(2) enter into cooperative agreements with or provide technical assistance to political +�� '�� <��agencies, and other interested parties;

(3) hire and compensate staff, including individuals with expertise in— (A) natural, historical, cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resource conservation;

(B) economic and community development; and

(C) heritage planning;

(4) obtain funds or services from any source, including other Federal programs;

(5) contract for goods or services; and

(6) support activities of partners and any other activities that further the purposes of the National Heritage Area and are consistent with the approved management plan.

(c) PROHIBITION ON ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY.—The local coordinating entity may not use Federal funds authorized under this subtitle to acquire any interest in real property.

SEC. 407. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this subtitle affects the authority of a Federal agency to �� any other law.

(b) CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION.—The head of any Federal agency planning to conduct activities that may have an impact on a National Heritage Area is encouraged to consult and coordinate the activities with the Secretary and the local coordinating entity to the maximum extent practicable.

(c) OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Nothing in this subtitle—


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"=$�% �� %�� regulation authorizing a Federal agency to manage Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Federal agency;

(2) limits the discretion of a Federal land manager to implement an approved land use plan within the boundaries of a National Heritage Area; or

">$�% �� %��authorized use of Federal land under the jurisdiction of a Federal agency.

SEC. 408. PRIVATE PROPERTY AND REGULATORY PROTECTIONS.Nothing in this subtitle—

(1) abridges the rights of any property owner (whether public or private), including the right to refrain from participating in any plan, project, program, or activity conducted within the National Heritage Area;

(2) requires any property owner to permit public access including access by Federal, State, Tribal, or local agencies) to the property of the property owner, or to modify public access or use of property of the property owner under any other Federal, State, Tribal, or local law;

(3) alters any duly adopted land use regulation, approved land use plan, or other regulatory authority (such as the authority to make safety improvements or increase the capacity of existing roads or to construct new roads) of any Federal, State, Tribal, or local agency, or conveys any land use or other regulatory authority to any local coordinating entity, including but not necessarily limited to development and management of energy or water or water-related infrastructure;

(4) authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation of water or water rights;

(5) diminishes the authority of the State � �%�� National Heritage Area; or

(6) creates any liability, or affects any liability under any other law, of any private property owner with respect to any person injured on the private property.

SEC. 409. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Subject to subsection (b), there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subtitle not more than $1,000,000 for any ��@�<�� %��available until expended.

(b) LIMITATION ON TOTAL AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED.—Not more than $15,000,000 may be appropriated to carry out this subtitle.

(c) COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.—The Federal share of the total cost of any activity under this subtitle shall be not more than 50 percent; the non-Federal contribution may be in the form of in-kind contributions of 14 goods or services fairly valued.

SEC. 410. USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FROM OTHER SOURCES.

Nothing in this subtitle shall preclude the local coordinating entity from using Federal funds available under other laws for the purposes for which those funds were authorized.

SEC. 411. SUNSET FOR GRANTS AND OTHER ASSISTANCE.

The authority of the Secretary to provide ��%��on the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this subtitle.


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The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area is 180 miles long and up to 75 miles wide and stretches from Adams County, Pennsylvania, to Albemarle County, Virginia. (See the map in Appendix 1.) Route 15 is an historic north-south route traversing the Piedmont region roughly midway between the Appalachian escarpment and the Fall Line, an imaginary line that connects the falls of the rivers that run eastward across the Piedmont.

The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area’s boundaries are: Northern: Adams County, Pennsylvania; Western (from north to south): Washington, County, MD, Harpers Ferry in Jefferson County, West Virginia, and the western boundaries of Loudoun, Fauquier, Rappahannock, Madison, Greene, and Albemarle Counties in Virginia. The eastern boundary of the heritage area (from south to north) is the eastern boundaries of Albemarle, Orange, Culpeper, and Fauquier Counties in Virginia; just east of Chancellorsville in Spotsylvania County; Cedar Run and Bull Run in Prince William County, Virginia; generally following the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve north to Goose Creek in Loudoun County, Virginia; the eastern boundary of Frederick County and Carroll County, Maryland; and the eastern boundary of Adams County, Pennsylvania.

The Journey Through Hallowed Ground is anchored in the north by Gettysburg and in the south by Monticello, two critically important historic sites in American history, between which lays arguably one of the most important historic regions in the United States. The Journey Through Hallowed

Tree-lined entrance to Oatlands Historic Home and Garden, just south of Leesburg, Virginia, helped create the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Ground National Heritage Area has been said to contain more history than any other region in the nation and has been trademarked as Where America Happened™. The heritage area includes: K� Nine U.S. Presidential homes, including

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, James Madison’s Montpelier, James Monroe’s Oak Hill and Ash Lawn-Highland, the Eisenhower Farm, Herbert Hoover’s cabin, Theodore Roosevelt’s Pine Knot Cabin;

K� The home of Chief Justice John Marshall, �� %��[�� +��General George C. Marshall, who penned the Marshall Plan from his home in Leesburg, VA

K� Two World Heritage Sites

K� 49 National Historic Districts

K� The largest concentration of Civil War ��%�� Harpers Ferry, Gettysburg, Antietam, Manassas and Appomattox

K� 13 National Park Units

K� The greatest concentration of Rural Historic Districts in America

K� 17 National Historic Landmarks

K� 30 Historic Downtown Communities

(For a complete listing of historic resources listed in the National Register of Historic Places, please see Appendix 2.)


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Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, an American treasure and one of the 9 Presidential

Homes in the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area.

Today the Journey Through Hallowed Ground is characterized by a string of historic communities with commercial downtowns. Much of the countryside is devoted to farming—horse farms, wineries, and specialty crops—and includes the productive fruit belt of Adams County, Pennsylvania, and Frederick County, Maryland. Although portions of the region are experiencing rapid transformation from rural to suburban economies, substantial acreage has been conserved through public ownership, voluntary conservation easements, Agricultural and Forestal districts, and rural historic districts. For this reason, much of the landscape of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground is startlingly beautiful, with rolling hills, rushing streams and rivers, pastureland, framed by the Blue Ridge mountains to the west.

THE HERITAGE AREA VISION

The following statement has been developed to express the vision for the National Heritage Area:

In 2025 the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, encompassing 15 counties from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to Monticello, Virginia, will be an internationally recognized destination for visitors and home to proud residents, offering an unparalleled concentration of historic sites, protected cultural landscapes, and recreational opportunities. The National Heritage Area, managed by the self-sustaining JTHG Partnership, will be a model of community collaboration that fosters heritage education, historic preservation, environmental conservation, economic opportunities and tourism.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

In terms of environmental compliance, the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage ��\��%��]�� #�� Exclusion 3.3 R, and there are no extraordinary ��%��%��environmental effect. Categorical Exclusions under the National environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Park Service Director’s Order 12, Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision Making, apply to listed actions that have no potential for measurable effects to the human environment. As applies to the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area Management Plan, Categorical Exclusion 3.3 R is for the “adoption or approval of surveys, studies, reports, plans and similar documents which will result in recommendations or proposed actions which would cause no or only minimal environmental impacts.” Note that actions categorically excluded under NEPA and Director’s Order 12 must still be reviewed for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The release of this plan initiates that consultation.

Copies of the Categorical Exclusion and Environmental Screening Form are found in Appendix 3 and Appendix 4 respectively.

An audience gathers at Monticello on July Fourth to observe a U.S. citizenship ceremony. Every year, 75

individuals receive their citizenship on that day and take their oaths at Jefferson’s neoclassic masterpiece.

journey through hallowed ground national heritage area

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