Promote a Historic Place or Local Story

There are many ways to promote the historic sites and stories that you care about, and the National Park Service has developed a number of tools and programs that are suited to this purpose. The following tools and programs can also provide a model for you to create your own local lists of important places, travel itineraries, or special initiatives centered around a theme.
A trail through a wooded area with hills rising steeply on both sides of the path.
The Sunken Trace can be found near milepost 41.5 on the Natchez Trace Parkway. The parkway is a trip through fine scenery and 10,000 years of human history.

NPS/ Marc Muench

Places

One of the best tools to begin with is the National Register of Historic Places. This is the official list of the Nation's historic places that are worthy of preservation. A companion program to the National Register is the list of National Historic Landmarks, which are all nationally significant places that possess exceptional value in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States.

The Maritime Heritage Program advances the awareness and understanding of the role of maritime affairs in U.S. history.

Stories

Most of the storytelling we do and encourage is place-based. The Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary Series allows people to explore a city or region or follow a theme that covers sites coast-to-coast. Teaching with Historic Places provides teachers with a variety of products, lesson plans, and activities that help connect history with the places around us.


National Heritage Areas are Congressionally-designated landscapes that tell nationally important stories. They encourage collaboration within and among communities, to help make heritage relevant to local interests and needs.

The National Park Service is committed to Telling All Americans' Stories. Active initiatives include efforts to broaden the understanding of the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, American Latinos, Women, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer individuals to the American story.

3 images, left to right: 1. An old black and white aerial view of a group of long buildings. 2. Historic plaques installed in front of stone ruins. 3. An old black and white image of a group of men in an industrial building focusing on a task.
Minidoka National Historic Site, Idaho. During World War II 10,000 evacuees of Japanese ancestry from Oregon, Washington, and Alaska lived at Minidoka. From left to right: An aerial view of residential barracks, circa 1942; the remains of the Minidoka Relocation Center entrance; and an adult education class in auto mechanics at Minidoka.

Documentary images (left and right) courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration. Center image NPS.

Financial Support to Preserve Places in Your Community

The National Park Service offers several financial assistance programs that award grants for the preservation of historic resources in communities across the United States.

Last updated: November 2, 2021

Tools

  • Site Index