Nine New National Heritage Areas Join NPS Family

Nine new National Heritage Areas (NHA) have joined the National Park Service family.

On March 30, President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 into law. This important pieces of legislation added nine new National Heritage Areas to the National Park Service portfolio, including the first NHA in the Alaska Region. There are now 49 National Heritage Areas across 32 states.

The new National Heritage Areas are:

Northeast Region:
Freedoms Way National Heritage Area (MA & NH)
Baltimore National Heritage Area (MD)

Southeast Region:
Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area (MS)
Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area (MS)
Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area (AL)

Midwest Region:
Northern Plains National Heritage Area (ND)

Intermountain Region:
Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area (CO)
South Park National Heritage Area (CO)

Alaska Region:
Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area (AK)

Over the next several years, the local coordinating entities of these National Heritage Areas will work closely with the NPS, other federal agencies, and state and local partners to carry out a grassroots planning process, culminating in a comprehensive management plan.

For more information on national heritage areas and to learn about the other 40 areas, visit www.nps.gov/history/heritageareas