The photo below shows a group from the Northeast Region National Heritage Areas outside the dome of the U.S. Capitol, with the Washington Monument in the background.  They are smiling because legislation was introduced this week in the House of Representatives to authorize the National Heritage Areas Program.  H.R. 4099, a bi-partisan bill, was introduced by U.S Reps Charles W. Dent and Paul Tonko, co-chairs of the National Heritage Areas Congressional Caucus. This legislation, the National Heritage Area Act of 2012, was drafted in cooperation with the Alliance of National Heritage Areas with input from the NPS, and was cosponsored by 28 other Congressmen. 

Photo: From left to right: Elissa Garofalo from the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Marilyn Black, Melissa Mann – Oil Region NHA, Allen Sachse - D&L, Mark Platz, Jon Pinkerton – Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area, Augie Carlino – Rivers of Steel NHA.

As quoted from the press release: “This bipartisan legislation takes a new approach to heritage areas by establishing for the first time a standardized set of criteria across the board for the designation of new NHAs and the review of those previously authorized. Having a clearly defined structure to oversee the management of heritage areas will allow these popular public-private-partnerships to better preserve the nation’s heritage and spur economic growth with minimal federal support.”

Similar NHA program legislation has been introduced in past sessions of Congress and never signed.  This bill has a broader range of Congressional sponsors, and support from NPS leadership. Passage of a National Heritage Area Program bill would provide a real boost to the NHA program, and ensure that the NPS relationship with heritage areas will remain in place long into the future.

Each year the D&L staff visit a different part of the Corridor for our holiday lunch.  This year we travelled to Washington Crossing for some tasty vittles and frosty tipples at the historic Washington Crossing Inn, followed by a tour of the state historic park.  If you haven’t visited the park, which commemorates the famous December 25, 1776 crossing of the Delaware River, visit the official park website or the Friends of Washington Crossing Park website, for more information.

D&L staff pose in front of replica Durham boats, which General Washington and his men used to cross the Delaware River in 1776.

A section of the Delaware Canal downstream from the Thompson-Neely House in the northern section of the park. Bowman's Hill Tower, another popular attraction to the area, is just visible through the trees.

Written by Silas Chamberlin

Yesterday I attended the final project presentations for a class of Lehigh University public history graduate students. Professor Kim Carrell-Smith, who is very engaged in preserving and interpreting the history of Bethlehem, asked her students to design interpretive signage to be placed at locations along the newly constructed South Bethlehem Greenway. The students used the D&L’s Visually Speaking guidelines for the basic design of their signs and then inserted quotes, text, photos, and other images that resulted from their research in local archives. The result was a series of well-researched, attractive sign panels on topics related to sites along the greenway, the religious landscape, former public markets, and the local and national significance of Bethlehem Steel.

The students had the difficult task of translating complex historical topics into easily understood narrative for the general public. Recognizing that the greenway will be used by local residents as well as visitors to the Sands Casino and Hotel and Steel Stacks Complex, the panels also had to assume that some readers may be totally unfamiliar with Bethlehem’s industrial or cultural history. How could the panels engage those visitors without boring those of us who live with the legacy of the Steel on a daily basis? All of these issues were raised in class discussions and were well-executed on the signs. The students even had maps to show the proposed location of each sign, which were oriented to the greenway’s various views of South Bethlehem.

As someone who has designed dozens of signs during my time with the D&L, I was extremely impressed with the students’ work. Along with Dana Grubb of the South Bethlehem Historical Society, and Julia Maserjian and John Smith of Lehigh University, I provided critiques of each panel, but most of the suggestions were minor revisions to otherwise impressive work. As I commented to my D&L colleagues when I returned to the office, most of the panels could be produced tomorrow as actual signs.

Currently, we don’t have funding to fabricate or install the signs, but we can use the drafts to approach potential partners. We’ll also work closely with the City of Bethlehem to make sure the signs fit into their overall plans for the greenway. Hopefully, in the next year or so, you will see these panels at various sites throughout South Bethlehem.

The D&L extends a big “THANK YOU” to Professor Carrell-Smith and her students for their excellent work!

Susan Gallagher is Chief Naturalist at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania. She also is one of 525 runners set to participate in the upcoming Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon and Half-Marathon along the D&L Trail on October 23.

Susan has one marathon under her belt and is looking forward to competing in her second long-distance run. She took time from her busy schedule to answer some questions about the upcoming race. You can contact Susan at sugal@voicenet.com.

D&L: What attracted you to the Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon and Half-Marathon?

Susan: I live near the Rockport access to Lehigh Gorge State Park, so I run there a lot and almost feel a sense of ownership on that trail. When I heard there would be a marathon on part of “my” trail system, I had to sign up.

D&L: What is your goal: to finish, improve upon a personal time, have fun?

Susan: Last year I did Steamtown (in Scranton). I followed everyone’s advice for my first marathon and went out without a time goal, just to enjoy the race. Well, that took nearly six hours, so I’d really like to improve on my time. I know I can do better and am looking forward to proving it to myself.

D&L: Have you run on the D&L Trail before?

Susan:  A few times in Lehigh County, but most of the course is new to me. These past few weeks I’ve been doing a lot of training runs out there and it’s just beautiful.

D&L: How are you approaching race training? How often and how many miles a week do you run?

Check out this new video that shows portions of the course for the D&L’s first marathon and half marathon. You’ll even get a glimpse of the epic Heritage Heartbreak Hill.