Route 66 in the News
Route 66 Named in New Initiative
2007-11-07 20:13:25
NEW YORK, N.Y. - American Express and the World Monuments Fund today announced a new initiative that rewards and encourages the responsible stewardship of historic sites by supporting projects that address the issue of sustainable tourism. This initiative, which is part of the American Express Partners in Preservation initiative launched in 2006, is focused on sustaining historic sites in the face of increased visitor activities and environmental impacts, and preserving them for future generations to enjoy.
As part of the initiative, $4 million will be granted over four years to support a variety of projects that integrate historic preservation, sustainable tourism management and visitor education. The initial four projects to receive grant funding are Route 66, the historic corridor that runs between Chicago and Los Angeles in the United States; St Paul's Cathedral, London, England; Mexico City Historic Center, Mexico; and Delhi Heritage City, India.
"American Express has been committed to historic preservation for over a decade," said Ed Gilligan, vice chairman, American Express. "The extension of our efforts to focus on the sustainable tourism aspect of historic locations is a logical evolution of the Partners in Preservation program. Tourism is the lifeblood of many iconic sites around the world, so enhancing the visitor experience while finding effective ways to protect and preserve these sites is critical for their survival."
"As members of a global community, we need to understand the impact that our collective footprint has on the wear and tear of heritage sites. Preservation and public education go hand-in-hand," said Bonnie Burnham, president of the World Monuments Fund. "We are delighted to be working with our longtime partner American Express, and helping, through the Partners in Preservation program, not only to preserve these sites but also to educate both tourists and the local communities about the role they can play in conserving their irreplaceable heritage."
"For over 80 years, Route 66, which passes through eight states from Chicago to Los Angeles, has been a route for thousands of travelers from all over the world. Now recognized as an iconic symbol of American heritage, it immortalizes America's fascination with the automobile through diners, motels and gas stations along the predominately two-lane route," said Michael Romero Taylor, Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program Manager, National Park Service. "We are grateful for the opportunity to assist communities in preservation and tourism management initiatives, and look forward to exposing even more people in the future to Route 66 and its unique landscape."
While the four sites selected for grants in 2007 have varied preservation needs, each will receive a significant grant towards sustainable tourism plans designed to stimulate culturally and ecologically sensitive tourism. The sites were chosen because they demonstrated their ability to integrate historic preservation, sustainable tourism management practices and visitor education into their conservation programs. The grant distribution is as follows:
Historic Route 66: cities, towns and villages between Chicago and Los Angeles -- $150,000 for an in-depth economic study of this long-distance historic corridor. The study will provide information for communities that can be used to stimulate heritage tourism at local, state and national levels in the effort to preserve the corridor in its entirety and ensure its long- term sustainability. Funding will also contribute to a comprehensive survey of the many different buildings and attractions that make up this unique landscape and the impact that environmental factors and modern travel have had on them. This effort will include a conservation assessment of the historic Santo Domingo Trading Post site on Route 66 in New Mexico. Once a trading center for Native American arts and crafts and a popular stopping point for travelers, the Trading Post was damaged by fire in the early 2000's and is now left vacant. The project will make recommendations on the building's restoration and future use. Route 66 was placed on World Monuments Fund's Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites in 2008.
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More information about the Partners in Preservation initiative and the four global sites can be found at http://www.americanexpress.com/corp/philanthropy.
~American Express Press Release
See also:
- Earlier article on the World Monuments Fund and Route 66
- Full List of Route 66 In The News Articles
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