Public and Municipal Education
There is a strong public benefit to showcasing a community’s historical and cultural resources. Whether done by a heritage commission, historical society, or some other group, there are multiple ways to educate people, raise awareness, and influence future decisions and actions. There are plaques that note important historic events or designated buildings; walking tours showcasing architectural and historic attributes of the community (check out the Troy Heritage Commission Walking Tour for an example); exhibits on local history and distinctive people and places; school projects and presentations; a preservation awards program for exemplary rehabilitation or stewardship of historic buildings and places; an informative website or Facebook page; and publishing a series of newspaper articles on individual buildings (drawn from a historical resource survey if one has been done).
Promoting the public benefit of preserving historical and cultural resources can be done at any time. It is especially valuable when decisions are being made about public policy or there is an urgent issue to be resolved. Keeping the tone positive and unbiased is important, as is making an effort to reach a broad audience and being as inclusive as possible.
A heritage commission or historic district may make this a priority, but other groups can take the lead and participate as well. There are multiple ways to raise awareness including lectures, walking tours, plaques or signage, exhibits on local history and distinctive citizens, school presentations, preservation awards programs, websites, and newsletter or newspaper articles.
Become an Advocate
Whether you're concerned about a particular building's long-term future, or if there's an immediate crisis at hand, citizen action can be a powerful tool. Check out, Advocacy Tools and Strategies from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for tips.
Financial, Communication and Training Resources for Community Landmarks
Here are some ideas for sources to get started or improve your fundraising and communications activities and impact:
NH Center for Non-Profits (training, governance, array of 501c3 sources, including $)
Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications - classes and seminars: journalism, photography, etc.
NH Municipal Association/Local Government Center -- webinars, other training
Quick Links to Pages in the Landmark Resources Section
Financial Resources Planning & Preservation Education & Advocacy