UPDATING OKLAHOMA'S STATEWIDE PRESERVATION PLAN
The State Historic Preservation Office, Oklahoma Historical Society (SHPO), is updating the statewide preservation plan, and your input is vital to our understanding of historic preservation issues across Oklahoma. By working together, citizens; federal, tribal, state, and local governments; preservation professionals; nonprofit organizations; and the business and development community can set attainable goals to preserve Oklahoma's important historic properties and the unique character of each community while enhancing their economic vitality and quality of life. The updated plan will be in effect from January 2015 through December 2019.
We invite you to join the effort and to begin by reviewing the current plan here. Then, we encourage you to share your ideas and concerns throughout the process over the next eighteen months.
First, you can complete Survey for Updating Tomorrow's Legacy: Oklahoma's Statewide Preservation Plan. You may complete it online here, or, obtain the survey form at this site and return it by regular mail to the State Historic Preservation Office, Oklahoma Historical Society, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73105 or by e-mail to mheisch@okhistory.org. All responses received by August 15, 2013, will be considered.
Second, you can attend the SHPO's public discussion about the State Plan and its update at 1:30pm on Thursday, September 12, 2013, in the Oklahoma History Center Classroom, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City (immediately northeast of the Oklahoma State Capitol). The SHPO staff will discuss how the State Plan is developed, how it is used in the SHPO's programs, and how others participate in its implementation. The public is invited to attend and share their views about the historic preservation issues that should be addressed in the 2015 edition of the plan.
Finally, your comments on the draft new plan will be extremely valuable. Two drafts will be made available on the SHPO's website and in hard copy upon request. The preliminary draft will be available in January 2014 with comments due in April 2014, and the second draft will be available in May 2014 with comments due in August 2014.
Thank you in advance for your input which will help the SHPO ensure that the new plan identifies and addresses the issues raised by Oklahomans from across the state. If you may have any questions, contact Melvena Heisch, Deputy SHPO at 405/522-4484 or mheisch@okhistory.org.
OKLAHOMA'S HISTORIC ROUTE 66 MOBILE TOUR
The Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is pleased to announce the availability of Oklahoma's Historic Route 66 Mobile Tour. It is part of our ongoing effort to share information about the state's heritage and its preservation through current technology.
Designated in 1926, the 2,400 miles of Route 66 linked rural communities to urban ones, permitting an unprecedented flow of ideas and economic growth across the country. It saw the migration of Dust Bowl refugees; World War II troop movement; the advent of car culture and automobile tourism; and it facilitated large-scale settlement of the west. The highway has come to symbolize the spirit and freedom of America, and the pursuit of the American Dream. The "Mother Road" gained legendary status through song, film, television, books, and personal experiences, and represents an important chapter in American history.
In 1985, Route 66 was decommissioned as a federal highway, but Oklahomans continue to celebrate the road and its landmarks. Through the SHPO's programs, dozens of Route 66 roadbed segments, bridges, service stations, motels, cafes, and related landmarks are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Many of them continue to serve travelers, while others are vacant for now, rapidly deteriorating, or already lost to us. There are many ongoing efforts to protect our state's Route 66 legacy and share it with visitors from around the world. Our mobile tour is designed to enhance these efforts by explaining the significance of each of these places. Museums that tell the Route 66 story are also featured in the tour.
To access the tour as you drive the historic highway or as you relax at home, just call 405/415-0626, listen to the brief introduction and instructions, and enter the stop numbers (1-72) using your telephone keypad. You then hear or read the text captioned name, location, and brief narrative for each stop. To move to another stop, enter the number when prompted at the end of a stop narrative. The list of stops is provided in a brochure available at museums and other locations along the tour route or from the SHPO. Also, the list and map of the stops are found at www.okhistory.org/route66mobiletour. If you are using a smart phone, you can link to more about each stop in particular and about Historic Route 66 in general. The tour is made available through the services of OnCell Systems, Inc.
