Status as a National Historic Landmark is the highest, most exclusive, official recognition that the United States government bestows on its historic resources. Such a designation can greatly aid the economic development of an area. The City of DeFuniak Springs and Forward DeFuniak, Inc. are assembling a nomination packet for submission to the National Park Service seeking designation of the Chautauqua Campus/Area as a National Historic Landmark. The following progress has been made in this multi-year process.
1. A Core Working Group of 7 members nominated by the city, Forward Defuniak and the community was formed. The City Manager, the Mayor, and the President of Forward DeFuniak are ex officio members of the group. Two meetings to determine duties and task assignments have been followed by telephone and e-mail contacts to track both accomplishments and needs. An additional group of community volunteers is being identified to assist in the process.
2. The Core group is identifying and collecting published histories of the Chautauqua movement in the US, the town’s founding, and the local Chautauqua movement (1885-1930). With scarce resources found, it is attempting to identify the history of any Chautauqua activities locally from 1930 to the present. A national impact, rather than simply local, regional and/or state level impact, must be documented for success.
3. Xeroxed documents, books, and a four-page list of references to be used in the nomination, stand approximately two feet tall. Since all structures and sites in the defined area must be studied, the nomination document is expected to be several hundred pages long. It will be reviewed by historians across the United States before final review by the Secretary of the Interior.
Watch for follow-up articles on the progress of this important project. Core Group meetings are announced on the city web site and are open to the public. A slide presentation is available to groups or organizations outlining advantages and disadvantages, etc. of seeking this designation. Call 850-830-7663. You can also volunteer!
1. A Core Working Group of 7 members nominated by the city, Forward Defuniak and the community was formed. The City Manager, the Mayor, and the President of Forward DeFuniak are ex officio members of the group. Two meetings to determine duties and task assignments have been followed by telephone and e-mail contacts to track both accomplishments and needs. An additional group of community volunteers is being identified to assist in the process.
2. The Core group is identifying and collecting published histories of the Chautauqua movement in the US, the town’s founding, and the local Chautauqua movement (1885-1930). With scarce resources found, it is attempting to identify the history of any Chautauqua activities locally from 1930 to the present. A national impact, rather than simply local, regional and/or state level impact, must be documented for success.
3. Xeroxed documents, books, and a four-page list of references to be used in the nomination, stand approximately two feet tall. Since all structures and sites in the defined area must be studied, the nomination document is expected to be several hundred pages long. It will be reviewed by historians across the United States before final review by the Secretary of the Interior.
Watch for follow-up articles on the progress of this important project. Core Group meetings are announced on the city web site and are open to the public. A slide presentation is available to groups or organizations outlining advantages and disadvantages, etc. of seeking this designation. Call 850-830-7663. You can also volunteer!