About Preservation Virginia
Preservation Virginia: Preserving the Rich History of Virginia
Preservation Virginia is a non-profit organization that has been working tirelessly to preserve the rich history of Virginia since 1889. The organization's mission is to make Virginia's communities and historic places stronger, more vital, and economically sustainable through preservation, education, and advocacy.
The organization has played a significant role in preserving some of the most iconic landmarks in Virginia. From historic homes to battlefields, Preservation Virginia has worked with local communities and government agencies to ensure that these sites are protected for future generations.
One of the primary goals of Preservation Virginia is to educate people about the importance of preserving historic sites. The organization offers a range of educational programs for both adults and children. These programs include lectures, workshops, tours, and hands-on activities that help people understand why it's essential to protect our heritage.
In addition to education, Preservation Virginia also advocates for policies that support preservation efforts across the state. The organization works closely with lawmakers at both the state and federal levels to ensure that laws are in place that protect historic sites from destruction or neglect.
Preservation Virginia also provides technical assistance to property owners who want to preserve their historic buildings or landscapes. This assistance includes advice on restoration techniques as well as financial resources such as grants or tax credits.
One notable project undertaken by Preservation Virginia was the restoration of Bacon's Castle in Surry County. Bacon's Castle is one of America's oldest brick houses dating back over 350 years ago when it was built by Arthur Allen as his plantation home. It was named after Nathaniel Bacon who used it as his headquarters during Bacon’s Rebellion against Governor William Berkeley in 1676-77.
The restoration project took several years but resulted in an award-winning effort recognized by many organizations including National Trust for Historic Preservation which awarded its prestigious Honor Award for Restoration Excellence (HARE) award recognizing outstanding achievement in preservation practice nationwide.
Another significant project undertaken by Preservation Virginia was restoring Jamestown Island where English colonists first settled over four centuries ago making it America’s birthplace site today visited annually by millions from around world interested learning about early American history while enjoying scenic views along James River shoreline dotted with wildlife habitats like bald eagles nesting areas among others species living there year-round thanks conservation efforts made possible through partnerships between public private sectors working together towards common goal protecting natural resources while promoting tourism industry growth benefiting local economies throughout region surrounding Chesapeake Bay watershed area stretching from Maryland southward into North Carolina coastal plain region known worldwide its unique beauty cultural heritage values cherished generations past present alike!
Overall, Preservation Virginia plays an essential role in protecting our state's rich history while promoting economic sustainability through tourism initiatives centered around these historical landmarks. With their continued efforts towards education and advocacy coupled with technical assistance provided property owners seeking preservation solutions - we can be confident knowing our heritage will be preserved for future generations!