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Past News and Annoucements

See below for Archive of Press Releases.


Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant Recipients: Ten percent of all federal Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) monies that come to the state of Virginia must be distributed to CLGs. DHR does this through a competitive grant process. This year DHR awarded a total of $89,540 to CLGs (the only eligible applicants). Here are the grant recipients for FFY2012-13 and projects: (1) City of Alexandria, for the development of a survey app and the first phase of a historic district re-survey; (2) Arlington County, for the preparation of a Preliminary Information Form (PIF) for an individual property; (3) Town of Culpeper, for a historic district re-survey; (4) Clarke County, for the nomination of one district and the survey of, and PIF for a second; (5) City of Lynchburg, for survey and PIF for a historic district; (6) Prince William County, for archaeological survey; (7) Roanoke, for two district nominations in one project and a boundary expansion survey and nomination in another project; and (8) Town of Stephens City, for distinctive street signs for its historic district.  
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13 New State Historical Markers Dedicated: DHR had a busy spring in 2012 with the dedication of 13 new state historical highway markers since March. The newly installed markers cover topics in the counties of Albemarle, Fairfax, Louisa, and Westmoreland, and the cities of Hampton, Petersburg, and Richmond. The markers touch on African-American history, Jamestown, the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, the USS Iowa, and early research into flight and space travel, among other topics. Read the marker texts and see photos from dedication ceremonies here.

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Gov. McDonnell Announces Public-Private Partnership to Protect Mt. Defiance, Middleburg Civil War Battlefield:  During a ceremony May 9, 2012, at the National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg, Gov. Bob McDonnell announced that the Commonwealth of Virginia will provide a $432,000 Transportation Enhancement grant to assist in the permanent protection of the Mount Defiance property, a five-acre battle site at the heart of the Civil War Middleburg battlefield. See more and photos here (PDF).
 
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DHR's most recent publication: Jordan's Point, Virginia: Archaeology in Perspective, Prehistoric to Modern Times by Martha W. McCartney:  If there is “a world in a grain of sand,” as the poet William Blake writes, then imagine what archaeology can reveal at a richly layered triangle of land known as Jordan’s Point, situated along the James River, just down river from the City of Hopewell. What archaeologists discovered there through careful investigations sponsored by [DHR] ... is a path into the worlds of Virginia prehistory, colonial, and post-colonial history ... Anyone interested in Virginia history will want Martha McCartney’s book in his or her library. — From the Foreword by Kathleen S. Kilpatrick, Director, DHR. Generously illustrated and priced at $14.95, it is now available through local bookstores or the University of Virginia Press.

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DHR architectural historian Michael Pulice has authored a book titled Discovering the True Legacies of the Deyerle Builders: Nineteenth-Century Brick Architecture in the Roanoke Valley and Beyond. The book is available from the History Museum of Western Virginia, which brought it to publication. Read this review. Go here to order the book online.

DHR Official Survey Manual (PDF). The newly revised (October 2011) version of the Survey Manual, officially known as "Guidelines for Conducting Historic Resources Survey in Virginia," is now available. (Chapters 6 and 7 of the manual, which are devoted to archaeological survey, were previously released in 2009.) Thanks to those who submitted comments on a prior draft of the manual earlier this year.  
Biennial Report on the Stewardship of State-Owned Property, May 1 2011 : In 2006, the General Assembly passed legislation that calls for DHR to develop two biennial reports, with the option that they might be combined, on the stewardship of state-owned properties. The 2011 report, which runs to 57-pages in length and includes several appendices, is now available for review. This PDF of the report is 3-plus megabytes.
Updated: Virginia Atlas of Archaeology: We have posted an updated atlas featuring links to destinations in Virginia that are open to the public and feature exhibits or information related to archaeology. Visit the Virginia ArchNet webpage or go directly to the atlas here. 
Now available. A Handbook and Resource Guide for Owners of Virginia's Historic Houses. Authored by Camille Agricola Bowman, an architectural historian and technical easement advisor with DHR, this excellent and attractive publication offers valuable information on the proper stewardship of a historic house as well as plenty of additional places to turn for expert guidance on various restoration repairs. It's an indispensible primer for the owner of a historic property. Loaded with color photographs, the is 64-page book is now available from DHR for $3 (to cover postage). Order form. (Updated Aug. 2012) 
 
Archive of Press Releases:
 

2012:
2011: 2010:

2009



Updated: 1.7.2013