Historic Southern Indiana

For the tenth year, Historic Southern Indiana will recognize a southern Indiana community for its outstanding achievements in preservation, enhancement, and promotion of its distinctive heritage. In addition, this award seeks to strengthen the quality of life for residents of and visitors to southern Indiana by paying tribute to excellence in standards of community development. The award will be presented at a time and place determined by the selected community.

These are criteria for selection of the award-winning community. (The community need not have achieved all of these. Judges will determine the award on the overall quality of the application.) The community has:

Initiated or pursued significant preservation efforts within the past five years, either with a site/structure and/or an area within its incorporated boundary.

A program in place to revitalize and restore its downtown, such as Main Street.

Implemented zoning and planning that include billboard and sign ordinances and guidelines to protect and preserve its special character.

A shared vision of itself as a special place. This could be the result of the creation of a community charter regarding the future.

An active historical society, museum, archives, and/or published history or histories.

Hosted heritage-related festivals or other special events relating to its heritage.

There is no limit on the size of the community applying for the Community Legacy Award. Previous Community Legacy Award recipients include: West Baden Springs, Madison, Orleans, Rising sun, Aurora, Jeffersonville, New Albany, and New Harmony.

The Community Legacy Award offers a number of benefits to the award-winning community. The community will

Receive a cash award of $1,000 to support heritage-related projects

Receive an appropriate emblem of achievement for public display

Be recognized in a public ceremony with HSI board members and state and local officials present

Be promoted through HSI’s news services and newsletter

Be able to promote itself as an award-winning community in heritage preservation and tourism

Use the HSI logo in community promotional efforts

Be able to recognize those who persevered in heritage preservation and provide support for future discussions over preservation

The award-winning community will be selected by a panel of judges comprising the following organizations: Historic Southern Indiana; Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana; the Indiana Office of Tourism; and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Completed applications are due March 3, 2009. The award-winner will be notified by April 14. Link to application.

Historic Southern Indiana, a heritage-based regional outreach program of the University of Southern Indiana, supports a coalition of individuals and agencies committed to preservation, development, and promotion of the cultural, historic, and natural resources of southern Indiana. Since 1986 it has offered a variety of programs and projects to improve the quality of life in the twenty-six southernmost counties of the state. In 1990-1993, HSI was a pilot project of the Heritage Tourism Initiative of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

For further information, contact:

Leslie Townsend, Director
Historic Southern Indiana
University of Southern Indiana
8600 University Boulevard
Evansville, IN 47712
(812) 465-7014 FAX (812) 465-7061
ltownsen@usi.edu

8600 University Boulevard - Evansville, IN 47712-3596 - 812/464-8600