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NOAA PRESERVE AMERICA INITIATIVE —
CELEBRATING NEARLY 200 YEARS OF SCIENCE AND SERVICE

NOAA Preserve American Initiative.February 1, 2006 — NOAA has in its care a wealth of heritage resources that recall the government agency's proud history and dedicated service to the nation. Such resources include maps, charts, photographs, books, scientific instruments and other artifacts — some centuries old. NOAA is also a steward of large-scale historic and cultural resources, such as buildings and shipwrecks. Among NOAA's most valuable resources are the men and women who work every day to educate others about the agency's history and legacy of service. All of these resources are of immense value to both NOAA and the American people.

Because of the richness and diversity of its resources, NOAA is participating in Preserve America, a White House initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy the nation's priceless cultural and natural resources. The goals of the initiative include a greater shared knowledge about the nation's past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the country's cultural and natural heritage assets and support for the economic vitality of our communities.

Preserve America: What NOAA is Doing
In communities across America, NOAA is preserving the nation’s heritage by:

  • Treasures of NOAA's Ark will feature historic instruments like this one, which was used to develop the reference system on which global positioning systems rely. Credit: NOAA/Historic C&GS Collection.Promoting the benefits of preservation: Through dynamic education and outreach programs, exhibits, visitor centers and the media, NOAA spreads the message that its heritage resources belong to everyone, and everyone has a role in preserving them for future generations.
  • Fostering the recognition of historic properties: NOAA is proud to occupy and maintain a number of historic buildings and sites. The agency makes these important resources available to the public through open houses, public events, exhibitions and other outreach activities.
  • Encouraging public-private partnerships: Every day, NOAA works with a wide variety of groups to conserve natural resources, protect special places, develop local communities, and reduce the impacts of severe weather. Our partners include aquaria, businesses, community organizations, federal, state and local government agencies and media outlets.
  • Plate 39. The Sea Horse. Hippocampus heptagonus, raf. Credit: Historic NMFS Collection.Improving federal stewardship: NOAA recognizes that the first step in preserving heritage resources is to have a plan. NOAA works with experts in government, the private sector and academia to develop comprehensive conservation plans for resources of historical significance to the nation.
  • Supporting preservation and economic development through heritage tourism: Through museums, Web sites and other venues, NOAA provides opportunities for the public to learn more about the agency’s heritage resource conservation and preservation activities. For example, NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary offers a Web-based "shipwreck trail" that highlights the region’s rich maritime history and encourages the public to visit the Keys and dive the trail’s nine carefully chosen, mapped and interpreted sites.
  • Initiating minigrants within NOAA to develop our heritage assets: For the first time, NOAA employees applied for minigrants to support projects that pursue Preserve America goals and tell the NOAA story. Other agencies and the public are encouraged to participate as partners.

1946 photo of a radio direction finder used to track radiosonde balloons. Credit: Historic NWS Collection.The NOAA Preserve America Web site
The NOAA Preserve America Web site was designed to highlight NOAA's dedication to preserving its heritage resources and making them accessible to the public through innovative programs and partnerships. The Web site highlights various initiatives that NOAA has undertaken to support the Preserve America initiative.

The Web site contains the following:

  • NOAA's Heritage Resources — provides insight into NOAA's rich and diverse history and heritage resources (even contains a gallery of historical films)
  • NOAA's Success Stories — highlights examples of NOAA's successful efforts to preserve the nation's heritage.
  • NOAA's Preserve America Initiative Grant Program — a unique program designed to stimulate efforts within NOAA to preserve, protect and promote the agency's heritage assets.
  • NOAA Heritage Week and the Treasures of NOAA's Ark Exhibit — Each year, NOAA celebrates NOAA Heritage Week through a week long, one-of-a-kind exhibit that allows NOAA employees, local school groups and the general public to learn about NOAA Pioneers, both people and technology, that carved the future for NOAA's success. Participants can view historic NOAA items, enjoy vignettes depicting scenes from NOAA's past and talk with conservators. See box below entitled "NEW NOAA EXHIBIT CELEBRATES NEARLY 200 YEARS OF SCIENCE AND SERVICE" for more information about this year's exhibit on Feb. 6-11, 2006.

Photo from 2005 Treasures of NOAA's Ark Exhibit: Model of American fishing Schooner, “Curt R. Stehling” in honor former NOAA employee and constructed by NOAA employee Thomas Jackson with M.E. Rolle, NOAA/NOS Office of General Counsel looking onImportance of the NOAA Preserve America Web site
The NOAA Preserve America Web site educates both NOAA employees and the general public about NOAA's unique heritage assets. It also serves to inspire other federal agencies to join in the Preserve America initiative.

NOAA Recognized for its Preservation Efforts
In September 2004, NOAA received the first ever Chairman's Award for Federal Achievement in historic preservation from the Advisory Council of Historic Preservation. The chairman's award recognizes federal projects, programs and initiatives that makes significant contributions to historic preservation in the Federal government. NOAA also received a letter of praise from First Lady Laura Bush commending NOAA's response to the Preserve America initiative.


NEW NOAA EXHIBIT CELEBRATES NEARLY 200 YEARS OF SCIENCE AND SERVICE


Photo from 2005 Treasures of NOAA's Ark Exhibit: NOAA Deputy Undersecretary Kelly reading materials representing early history of the National Weather Service, along with Scott C. Rayder, NOAA Chief of Staff and Dan Basta, Director of the NOAA/NOS Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Artifacts representing nearly 200 years of science, service and stewardship by NOAA and its ancestor agencies will be on public display at the agency’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., Feb. 6-11, 2006 during the second annual NOAA Heritage Week.

“The history of NOAA and the nation are intertwined,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “We invite everyone to come with us on a journey back through time to the early days of weather prediction, coastal exploration and oceanic research.”

NOAA Treasuares of NOAA's Ark logo.Treasures of NOAA's Ark — Pioneers: People and Technology
The “Treasures of NOAA’s Ark” exhibit will highlight groundbreaking technologies developed by NOAA and its predecessors that have helped save lives, promote commerce and expand our knowledge of the Earth.

Experts will be on hand to explain the history and uses of the displayed items, including early scientific instruments, maps and charts from the U.S. Weather Bureau (now the NOAA National Weather Service), U.S. Bureau of Fisheries (now the NOAA Fisheries Service), and the nation’s oldest scientific agency, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, founded in 1807 by President Thomas Jefferson. The exhibit will also feature recreations of a marine science lab, weather forecast office and undersea lab.

“Visitors to Treasures of NOAA’s Ark will get a glimpse into the fascinating history of technologies and services we all take for granted today, from GPS to weather satellite imagery,” said NOAA Chief of Staff Scott Rayder. “We are proud to put these artifacts on display for the American public, their true owners.”

But technology will be just one of the many Treasures of NOAA’s Ark. The exhibit will also highlight eight pioneers, past and present, who have made significant contributions to our understanding of land, sea and sky.

Featured pioneers include African-American innovator George Washington Carver, who provided weather data to the U.S. Weather Bureau; Silent Spring author Rachel Carson, who began her career as a writer and scientist with the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries; and NOAA scientist Susan Solomon, the lead scientist in identifying the cause of the Antarctic ozone hole.

“These inspiring pioneers are as diverse as NOAA itself,” said Rayder. “They are role models whose legacy of service to the nation is truly worth celebrating.”

Photo from 2005 Treasures of NOAA's Ark Exhibit: Artifacts representing the early history of the NOAA Corps.NOAA Heritage Week will also feature a series of free lectures:

  • Maritime Heritage in NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuaries
    Tuesday, Feb. 7, 12:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
    David Alberg, Acting Manager, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary
    Hans Van Tilberg, Pacific Islands Region Maritime Heritage Program Coordinator
    Deborah Marx, Maritime Archaeologist, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
  • Bringing NOAA’s History to Life through the Art of the Picture Book
    Wednesday, Feb. 8, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
    Taylor Morrison, Author and Illustrator, “The Coast Mappers”
  • Northern Neck Chanty Singers
    Friday, Feb. 9, 12:00-1:30 p.m.

Conservators from the Washington Conservation Guild will offer visitors tips for preserving their own treasures, from textiles to photographs.

Located in the NOAA Science Center at 1301 East-West Highway in Silver Spring, Treasures of NOAA’s Ark will be open Feb. 6-10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free.

Treasures of NOAA’s Ark and NOAA Heritage Week are part of Preserve America, a White House initiative aimed at preserving, protecting and promoting our nation’s rich heritage.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA

NOAA and the Preserve America Initiative

NOAA History

Media Contact:
Ben Sherman, NOAA National Ocean Service, (301) 713-3066 ext. 178