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Why preserve history? What can a bunch of old buildings do for us in this digital age, where business and education are ruled by the computer screen? History and progress need not be mutually exclusive. In communities where the two coexist, residents reap the benefits of both the old and the new. Coexistence is the key to historic preservation today. Preserving history makes good economic sense, improves the quality of life by fostering a sense of community identity and pride, and offers unparalleled educational opportunities. Restoring historic buildings recycles a valuable resource, preserving well-built structures that have withstood the test of time. Rehabilitating historic structures makes use of existing resources, saving materials that would otherwise be used to construct new buildings. New products are continually introduced that can make historic buildings more energy efficient, accessible and convenient. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) is the state government entity that encourages historic preservation through technical assistance, special programs and incentives, all aimed at preserving our dwindling historic resources while adapting them for 21st century uses. The IHPA advises property owners on the best ways to restore and rehabilitate their historic structures. Although many property owners preserve buildings for personal satisfaction, grants and tax breaks encourage homeowners, not-for-profit groups, and developers to invest in historic preservation projects. Financial assistance is available through agency-administered grants, property-tax freeze and tax incentive programs. The National Register of Historic Places program, coordinated in Illinois by IHPA, provides recognition for places of special significance. A community's heritage is embodied in its historic places, giving us a sense of where we have been and where we are going. When properly marketed, history and heritage can be an important economic development tool, generating revenue in communities through heritage tourism, one of the state's biggest industries (along with agriculture). The IHPA, through our involvement with the Illinois Main Street program, offers communities valuable advice on how to best preserve and market their heritage. We assist several regional heritage tourism programs as they strive to link communities with similar stories to tell. The IHPA also administers 60 state-operated historic sites and memorials throughout Illinois that draw nearly three million visitors annually, visitors that buy gasoline, spend the night, eat and shop in local communities. Historic places operated by IHPA and other organizations put us in touch with our common American heritage, inviting us to examine the lives and times of those who came before us and maybe learn something about ourselves in the process. Of course, history can also be saved on a more personal level, through the preservation of documents and artifacts. The Illinois State Historical Library, also administered by the IHPA, is the state's chief historical and genealogical research facility, and its 12 million items contain everything from Civil War diaries to 100-year-old photographs to early Illinois newspapers. The State Historical Library is a treasure trove of Illinois history, and its brand new home in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library provides state-of-the-art protection for the state's most precious items. I hope you will join the IHPA as we strive to preserve our heritage, while bettering our economic climate and educating our children. Few things in life provide such a large return on an investment.
4 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING www.aiec.coop |
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