A Huge Milestone for the Coalition!
The Willamette Falls & Landings Heritage Area Coalition is excited to announce the official rollout of legislation aimed at designating a 56 river-mile portion of the Willamette River as a National Heritage Area. This proposed bill will be presented to selected federal representatives in the coming weeks for consideration in the next Congressional session.
A National Heritage Area designation would recognize the historical, cultural, and natural significance of the Willamette Falls and landings region, encompassing areas rich in Native American history, industrial heritage, and environmental diversity. The Coalition’s efforts seek to enhance, assist, and promote the region for current and future generations. The proposed legislation highlights the desire of local stakeholders, community organizations, and governmental entities to advocate for the preservation and promotion of the Willamette Falls and River region’s historical and cultural resources.
Nearly two decades of work has culminated in a new draft Bill that we believe honors this deep heritage by establishing Oregon’s first National Heritage Area. Our goal is to see this Bill introduced to Congress in 2025.
The Coalition is continually working to expand our knowledge of and public access to the region’s natural resources and diverse culture and heritage. Our Feasibility Study, which was approved by the National Parks Service in 2018, outlines much of the region’s history and documents why it deserves to be a recognized National Heritage Area. However, we know it does not tell the whole story of the region. We are constantly seeking to expand this body of knowledge, and the NHA designation will provide resources and opportunities to deepen our understanding of the region’s cultural diversity and make it available to a broader audience.
This effort will put the Willamette River Valley on the national map, expand our cultural awareness, and provide a foundation of stewardship to strengthen our region’s economy. We hope that you value and support these goals as much as we do and partner with us to support all Oregonians by establishing this NHA.
We look forward to keeping you up to date with this initiative and are happy to answer
any questions. We encourage you to learn more about the National Heritage Area
program by visiting their website and directing your questions to our Executive Director, Britta Mansfield at info@wfheritage.org or 503-419-6340.
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