Heritage Areas

Over the past 20 years Congress has established 27 National Heritage Areas (NHAs) to commemorate conserve and promote important areas that include natural scenic historic cultural and recreational resources. NHAs are partnerships between the National Park Service (NPS) states and local communities where the NPS supports state and local conservation through federal recognition seed money and technical assistance. NHAs are not part of the National Park System where lands are federally owned and managed. Rather lands within heritage areas typically remain in state local or private ownership. In addition other heritage areas have been designated by states and local governments and announcements. This issue brief focuses on heritage areas designated by Congress and related issues and legislation.