Page 1 of 1

Path Through History

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 8:42 am
by Matt
I'm a bit late posting this announcement, but it certainly ties in with NYHistoric and will keep the already fruitful content coming.

Governor Cuomo Unveils New York's "Path Through History" to Support Tourism and Economic Development, and Highlight the State's Historic Past
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today unveiled New York's new "Path Through History," a statewide roadmap that ties historically and culturally significant sites, locations and events throughout the Empire State.

This new effort to highlight New York's rich heritage aims to not only showcase New York State's history and cultural significance but also promote tourism and economic development in communities in every region of the state. The Governor formally unveiled the initiative during today's "Path Through History" conference at the Empire State Plaza.

"The Path Through History will highlight the rich history that exists in New York State by showcasing more than two hundred of our most significant sites and historic milestones," said Governor Cuomo. "From Mark Twain writing Huckleberry Finn in Elmira to John Coltrane's one of a kind jazz being played on Long Island, we have done and see it all in New York and now we are putting our state's heritage on display for the world to enjoy. The regional tourism plans highlight the best our state has to offer and will give us a deeper appreciation of our past. I thank the Task Force for their hard work on this initiative and I encourage all New Yorkers and visitors to take advantage of these sites."

At the conference, the Governor announced that the state will allocate $1 million to jumpstart ten regional heritage tourism marketing plans. In addition, Governor Cuomo unveiled proposed new road signs to be installed on major state highways to promote sites from New York's history, and previewed a new website that will have additional information on the sites.

The Path Through History will be marked by brand new signs that will be placed along the New York State Thruway and other major arteries to direct travelers to historic sites in the area.

New York State will give a total of $1 million in order for the regions to implement their heritage tourism plans. In partnership with the ten Regional Economic Development Councils, regional workshops will receive $100,000 grants based on their proposal for marketing, planning and regional promotion activities. These workgroups will coordinate with local tourism entities to promote the state's vast network of museums, historic sites, and other cultural institutions located throughout the entire state. The regional workshop presentations are available at www.governor.ny.gov/pthpresentations.

This initiative is designed to raise the profile of New York State's unparalleled network of museums, historic sites, and other cultural institutions. Heritage tourism has a $5 billion impact on New York's economy per year.

The new system consists of two types of signage. Over 200 new signs will highlight key moments in New York and American History and be placed between exits of major state roads. The Historic highlights were selected with the help of leading historians. These signs are branded with a unique "Path Through History" logo. The full list of the signs by region with the corresponding historic signs is available at http://www.governor.ny.gov/assets/docum ... kfinal.pdf. Each sign is also keyed to a historic theme to allow for customized tours. The initial themes include:

Arts and Culture
Canals and Transportation
Civil Rights
Colonial History
Innovation and Commerce
Native Americans
Natural History
The Revolution
Sports History
U.S. Presidents
War of 1812
Women's Rights

The full list of sights by theme is available at http://www.governor.ny.gov/assets/docum ... efinal.pdf

In addition to these iconic signs, new "Path Through History" attraction signs will be placed at exits to direct motorists to the historic sites that correspond to the iconic signage. The new style of signage is subject to federal highway safety rules and could be adjusted to meet those standards.

In March, the Governor created the Historic Corridor Task Force composed of leading historians to advise the Thruway and the state on the creation of the initiative. The Task Force is co-chaired by Mark Schaming, Director of the State Museum, and award-winning historian and Senior Vice President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Harold Holzer. Additional members of the Task Force include Dr. Robert Harris of Cornell University, Kenneth T. Jackson, Professor in History and the Social Sciences at Columbia University, and Dr. Lisa Keller, Professor of History, Urban and Women Studies at SUNY Purchase. All of the members of the Task Force addressed the conference today and worked closely with the Governor's Office and the Regional members to create the regional heritage tourism plans.

Harold Holzer, Senior Vice President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, said, "The Path Through History initiative is a creative way to attract visitors from across the state and beyond to visit the many historic sites in New York. This will help bolster local economies while providing interesting destinations that played a part in New York's rich history to New Yorkers and out-of-state tourists. I commend the Governor and members of the Task Force for their work."

Mark Schaming, Director of the State Museum, said, "I am pleased to continue to work closely with the Governor to showcase the history of the Empire State. The New York State Board of Regents and the State Education Department are committed to providing all New Yorkers access to the state's historical treasures. Not only will the Path Through History initiative offer unique and educational experiences for New Yorkers looking to travel within our own state, but it will also provide an opportunity to boost local economies across New York."

The Historic New York Initiative follows the recent renovation of the New York State Capitol, which includes hundreds of newly installed displays relating to New York State's social, technological, and political history. The Hall of Governors now includes identifications of each past Chief Executive, together with the dates of their service. A timeline of state history has been etched on the walls of the Second Floor, where the Governor's office is located.

Re: Path Through History

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:28 am
by hobkyl
They should work with you as well as give a portion of the funds to you!

Re: Path Through History

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 4:53 pm
by Matt
yeah.. what the heck? haha