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The Green River Drift: Transhumance in the America West

Transhumance – the practice of seasonally moving livestock from winter pastures in the lowlands to summer grazing in the mountains – is an ancient intangible and cultural tradition practiced all over the world. The term usually invokes quaint and idyllic images of sheepherders in the European Alps or Pyrenees Mountains and not Wyoming cowboys. Read how the Upper Green River Cattle Association has kept this tradition alive in the United States.

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Perpetual Easements as Historic Events

When does the act of conservation itself become historic? Should the establishment of a permanent easement automatically render farmland as potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places? Read more about how these ideas could affect the the landscape of historic properties within agricultural communities.

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‘Memorial Park’ Carlisle PA

Memorial Park in the peaceful Central Pennsylvania town of Carlisle is just one example of the tragic fate of African American burial grounds. The site of this park was once the Lincoln Cemetery used by the African American community from between 1840 and the early 1900s. While the number of burials is not known, they probably numbered in the hundreds including 35 former United States Colored Troops (USCT) veterans. In the 1970s the site’s use as a burial ground was erased, except for one small plaque, to make a community park. What lessons can we lean from this story?

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The Crying Need to Establish an African American Burial Grounds Network

African American cemeteries are at risk across the country as many have been forgotten or face disuse and abandonment. Working with Congress and the National Park Service, innovative legislation has now been drafted to establish the African American Burial Grounds Network. The bill was introduced by dedicated sponsors Representatives Alma S. Adams (NC-12) and A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) who recognized the strong spiritual and patriotic as well as historic association of these sites for the African American community.

Read More »

The Green River Drift: Transhumance in the America West

Transhumance – the practice of seasonally moving livestock from winter pastures in the lowlands to summer grazing in the mountains – is an ancient intangible and cultural tradition practiced all over the world. The term usually invokes quaint and idyllic images of sheepherders in the European Alps or Pyrenees Mountains and not Wyoming cowboys. Read how the Upper Green River Cattle Association has kept this tradition alive in the United States.

Read More »

Perpetual Easements as Historic Events

When does the act of conservation itself become historic? Should the establishment of a permanent easement automatically render farmland as potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places? Read more about how these ideas could affect the the landscape of historic properties within agricultural communities.

Read More »

‘Memorial Park’ Carlisle PA

Memorial Park in the peaceful Central Pennsylvania town of Carlisle is just one example of the tragic fate of African American burial grounds. The site of this park was once the Lincoln Cemetery used by the African American community from between 1840 and the early 1900s. While the number of burials is not known, they probably numbered in the hundreds including 35 former United States Colored Troops (USCT) veterans. In the 1970s the site’s use as a burial ground was erased, except for one small plaque, to make a community park. What lessons can we lean from this story?

Read More »

The Crying Need to Establish an African American Burial Grounds Network

African American cemeteries are at risk across the country as many have been forgotten or face disuse and abandonment. Working with Congress and the National Park Service, innovative legislation has now been drafted to establish the African American Burial Grounds Network. The bill was introduced by dedicated sponsors Representatives Alma S. Adams (NC-12) and A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) who recognized the strong spiritual and patriotic as well as historic association of these sites for the African American community.

Read More »