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May is Historic Preservation Month

May is Historic Preservation Month, a national program to highlight historic places and how important it is to preserve them. For more than three decades, Preservation Month has served as a showcase for local communities to honor their past and help build their future.

Since 2003, the Department of Natural Resources' Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA) has encouraged groups around the state to host different types of events that celebrate Indiana's rich architectural heritage. Indiana's Historic Preservation Month celebrations include a myriad of tours of historic sites, lectures and exhibits, award banquets, and a variety of other preservation related functions and events.

"This Place Matters" is the theme of the month-long celebration, which is sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In Indiana, this year's observance has a new feature, called "INShape in Historic Indiana."

For this new program, the DHPA is partnering with INShape Indiana, Gov. Mitch Daniels' fitness initiative. This series of walking tours will not only teach participants about history and architecture, but also give them the chance to get some exercise.

In addition to helping promote Historic Preservation Month, this program will boost INShape Indiana by getting Hoosiers out and about for Ready, Set, Walk!, the new 12-week walking program running April through June.

Various communities and organizations have created tours of historic buildings and neighborhoods and then registered as official events of "INShape in Historic Indiana."

In addition to the INShape events, there are many lectures, tours and educational programs across the state. Among the activities is the 4th annual Preservation Month photo contest and accompanying exhibit at the Indiana Statehouse from May 5-16, 2008. Stop by to see the winning entry and an exhibit of selected contest photos at the Indianapolis Artsgarden from May 19-30, 2008. A complete list of statewide activities, click here.

There is also a special poster commemorating Preservation Month. To receive a copy of the poster, contact the DHPA at 317/232-1646.

Historic Preservation Month Calendar of Events

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