View the Friday Facts Online

1. Summer Vacation Great Time to Visit National Parks

2. Share the Benefits of Physical Fitness this May

3. Help Recognize Asian/Pacific American History this Month

4. National Foster Care Month Aims to Build Stronger Families

DNR Seeks Public Input for State Preservation Plan

The DNR Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (Indiana’s State Historic Preservation Office) is seeking public input for revision of its 2005-2011 Cultural Resources Management Plan, commonly called “The State Preservation Plan.”  This document is used to guide decisions about programs and funding for historic preservation and archaeology.

Indiana’s cultural resources range from archaeological sites dating back more than 12,000 years to masterpieces of modern architecture, from majestic county courthouses to neighborhoods of modest workers’ cottages, from ceremonial mounds built hundreds of years ago by Native Americans to historic downtowns and main streets.  These resources help tell the story of Indiana and who we are as Hoosiers.

Your responses on this survey will help build a plan for preserving Indiana’s cultural resources for the next seven years.  The online survey will be open from May (Historic Preservation Month) through the end of September (Indiana Archaeology Month).

Please take a few moments to share what about Indiana’s heritage is important to you by completing this survey.  We strongly encourage you to forward this survey announcement to members of your organization, friends, neighbors, local civic leaders, and anyone who may have an interest in our state’s heritage.

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Friday Facts Editorial Team:

Katharine Springer
State Data Center Coordinator

Elisabeth O’Donnell
Federal Documents Librarian
&
Kim Brown-Harden
State Documents Coordinator

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Summer Vacation Great Time to Visit National Parks

School is almost over and it’s time to start thinking about where to go for vacation. Why not visit a national park? There are 393 national parks and 40 national heritage areas around the country. This doesn’t even include the 2,461 national historic landmarks and 27,000 historic structures! Whether your interests are in the historic or natural, there’s bound to be something the whole family can enjoy. The national park system in the United States is extensive. They can be found in any geographical area. To find a park near you, check out the National Park Service’s Find A Park. 

Additionally, the Library of Congress American Memory project has a website on the history of national parks. Their Mapping the National Parks collection includes nearly 200 maps going back to the 17^th Century that detail areas that became four of the nation’s parks. Not sure which one to visit? You can go on virtual tours of certain parks, including Yellowstone and the Mojave, by visiting the U.S. Geological Survey website.

Share the Benefits of Physical Fitness this May

May is National Physical Fitness & Sports Month! Since 1983, the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN) has designated this month as a time to encourage exercise and physical activity. As the days get longer and warmer, this is the perfect time of year to start up a new activity. The goal of the month is not only to get people more active, but also to help them realize that exercise can be fun. Whether you like to run, play basketball, swim, or walk, there are plenty of activities you can do to be more active. In order to encourage everyone to be active, there are several events going during the month. Bike-to-Work Week is May 16-20, National Kids to Parks Day is May 21, and National Senior Health & Fitness Day is May 25. Additionally, you can take the President’s Challenge and win awards. The gold medal at the end may not be on the top of everyone’s incentive list, but it’s still a great way to keep track of your physical activity for six weeks.

Help Recognize Asian/Pacific American History this Month

According to the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features, “In 1978, a joint congressional resolution established Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. The first ten days of May were chosen to coincide with two important milestones in Asian/Pacific American history: the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and contributions of Chinese workers to the building of the transcontinental railroad, completed May 10, 1869. In 1992, Congress expanded the observance to a month-long celebration.” This year’s theme is Diversity, Leadership, Power, and Beyond.

Whether it is you, your group of family and friends, a neighbor, or a colleague who describes him or herself as having Asian and/or Pacific Island heritage, this is the month to celebrate. On April 29th, President Obama proclaimed the 2011 observation. The proclamation stated “From our earliest days, intrepid men and women from the Asia Pacific region have forged enduring links between America and other nations as they moved across the Pacific.  In today's globalized world, these bonds remain critical, reminding the United States of our rich shared history and integrated future with the dynamic Asia Pacific region. During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, let us celebrate the millions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders whose talents and contributions strengthen our economy, protect our security, and enliven our country every day.”

Visit the website of the Law Library of Congress to find resources for legislative research and to find other Presidential proclamations for Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage observations. Multiple federal agencies combine efforts to provide the 2011 Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month website.  There, you and your patrons can find cultural events, biographies, and locations in the U.S. which celebrate the occasion. There is also a cross-collection list of Audio/Video items , including selections from the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution.

National Foster Care Month Aims to Build Stronger Families

May is also National Foster Care Month, with the theme of “Building Connections Through Meaningful Family Engagement.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains a Child Welfare Information Gateway, to help connect families and professionals with information and resources to help build stronger families. The Indiana Department of Child Services provides a page on Foster Parenting with an overview of foster care and links to answer the many questions about foster children and foster families.

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