Essex National Heritage Area
Tom Leonard, President, ENHC

Tom Leonard,
President Emeritus, ENHC

Tom Leonard writes a monthly column for the community newspapers in the Essex National Heritage Area. This is a reprint of this month's column.
tleonard
at essexheritage.org.

Columns
Plan Your Trip Closer to Home this Year, in the Essex National Heritage Area

The Memorial Day weekend has long been considered the unofficial start of summer in New England. This year’s holiday weekend was truly spectacular. We experienced generally clear skies with temperatures a little above normal for late May. The only “clouds” we saw all weekend were hanging over the gas pumps all over New England. It seems clear that with gasoline prices hovering around the four dollar per gallon mark, driving in New England, at least for the foreseeable future will mean shorter and more defined trips. That scenario presents a wonderful opportunity for resources in this area to attract local residents to their venues during this upcoming vacation period. There are so many wonderful attractions in the Essex Heritage area. Hopefully, all of them will experience higher visitation this summer and into the fall season. A visit to www.essexheritage.org will introduce you to a wide range of options that are available “right here in your own back yard”. Essex Heritage has developed a series of trails that can guide you around this wonderful region and take the residents of this area to some of the most spectacular sites in this country. Take the time to visit www.EssexHeritage.org to plan a weekend or mid week trip this year. You will not be disappointed.

Guide to the Great Outdoors

The most recent initiative undertaken by Essex Heritage is the Guide to the Great Outdoors. The great outdoors of this region is rich and varied and it certainly helps define the character of this region. The treasured resources that are outlined on this trail are likely “just around the corner’ from your home, and definitely worth exploring. This new brochure can also be downloaded at www.essexheritage.org., and has something in it for everyone in the family. There are sections that outline how to explore wildlife preserves, travel historic routes, visit scenic farms, or wooded landscapes or plan a trip to beaches and marshes, urban parks and reservations, or just stop to enjoy a scenic vista. The brochure provides directions to the various resources and identifies the property steward, and indicates any special characteristics of the sites. Funding to help support the creation of the brochure was provided by a grant from the North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau and support from Hunts Photo and Video in Melrose and the Institution for Savings in Newburyport. Brochures will be available at the ten visitor centers around Essex County. Pick up a brochure soon.

Essex Heritage Explorers Program Helps Plan a Summer Schedule

The Essex Heritage Explorers program was created to offer support to the advancement of the mission of Essex Heritage, and to continue to work closely with the National Park Service. The program now several years old, has continued to grow and flourish since its creation, and today offers “behind the scenes” visits to some of the most unique locations in the region

An Essex Heritage Explorer is part of a select group of individuals who receive special information, discounts and invitations to exclusive events. These benefits are designed to help one experience and discover the cultural, historic and natural resources in the area. From renowned museums to live theatre and craft fairs to events for entire families, the Essex national Heritage Area offers something for everyone to enjoy. As an Explorer we will help chart your course to explore this region. Get more information or sign up today by visiting www.HeritageExplorers.org. You will be glad you acted today.

Essex Heritage Explorers Program Helps Plan a Summer Schedule

The Essex National Heritage Commission, an organization known for celebrating this region’s unique cultural heritage, named local historian, author and columnist Jim McAllister as its first “Heritage Hero” at an evening event on Wednesday, May 28 th at the historic Hawthorne Hotel. The dinner where the award was presented was a complete sell out, and a portion of the proceeds will go towards enhancing the Essex Heritage Partnership Grant Program. The award was p resented in partnership with the National Park Service. The goal of this ongoing Heritage Hero program will be to identify and honor the self-less stewards and passionate conservators of the Essex National Heritage Area, who on a daily basis preserve our history, educate others about the rich heritage of our area and share their passion for our culture. In essence, Heritage Heroes make history “come alive” for local residents and visitors alike. The identification of Jim McAllister for the inaugural Essex Heritage Hero award was a wonderful choice.

Thomas M. Leonard is President Emeritus of the Essex National Heritage Commission, Inc., the nonprofit management entity of the Essex National Heritage Area, and can be reached at tleonard@essexheritage.org.