In honor of our new main website which launched today at: www.preservationohio.org, we are featuring a “double post” on that site and here on MyHometownOhio.

It was 27 years ago this May that a group of Ohioans decided to make a difference. These individuals, which included some twenty representatives from a variety of interest groups, had one goal - the creation of a statewide preservation organization for Ohio.   They named their new organization “Ohio Preservation Alliance, Inc.,” reflecting their belief that the best kind of statewide preservation entity was one which concentrates not on its own existence, but rather on assisting local organizations reach their own success.  And, where no local preservation group existed, they envisioned a movement which would work to bring like-minded people together for that purpose.

A great deal has changed in the last quarter-century while we, now known as Preservation Ohio, have continued to pursue those same ends. The setting in which our work takes place has changed dramatically, not only in terms of technology, but in the field of preservation itself. Once limited to the realm of house museums and significant landmarks, the word “preservation” has come to embrace sustainable community development that concentrates on promoting existing assets.  “Preservation” now includes downtown and neighborhood revitalization, heritage tourism, and much more.  “Preservationists,” as a term, is now best applied to those individuals who are always looking ahead, always envisioning a community’s potential and striving to attain it.  Preservation Ohio is very proud of its name and its legacy of service to Ohio and Ohioans.

With these changes comes a need for something brand new in 2009. Changes in the way that Ohioans obtain and share information give us the opportunity to work toward our mission in ways that our founders could have little imagined.  As the first statewide preservation organization in the country with its own blog, and as one of the first on almost every leading social networking site, Preservation Ohio has long been actively seeking new ways to reach local communities, organizations and individuals.  This spring, we are launching two new websites, including the country’s first comprehensive statewide preservation networking page, The Ohio Preservation Network, and the upcoming Ohio Classic Properties, home for buyers and sellers of historic and traditional real estate in Ohio.  We are also pleased to share this new main website, which will serve to bring the others together into a single setting.

Preservation Ohio’s Staff and Board members have unparalleled experience in helping Ohio communities advance the goals of preserving historic resources.   Our Staff’s background provides over 40 years of collective training and practical application — from launching and maintaining “Main Street” and other preservation-based downtown revitalization programs, to conducting preservation potential assessments for individual buildings, districts and communities, to service on historic preservation commissions and design review boards.  Our Staff has successful, practical experience working in their own Ohio communities, efforts which have resulted in millions of dollars in public and private investment into historic resources.  We know Ohio.

We invite you to learn more about Preservation Ohio through this new site, and we warmly invite your involvement in Ohio’s statewide preservation movement.

Photo: redver/Creative Commons License