Hughesville, MD – The Executive Director of Destination Southern Maryland and members of the National Heritage Area Steering Committee were pleased to welcome Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD) following the passage of the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Act in the US House of Representatives.

“Congressman Hoyer was instrumental in pushing this legislation forward in the House, and we were so happy we had a chance to thank him and his team for their efforts,” said Executive Director Lucille Walker. A roundtable discussion provided an opportunity for sharing the stories and history of the region, and how important these are to informing the nation’s story and history. Read Congressman Hoyer’s media release below.

HUGHESVILLE, MD — Today, following House passage of the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Act, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) attended a meeting with the National Heritage Area Steering Committee, who are charged with overseeing these protected lands. Congressman Hoyer brought legislation to the Floor last week to designate Southern Maryland as a National Heritage Area, and this meeting served to provide an update on the legislation and what it means for the Steering Committee moving forward.

“I was so glad to speak to the National Heritage Area Steering Committee this afternoon,” said Congressman Hoyer. “It is critically important that we designate Southern Maryland as a National Heritage Area. This official designation would commemorate and conserve the history and cultural resources of the Fifth District, and I was glad to ensure the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Act passed the House last week to achieve this goal. I look forward to the work that the Committee continues to do on behalf of our communities, and hope to work with them in the near future to preserve the great history and environment Southern Maryland has to offer.”

National Heritage Areas are partnerships among the National Park Service, states, and local communities in which the Park Service supports state and local conservation efforts through federal recognition, seed money, and technical assistance. Lands within heritage areas typically remain in state, local, or private ownership rather than under federal control, such as National Parks.

The Southern Maryland Heritage area would include locations such as the National Religious Freedom Byway, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, and sites related to the American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, American Civil War, WWI and WWII, and the Project Mercury human spaceflight program. Most recently, the area included Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary in Charles County.