Heritage
Regional Heritage: Calumet National Heritage Area Initiative
The Calumet Heritage Partnership has prepared a feasibility study to create a National Heritage Area for submission to the National Park Service (NPS). According to the NPS, National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are regions “designated by Congress as places where natural, cultural, and historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape.
Visit the Calumet National Heritage Area Feasibility Study Page to read the study.
Provide a Letter of Support for the Calumet National Heritage Area
The National Significance of the Calumet Region
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Updated Resource Inventory Working Database April 17, 2018 (xlsx file, if using Chrome save and open in Excel)
National Heritage Area Managment Planning
National Heritage Area Feasibility Updates (pdf)
- Update Number 1 November 2014
- Update Number 2 March 2015
- Update Number 3 August 2015
- Update Number 4 November 2015
- Update Number 5 January 2016
- Update Number 6 May 2016
- Update Number 7 June 2016
- Update Number 8 November 2016
About the Process
- Calumet National Heritage Area Initiative Brochure (2018)
- Road Map for a National Heritage Area Feasibility Study
- A Calumet Heritage Area: Questions and Answers
- Approximate Timeline for the feasibility study
- The Road to Heritage Area Designation
Videos
Creating a Calumet National Heritage Area
- Creating a Calumet National Heritage Area video transcript (pdf)
- Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, February 18, 2016. Mark Bouman, Field Museum, President of CHP presents on the Calumet National Heritage Area.
- “Green Radio Network” Segment- Mark Bouman, Calumet Heritage Partnership/Field MuseumSSCleanCities You Tube Channel January, 31, 2017
- Public input sought on proposed Calumet Heritage AreaTimes Staff Report, NWI.com, January 13, 2017
- Public comment encouraged for heritage area plan Amy Lavalley, Post Tribune, January 13, 2017
- Calumet Heritage Area promoters say ‘now is the moment’ Andrew Steele, November 1, 2016, NWI.com
- Feasibility Study On Calumet National Heritage Area Review On Saturday Midwest Beat, Lakeshore Public Radio, October 24, 2016. Sherry Meyer, Vice President -IL of Calumet Heritage Partnership and Mario Longoni with The Field Museum speak with Chris Nolte from Lakeshore Public Radio about the effort to create a National Heritage Area for the Calumet Region.
- Calumet region meets to talk about environmental impacts A conversation with Michael Puente from WBEZ’s Morning Shift 5/14/2015. On Soundcloud. Coverage begins around 2:15
- Connecting Calumet Region Focus of Two Day Summit Northwest Indiana Times, 5/12/2015
- Region’s rich history in the spotlight Northwest Indiana Times 9/23/2015
- Calumet Heritage Partnership Interview, Go Outside with Conservation Mike, Podcast, WVLP Community Radio Valparaiso 98.3 FM
- Lakeshore Focus television interview with Mark Bouman and Sherry Meyer (Program aired on Lakeshore Public Television 1/22/16)
- NWI Times article mentions “Calumet Heritage Corridor Project” in a quote from Ty Warner of NIRPC. (2/18/2016)
- Chicago Tribune article titled “Calumet region could get national designation” (2/19/2016)
- NWI Times article titled “Proposed heritage area could get boost in 2016” (2/18/2016)
- 219 Green Connect Podcast ” Creation of the Calumet National Heritage Area” interview with Mario Longoni and Lara Gonzalez (4/7/2016)
- Push for Calumet Heritage Area Growing Millennium Reserve April 2016
- Calumet Area Still Waits for Spot in History Stanley Ziemba, Chicago Tribune October 24, 1999. An article from the very early history of the effort in 1999 shows the extent of the progress that has been made.
Resources from CHP
- Community Conversations
- Calumet Heritage Resources Directory
- A Working List of Arts Organizations and Institutions in the Calumet Region of NE Illinois and NW Indiana
- Public Outreach Toolkit
Reports on Public Feedback
- Brief Report on Findings from Public Comment Meetings (pdf) On October 21-22 and 24, 2015, as part of the 16th Annual Calumet Heritage Conference, the public was invited to comment on key section drafts of the feasibility study to create a National Heritage Area for the Calumet region. What did we learn from your input? How will the comments and suggestions be used to inform the full feasibility study?
Previous Research
- Calumet Ecological Park Feasibility Study, August 1998, Prepared by the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Midwest Region
- The Coastal Historic and Cultural Resources Study of the Lake Michigan Watershed from the Indiana DNR Lake Michigan Coastal Program
Events
- 2015 Calumet Summit: Advancing Our Shared Agenda A report from the 2015 Calumet Summit
- The 2015 Calumet Summit included conversations about the vision for a Calumet National Heritage Area
- The 2015 Calumet Heritage Conference included public feedback sessions and a Grand Tour of the Calumet
Calumet Region Heritage Resources
- Shifting Sands: On the Path to Sustainability (documentary)
- Explore The Millennium Reserve and Greater Calumet Region
- See also our page of links to Calumet Area Resources and Organizations
- Spotlighting Southeast Chicago
- Gary-Indiana – Midtown The Central District
Other National Heritage Areas and Efforts
- I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor
- A Feasibility Study for Black Metropolis National Heritage Area
- Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area
Maps
