Heritage Area legislation clears hurdle in House

The U.S. House passed a bill this week that would designate 3,300 square miles in Southern Arizona as one of the West’s largest national heritage areas.

A National Heritage Area designation gathers a specific region’s cultural, historical, and environmental resources toward a common goal, usually increased tourism, and gives area managers an opportunity to apply for millions in federal grant money.

The Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Area would promote the shared history of an area that has been inhabited longer than most other regions of North America (since at least 11,000 B.C.), and has been farmed at least since 2,000 BC, and ranched and mined since around 1680. The heritage srea would include several Green Valley sights, including the Titan Missile Museum and the Santa Rita Mountains.

There are only two heritage areas west of the Mississippi, and the Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Area would be the largest ever created in this part of the country. The designation does not impose federal control on any land within the area.

The measure was introduced by Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., last spring and passed the House by a vote of 291-122 Wednesday.

“Ever since Congress established heritage areas over twenty years ago, heritage tourism has been growing,” Grijalva said. “Today, it has become a significant economic engine. These areas are worthwhile not only as a way to help local economies, but as a crucial tool in preserving our communities’ links to their past.”

In a floor speech, Grijalva called the heritage area concept “a mosaic of people, history, and the environment; a mosaic that shapes this country.”

The bill now goes on to the Senate for consideration.

Tim Hull is a free-lance writer. Contact him at trhull@gmail.com.