San Antonio and the National Park Service Demonstrate Economic Impacts of Heritage Sites

San Antonio and the National Park Service Demonstrate Economic Impacts of Heritage Sites
The San Antonio missions aren’t just for history buffs or those looking for reflective prayer. The National Park service says they are also a boon to the economy. Last year was historic for its visitors to the missions. In commissioners court Tuesday, the National Park Service issued a preliminary economic impact study. http://www.kens5.com/news/local/SA-missions–112902894.html

Could the Past Hold a Clue to the Ultimate Fate of Phoenix?
In early December, as I motored away from Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, I glimpsed a sign for the Hohokam Expressway. The road was named after the Hohokam culture that had thrived in south-central Arizona for more than 1,000 years–and then abruptly disappeared around 1450 A.D. As I proceeded to drive past countless palm trees, swimming pools, green lawns, and suburban housing tracts, I couldn’t help but wonder whether the fate of modern Phoenicians would ultimately mirror that of the enterprising Hohokam. http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2011/01/sandra-postel-drought-southwest-hohokam.html

National Park Service Considering Grant Applications for Internment Camp Preservation
The National Park Service is taking applications for grants to preserve and do interpretation work on internment camps and other sites where more than 120,000 Japanese-Americans were detained during World War II. http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s1911490.shtml?cat=504

Two Plead Not Guilty to Charges of Pictograph Vandalism
Two northern Idaho men who police say used spray paint to deface ancient tribal pictographs near Hells Gate State Park have pleaded not guilty to willful injury or depredation of property of the United States. Twenty-two-year-old Tyler J. Carlson and 23-year-old Jerad Bovencamp made the pleas to the felony charges in U.S. District Court in Coeur d’Alene. http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/N-Idaho-men-plead-not-guilty-in-pictograph-case-113075484.html

A History of Diné and N’dee Peoples
Was it something in the collective memory of Athabascan people that recognized the shape, feel and smell of a horse . . . some ghost of a recollection of an all but forgotten time when wild horses swept across the steppes of Asia? Whatever the mystic connection might be, Navajo and Apache people saw the horses of the Conquistadors as a gift of the Creator and adapted them readily to their own uses.
http://www.wmicentral.com/news/latest_news/article_294cb24c-120b-11e0-a24f-001cc4c03286.html

More Information on Ventura Project to Locate Mission Period Deposits
Passers-by at the corner of Palm and Main streets in downtown Ventura would be hard-pressed today to visualize the area’s distinct past. But the barren slab of concrete and asphalt has housed a combination of uses over the past 200-plus years — from early Spanish mission grounds to a bowling alley and hamburger shack — that arguably would not be found anywhere else in the world, local historians say. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/06/ventura-search-begins-ground-penetrating-radar/

Los Angeles Construction Project Encounters Human Remains
At the corner of Arcadia and Spring streets in Downtown Los Angeles construction on a new Mexican cultural center ground to a halt when human remains were found at the site. It is believed that the remains are of Native Americans who lived in the region over 300 years ago. The Gabrielino band of Mission Indians of San Gabriel lays claim to the site, stating it is the location of an ancient Indian village, established there long before Los Angeles even existed. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40937724

“Many Mexicos” at the Arizona State Museum
Did you know that 2010 marks the bicentennial of the start of the Mexican War of Independence, which led to the country’s split from Spain? Did you know that 2010 marks the centennial of the Mexican Revolution? Do you know anything about Mexican history? If not, and if you live in Tucson, then shame on you. Considering that our city was part of Mexico until 1854—and that Mexican culture is an integral part of ours—we should all be at least a little educated about our neighbor to the south. http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/history-brought-to-life/Content?oid=2427935

Archaeology Expo Planning Meeting Scheduled for Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 2:00 PM at the Deer Valley Rock Art Center
Please come and share your ideas as the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the ASU Deer Valley Rock Art Center (Center) continue planning for the 2011 Arizona Archaeology Expo. The Expo will be held at the Center on March 26-27, 2011. At this planning meeting, we will be exchanging ideas with the various partners, discussing programming, publicity, lay out and organization, sponsors, funding, off-site activities, lectures, etc. The SHPO and the Center need your input so that this Expo can be a successful public education opportunity. We hope to see you at this important meeting — thank you! For more information, please contact Ann Howard, Public Archaeology Programs Manager, State Historic Preservation Office, 602/542-7138, avh2@azstateparks.gov.

National Park Fee Free Days for 2011
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the National Park Service will waive admission fees on 17 selected dates throughout 2011 and encouraged all Americans to make a New Year’s resolution to visit a national park this year. The 2011 fee-free dates will be the weekend of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 15-17), National Park Week (April 16-24), the first day of summer (June 21), National Public Lands Day (September 24), and the weekend of Veterans Day (November 11-13).

Lecture Opportunity (Irvine)
The Pacific Coast Archaeological Society’s January 13 meeting will feature Dr. Jerry D. Moore speaking on “From Campsite to Village to Town: The Origins of Settled Village Life in the Equatorial Andes—Recent Data, New Insights.” Meeting information: Thursday, January 13, 7:30 pm at the Irvine Ranch Water District, 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine, CA. Lecture is free and open to the public. For more information: www.pcas.org.

Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation Announces Gift Program to Benefit National Park Foundation
The Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation is donating a total of $1 million to these four charities—American Forests; Keep America Beautiful; National Park Foundation; and Water.org. $100,000 will go to each just for participating, and the remaining $600,000 will be distributed based on your votes. Each charity will receive the equivalent amount of donated dollars to the percentage of votes they receive. You may vote for the charity of your choice once per day from January 9–21, 2011, until midnight.  https://corporate.lowes.com/responsibility/our-communities/

Thanks to Carrie Gregory and Brian Kreimendahl for contributions to this week’s newsletter.