Many cities in southern and eastern Kentucky, including Morehead, Ashland, and Grayson, are on their way to garnering recognition as part of a new National Heritage Area (NHA). Officials said this title will recognize the Commonwealth for its rich culture and beauty, combatting negative stereotypes about the region.
Tammie Nazario is the Director of Kentucky Wildlands. She said several of the state’s byways were highlighted as culturally significant sites. These include the Zilpo Scenic Byway in Rowan and Bath counties, as well as US 23, otherwise known as the Country Music Highway.
“All of our byways in our region represent something really fantastic and unique, and we can use each of those to tell a significant story," said Nazario. “And part of the criteria that you have to meet is that you do have that unique culture and heritage.”
Legislators introduced bills to the US House and Senate to begin this process in 2019. Now, after a thorough feasibility study by the National Park Service, 35 of the counties submitted have officially met the criteria for potential designation. The region was graded on various criteria including natural, historic, and recreational resources of the landscape, culture, and national importance of its heritage.
According to the report, the Daniel Boone National Forest would be the western boundary, and the NHA would extend east through the rest of the state. Nazario said the title will bring with it a tourism boom as people from near and far discover the rich heritage of these counties.
“National heritage areas across the United States- there are now 62 of them, we’ll be number 63. They contribute over 12 billion dollars to the United States economy. And then they also provide over 150,000 jobs,” said Nazario.
Further legislation to officially recognize Kentucky Wildlands as an NHA is anticipated to be introduced to Congress.