Collierville named national ‘Preserve America’ community | Collierville Independent

The Town of Collierville’s Planning Department, Main Street Collierville and Morton Museum staff were ecstatic recently when they were notified by the Washington, D.C. Office of Preservation Initiatives/Advisory Council on Historic Preservation that Collierville has been designated as one of the Nation’s ‘Preserve America’ communities.

In a letter from First Lady Michelle Obama addressed to ‘The Citizens of Collierville,’ she said, “Thank you for all you do, for your continuing commitment to our Nation’s heritage.”

An official certificate and road sign are forthcoming for public display.

Jaime Groce, town planner, said the application for the designation was originally submitted by Main Street Collierville and the town in 2012. Preserve America responded with an inquiry about the Morton Museum and the historic resource survey of the Town.

“They asked for more information on the Morton Museum of Collierville History and were complimentary of the reuse of the historic building, with written and oral history of the town, a library with books on the Civil War and other historic events, plus permanent and travelling exhibits,” Groce said.

“Our recent effort to transform the survey of historic resources from a paper format to a digital format, which is more publically-accessible, came from the Preserve America submissions,” he continued.

The interactive map is now on the town site www.collierville.com/maps/historicresources.

The official announcement stated, “Preserve America Communities receive national recognition for accomplishments in preserving our special places and telling the nation’s story.”

As a designated community, Collierville can use the official logo on educational and promotional materials and will be listed in a web-based directory that showcases the Town’s preservation efforts and heritage tourism destinations with a possible feature in “Discover Our Shared Heritage” National Register Travel Itineraries or “Teaching with Historic Places” curricular materials created by the National Park Service. The Preserve America program is a federal effort to encourage and support community efforts to preserve and enjoy America’s priceless cultural and natural heritage.

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation administers the Preserve America program with the Department of the Interior, in cooperation with the White House and 10 other federal agencies.