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The Cities of Covington and Bellevue have produced a video “Northern Kentucky Preservation at 50: From Saving Houses to Creating Places” celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act.
The video was a project of both cities and was produced by Spotted Yeti Media and premiered at Darkness Brewing in Bellevue.
Certified Local Government Program & Planning Coordinator of the Kentucky Heritage Council Vicki Birenberg stated, “We are all so fortunate for the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the groundwork laid to preserve our cultural resources with integrity, providing us with assets to bring life and vibrancy back to our urban communities.”
After the tremendous success of their first two videos “Historic Preservation: Saving Place” and “Living History: The Architecture of Northern Kentucky,” the two cities reignited their partnership to produce a third video in the series.
It explores how historic preservation came to be in Northern Kentucky through the diverse personal stories of residents, business owners and preservationists alike. The video takes into account the communities’ combined efforts to save their city’s heritage and historical landmarks.
It discusses early preservation efforts in Covington’s Licking Riverside Neighborhood, the recent successful rehabilitations of the Boone Block and Shotgun Row, and the ongoing efforts to preserve the Marianne Theater and Bavarian Brewery.
Due to the construction of the interstate and an increase in the number of houses being built in the Post-World War II period, many historical landmarks were being destroyed.
As a response, the National Historic Preservation Act was passed in 1966 with the intention to preserve historical and archaeological sites throughout the country.
The video emphasizes the importance of sustainability and overall benefits created as result of its’ implementation.
Birenberg explained, “Historic preservation is an essential component of the current best practices in urban planning, and it helps to shape an attractive future for our cities. The demand for historic, walkable, character-filled neighborhoods continues to increase with each passing year.”
The video was funded in part with Federal funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, and administered by the Kentucky Heritage Council. The contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior.
