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Hampton Hotels' Save-A-Landmark Program to Settle at the Stuhr Museum
McLean, Va., June 3, 2010— Today, employees from local Hampton hotels will help preserve history at the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer as a part of Hampton Hotels’ Save-A-Landmark program. The Stuhr Museum is an interactive museum portraying pioneer town builders and settlers who created the first communities in Nebraska during the 1840s-1920s.
More than a dozen volunteers will spend the day working to enhance the museum’s surroundings just in time for World Environment Day. Projects include renewing the landscape in the Henry Fonda Rose Garden and Hornady Family Arboretum, installing and painting new light poles, and providing general cleaning of the exhibits. In all, Hampton Hotels will donate $10,000 to the Stuhr Museum in support of the day’s projects and for future refurbishment efforts.
“It is an honor to be in Nebraska, in the heart of our country, helping preserve the Stuhr Museum in honor of World Environment Day,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president of global brand marketing for Hampton Hotels. “This year marks the 10th Anniversary of Hampton Hotels’ Save-A-Landmark, and we are continiuing our commitment to preserve roadside attractions throughout North America to ensure they will thrive for future generations.”
The Stuhr Museum (www.stuhrmuseum.org) opened in 1961, offering a hands-on living history experience telling the story of Nebraska’s prairie communities. The museum provides visitors with unique programs that focus on the lives, hopes, and traditions of the era’s common people building a future. The Stuhr Museum boasts 35 acres of land, with more than eight areas of exhibits. During the summer months, guests can step back in time with Stuhr’s Railroad Town, which is a recreation of a 1890s village complete with townspeople dressed in time period clothing and 60 shops, historic homes, and barns bringing history to life. More than 75,000 people visit the museum each year from all over the world. It has been recognized by Good Housekeeping magazine as “one of the top ‘10’ places to relive America’s past” and is accredited by the American Association of Museums.
The Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer is the second landmark to be restored in 2010 as a part of the “All-American Landmarks” campaign and the 52nd landmark to be refurbished by the program overall. This year, Save-A-Landmark is devoted to the preservation of landmarks that represent what it means to be American. Each holds a significant piece of American history that can be preserved for future generations. Next, the program will travel to the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum in St. Johnsbury, Vt.; Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark.; and President Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington, D.C. The Save-A-Landmark program has already refurbished Wheeler Historic Farm in Salt Lake City, Utah earlier this year.
Last fall, the public voted and five landmarks were chosen to be restored in Arkansas, Nebraska, Utah, and Vermont in 2010. Sites are chosen after extensively researching refurbishment need and availability of Hampton volunteers. To nominate a landmark, go to www.hamptonlandmarks.com.
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of Hampton Hotels’ Save-A-Landmark program. During the past decade, the program has helped research landmarks in need, promoted landmark sites and their importance, facilitated tens of thousands of volunteer hours, donated several tons of supplies and worked with matching grants – all at an investment of more than $2.5 million. Uniting its hotels together in the communities they serve, Hampton employee-volunteers work hand-in-hand on the landmarks while Hampton provides the financial support to refurbish selected sites. The Save-A-Landmark program has already successfully refurbished a landmark in 42 United States, as well as sites in Canada and Mexico.